Caffeine - Free Download And Software Reviews - Cnet Download
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Before this virtual caffeine for Mac computers was invented, users needed to access System Preferences and go to the Energy Saver panel to turn off automatic screen dimming and other options if they wanted to keep the computer awake for a while. And then they had to reverse the procedure when they finished whatever they were doing in order to restore the computer to its normal operating parameters. Caffeine solves this issue by providing a one-click interaction in the Menu bar, and has several very handy custom options.
Several years after wondering why coffee seems to stop working for me, I finally decided to consult an expert on the topic. Anika Christ, registered dietitian and director of client optimization at Life Time, discusses caffeine tolerance and whether it's something to really worry about.
Yup. The human body can definitely build a tolerance to caffeine, Christ says, just like it can to many other substances. "Developing a caffeine tolerance essentially means that the stimulating effects of caffeine become less noticeable after an amount of time," Christ explains. "This is because your body becomes less responsive to the effects."
As for how to tell if you have caffeine tolerance, "I think the main inclination is if your caffeine, whether it's a supplement or coffee, isn't providing the same bump in energy as you may be used to in the past," Christ says. "Another sign is when the caffeine starts to wear off, you develop a bit of a headache."
Caffeine in particular is a central nervous system stimulant and an adenosine receptor antagonist. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that causes drowsiness by slowing down nervous system activity. Caffeine molecules have a nearly identical structure adenosine, so when you drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages, such as energy drinks, caffeine intercepts the receptors intended for adenosine.
So it makes more adenosine receptors, which increases the likelihood that adenosine actually goes where it's supposed to. This is your brain's attempt at maintaining balance in the face of constant caffeine consumption.
"A key step to avoid developing a caffeine tolerance is varying your intake," she explains. "If you have a few cups of coffee on Monday, maybe have only one or half a cup on Tuesday, then none on Wednesday. Then you can go back up later in the week."
If you already feel dependent on caffeine, well, you have some work to do, Christ says. Cutting back on any substance you rely on won't be easy. Reducing or eliminating caffeine consumption can result in withdrawal-like symptoms, including fatigue, mood swings, headaches, shakes and nervousness, depending on how severe your tolerance is.
You may want to try reducing your consumption little by little. Try half-caffeinated coffee so you can physically drink the same number of ounces, but consume less caffeine. Substituting with other beverages, such as tea, may also make the process less excruciating. You may also want to try a full-on placebo, like decaf coffee.
Importantly, Christ says, "I want to remind people it's important to take care of yourself, so eat right, don't skip meals and get enough sleep, because if you don't, you may experience decreases in energy, which will make you want more caffeine."
Case in point -- I logged on to my Facebook a few weeks ago and the first post on my timeline was a horror story. A friend of a friend found herself in the emergency room after drinking a loaded tea. She had the shakes, her skin was flushed and her heart was racing. The ER nurse informed her that her blood pressure was dangerously high due to caffeine.
Regardless of the various formulas, most loaded teas are made with high levels of caffeine to give you the boost of energy they promise. "These loaded teas have 175 to 200 milligrams of caffeine," registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix explains. "As a frame of reference, an average cup of tea contains 27 milligrams of caffeine and a cup of coffee provides around 80 to 100 milligrams."
While the caffeine content may not present problems for people who drink a lot of caffeine every day, those who are caffeine-sensitive could feel jittery, complain of stomach aches, have problems sleeping, experience frequent urination and have increased heart rate and blood pressure after drinking a loaded tea, says Taub-Dix.
Loaded tea also usually contains ginseng and guarana, both of which can induce the same negative effects as excess caffeine. Finally, Taub-Dix says, loaded teas are known for containing toxic levels of vitamin B-3 (AKA niacin), which can cause skin flushing, increased heart rate and nausea.
"It's the dose that's the poison," Bazilian says. "Too much of something that may have some positive effect, [like] caffeine in normal levels in a real food, may become dangerous at high levels, in concentrated forms or when combined with other ingredients."
The makers of Power Energy Toothpaste say the pasty elixir will contain about 80 milligrams of caffeine per milliliter of toothpaste, which they say is a little more than people would normally squirt out onto their brushes. That amount of caffeine is just slightly under what you find in an 8-ounce cup of coffee.
Turning to Google, I was able to find this old study that said an oral solution of caffeine was very quickly absorbed through the lining of the mouth. There are also caffeinated mints out there that get excellent reviews from buyers on Amazon, even though they only have 7 milligrams of caffeine per mint. Going by that, it seems like the toothpaste could have a shot at giving you a boost, but as with all things crowdfunding, and especially those that promise a biological impact, proceed with caution.
As for the safety of smearing a bunch of caffeine around in your mouth, co-founder of Power Toothpaste, Dan Meropol, says his product is classified as a cosmetic under Food and Drug Administration regulations. That means it'll be at least as safe as your lipstick or skin cream. It's also not the first cosmetic to contain caffeine. This caffeinated shower soap from ThinkGeek promises to get your eyes open in the morning with an extra dose of the drug.
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