Caffeine Effects on the Brain – Part 1

Welcome to GreenEyedGuide, your guide to the science behind caffeine and energy drinks. This is a series on How Caffeine Affects the Brain. Since this is a complex topic and we have a lot to cover, I’ve broken the key questions into different posts. In Part 1 we’ll discuss how caffeine makes you feel awake and alert, we’ll review the biochemistry (which you can skip), and we’ll summarize the ways caffeine does and does not help you focus.

Later in this series, we’ll also talk about:

  • Why does caffeine work differently after an all-nighter?
  • What ingredients in energy drinks help you focus during gaming?
  • Is coffee or energy drinks better for studying?
  • Does your brain get addicted to caffeine and energy drinks?

Part 1: How does caffeine help you focus?

Read more

The Buzz About Caffeine – Food Insight TV

From Food Insight TV, this video reviews the basics of caffeine:

  • Natural sources of caffeine
  • Caffeine consumption breakdown (how much of the US pop consumes caffeine, how much comes from coffee vs tea vs other sources)
  • Why moderation is so important
  • Maximum dosage recognized as safe for adults

Additional Resources:

Caffeine: Facts, Usage, and Side Effects

Caffeine Informer reviews the sources and chemical structure of caffeine, in addition to a review of caffeine’s positive and negative effects

Caffeine Consumption in the USA

How many Americans consume caffeine on a daily basis, and where do they get this caffeine from? This study involving over 40,000 people breaks down consumption patterns by source and age.

Open Letter to Time Regarding Energy Drink Article in the “Answer Issue”

The Time “Answer Issue” article on energy drinks is missing three crucial statistics. Green-Eyed Guide discusses these missing statistics in a plea to Time magazine to reconsider the perspective.

Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks — How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely

Discover the key factors that make energy drinks safe or unsafe. Meet the 20 most common ingredients found in energy drinks and learn the basic science to how they work. With this guide and the “Levels of Fatigue” outlined within, anyone can learn the tools for determining which energy drink (IF ANY!) are right for his or her lifestyle and diet goals.