The effects of caffeine on employees

Caffeine is one of the reasons some people are able to get to work on time. Some people claim caffeine is beneficial; others claim it has detrimental effects on our health. So is that morning cup of coffee beneficial for your body or just for your mind?

Caffeine really does make some people more alert, especially if you have nighttime withdrawal symptoms. If you drink caffeine on a regular basis, your body will not receive a boost from it unless you stop drinking it for a long time and then start up again. Many regular drinkers of caffeine do insist they feel a boost from using it, but most scientists claim it is all in their heads.

The reason why caffeine is so effective is because it blocks adenosine. Adenosine is a natural chemical that makes you drowsy. Caffeine will stimulate brain cells to make you more alert and increase your concentration, but it is only for a limited time period. Once the caffeine wears off, your body will have an immediate natural sluggishness.

Several studies have found that caffeine actually helps to slow dementia. Older employees that consume caffeine see an increase in their cognitive abilities. They are able to perform their job duties easier and they have a lower rate of memory impairment problems.

So all this means if you don't have a coffee pot in the office, it's time to buy one. Maybe it is time to invest in a vending machine that is filled with some caffeinated sodas. Try to purchase diet sodas because they don't have additional sugars. The sugar can put weight on people really quickly.

Several studies have also found that caffeine helps to protect against depression. The caffeine increases dopamine in the body. Dopamine is the same chemical that is released into the body after a physical exercise. It is called the "happy medicine" by several people. When you have higher levels of dopamine in the brain, you are less likely to experience the highs and lows of depression or bipolar disorder.

So with all the positive effects of caffeine, why are there so many people against it? Well, the main reason is because high levels of caffeine consumption can increase the loss of bone mineral. It takes away from the calcium levels that should be distributed to the muscles and the bones and rapidly increases the risk of osteoporosis. If your employees do consume caffeine, ask them to keep their consumption levels to one cup of coffee or one soda per day. Anything above 3 cans or cups of coffee can increase osteoporosis quickly.

The other downside to caffeine is that it increases the heart rate. The muscles tighten up and it can also cause the heart pressure to increase. The blood vessels that are near the skin have a constricted blood flow, which can cause several problems. Caffeine drinkers are at a higher risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Unnatural heart increases can cause sickness for many people and this can easily trigger heart problems.

Caffeine also causes sleeping problems. It takes at least 12 hours for caffeine to be completely removed from your system, so you should drink it in the morning, versus after lunchtime.

Drinking caffeine is a personal decision. There are so many reasons to avoid it, but there are so many reasons why it may be helpful. Allow your staff members to have the option if they want to drink caffeine or not. Always provide them with plenty of other options that can increase memory like fruits and vegetables. Consume caffeine in moderation and stop consuming it if you start having heart problems.