Yup - our energy boosting ingredient is well on its way to becoming THE beauty product for 2015. It has already been incorporated into a good number of hair and skin products.

Now, natural beauty gurus know this is old news — they’ve been making coffee face masks for years - but it’s finally hitting the masses.

It’s true that in the beauty sector every promising ingredient will get its 15 minutes as a passing fad until the next ingredient, like pink pepper or beer finds another purpose and has celebs and gurus singing its praises.

While caffeine certainly lifts moods, it apparently lifts hair and helps skin issues, too. 
According to a Byrdie report, a 2007 study saw decent follicle growth on men who underwent caffeine-infused hair treatments. Then, a German study treated weak hair follicles of both men and women and the caffeine lead to 25 percent growth. 

Here is how:  caffeine stimulates growth and prevents the follicle cells from dying or being inactive. Female follicles are also shown to be more receptive. So there’s all that to chew, er, drink on.

Clinical tests will be needed to further understand, appreciate, and learn the full effects of caffeine on hair or on skin. That said, there is caffeine in a great variety of products, like:

Plantur 39 Caffeine Treatment for women helps bulk up your thinning hair by promoting hair growth.

Kave Body Scrub, which is made of organic coffee grounds and oils. Caffeine is also said to decrease the appearance of veins and help eczema, among other things, so they say.  

Thicker Fuller Hair Cell-U-Plex Root Booster, which relies on caffeine to lift limpness. Thin hair be gone. 

Origins’ GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream works to reduce under-eye puffiness, brighten appearance, and to wake up eyes with its caffeine x coffee complex. 

There are hundreds more beauty products like these - the point is that all sorts of things, from under eye cream to root lifter, can have a caffeine fix. And They are most likely better and healthier for you than that sixth - actually even second - latte, if you don’t want to put on more weight… and who wants that?

In a recently published article, titled "Cocaine Shifts the Estrus Cycle Out of Phase and Caffeine Restores It" published by the Journal of Caffeine Research, Patricia Broderick, PhD and Lauren Malave, City College of New York and NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, show that cocaine shifts the estrus cycle, thereby changing a woman's estrogen levels. Caffeine can block these changes, suggesting that antagonists of the adenosine system may have a role in treating cocaine addiction.

One of their study’s conclusions is that cocaine's ability to disrupt a woman's period may explain the sex differences in cocaine addiction. It also presents new evidence that caffeine may be neuroprotective and able to block cocaine's direct effects on the estrus cycle. This could reveal novel treatment possibilities according to the authors.

In this video, Dr. Brandi Nichols, Women's Clinic of JCMG, explains the parameters of a normal period:

The abstract of the article is below, along with a link to it.

Background: Sex differences in cocaine abuse are well established. Females have a higher sensitivity and thus higher vulnerability to cocaine abuse compared to males. There are many studies showing that sensitivity to cocaine reward varies during the estrus cycle.

Methods: Vaginal smears were examined through a DIFF staining kit and viewed through a microscope to determine the estrus cycle stage. Smears were taken immediately before and after cocaine and/or caffeine injections. Furthermore, we suggest a new tool to analyze the estrus cycle by using electrical resistance of the vaginal mucosa.

Results: In the present study, we discovered that cocaine directly induced changes in the estrus cycle. Interestingly, caffeine did not affect the estrus cycle and nor did the combination of cocaine and caffeine. We observed that caffeine blocked the cocaine-induced estrus cycle changes using conventional exfoliate cytology. Therefore, caffeine may have neuroprotective properties on the changes induced by cocaine.

Conclusion: These phase changes in the estrus cycle may be the underlying cause of sex differences in cocaine addiction that can be blocked by caffeine. Thus, we propose a valuable insight into sex differences in cocaine abuse and reveal a possible treatment with antagonizing the adenosine system.

Link:  Cocaine Shifts the Estrus Cycle Out of Phase and Caffeine Restores It

About 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine daily. More than half of all American adults consume 300 milligrams or more caffeine every day, making it America's most popular drug, according to Live Science. The world’s too, by the way. 

Numerous scientific studies and common experience tells us that for most of us, 200 to 300 milligrams a day are mostly invigorating, not harmful. That’s most of us - how about the ones who exhibit or are in the process of developing sensitivity to caffeine? 

We all know that caffeine can cause restlessness, anxiety, irritability, muscle tremors, sleeplessness, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and abnormal heart rhythms. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not specific only to caffeine but to a host of other conditions and ailments. So it has been very hard till now to connect them. No longer, thanks to rapid advances in genetics.

The metabolism of caffeine in our body

Let us look at a more scientific side of what happens to caffeine inside our body. We will also use this as a means to compare the metabolism of children to adults. 

Caffeine is metabolized in the body by the enzyme Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) in the liver. Every person has two copies of the gene which makes the enzyme CYP1A2 (one copy from each parent). There are 2 variations of this gene which affect how quickly a person metabolizes caffeine. The CYP1A2*1A variety (“allele”) makes an enzyme that metabolizes caffeine very rapidly. However, the CYP1A2*1F allele metabolizes caffeine slowly. The difference between these two alleles is one single nucleotide, an A to C substitution at position 734 of the CYP1A2 gene.

Individuals who have two copies of the fast CYP1A2*1A allele are fast caffeine metabolizers; whereas people who have at least one copy of the slow CYP1A2*1F allele are slow caffeine metabolizers.

As caffeine is metabolized, it is broken down into theophylline, paraxanthine, and theobromine. These travel all over our body and influence many body organs and functions. These also sway moods and prevent the calming effect of dopamine. Theophylline causes smooth muscles to relax and that is why we usually feel like going to the comfort room after ingesting caffeine. On the other hand, theobromine adds to the oxygen and nutrient levels in our body which are used by muscles and the brain.

Stimulation by caffeine increases the rate of metabolism

Although stimulation from caffeine increases the rate of metabolism, it can only achieve this effect when the metabolic support for it is there. The most important element of this support is sufficient blood glucose - blood sugar - in our body. Feeling anxious or shaky is, in most cases, a result of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Add to this that once caffeine is in your system, even more glucose is removed from the bloodstream, since caffeine further stimulates the body’s metabolism. Problems begin when our body cannot provide enough fuel for cells, given the level of stimulation. If too much stimulation occurs, a stress alarm goes off, that mobilizes resources to provide energy to cells. Your body says, “We’ve got lots of stimulation going on here; we need to mobilize resources right now.”

The stress alarm’s basic function is to raise the blood sugar level. This involves the release of glycogen from the liver under the direction of adrenaline and glucagon, and the conversion of body fat first, and protein after that, into glucose using the liver’s help, as it is intimately involved in blood sugar regulation.

Combining low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and being a slow caffeine metabolizer may give us the explanation as to how people could become sensitive or allergic to caffeine.  

Measuring caffeine sensitivity

Caffeine sensitivity is the inversely proportional with the amount of caffeine that will affect a person. The more caffeine needed to produce an impact on someone, the less sensitive he or she is to caffeine. It is common to say that the smaller or older the person, the less caffeine required to make an effect.

Unfortunately for many of us, sensitivity to caffeine does tend to increase together with increase in age. Children metabolize caffeine quicker than adults. Since children have faster metabolism, they also process the caffeine faster while older people with slower metabolism become somewhat thin-skinned to caffeine and store it for a while.

Other helpful information

Caffeine metabolism DNA testing 

The CaffeineGEN™ test by  Consumer Genetics  is a simple, accurate genetic test that will tell you if you have the fast or slow caffeine metabolizing gene. All you need to do is collect a simple cheek swab sample in the comfort of your home and just days later you will be ready to make positive changes in your life based on your personal genetics.

By knowing your genetic makeup, you can adjust your daily caffeine intake accordingly and manage your overall well-being. 

Genetic links to caffeine sensitivity

Ted Kallmyer of CaffeinInformer.com is one of the foremost experts in all things having to do with caffeine. As he describes in his Caffeine Sensitivity article (see link below):  
"Caffeine is metabolized in the liver using the enzyme CYP1A2. The ability to produce this enzyme is regulated by the CYP1A2 gene. Slight changes in the DNA sequence of this gene determine how efficiently a person can metabolize caffeine and thus eliminate it from the body." 

The Cornelis study

According Cornelis et al. a person who is a fast metabolizer of caffeine can drink up to 6 cups of coffee a day and have no effects. However, bear in mind that the lethal dose is 2 grams of caffeine per day.*

Additionally, the Cornelis et al. study finds that people who have the slow caffeine metabolizing gene can still enjoy caffeinated food and beverages so long as their caffeine consumption doesn’t exceed more than 200 mg per day or more than 2-3 cups of coffee per day.

* Other sources give different values. Some even go up to 14 grams a day! 

References

http://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-sensitivity

http://www.livescience.com/6252-caffeine-sensitivity-increase-age.html - Fred Cicetti

http://www.functionalps.com/blog/2014/06/04/coffee-done-right-tips-to-help-avoid-coffee-intolerance/ - Team FPS

http://www.consumergenetics.com/DNA-Tests/Caffeine-Metabolism-Test.php

Cornelis MC, El-Sohemy A, Kabagambe EK, and Campos H. “Coffee, CYP1A2 genotype, and risk of myocardial infarction.” JAMA 2006, 295:1135-1141

As part of the comprehensive care for the tiniest babies, doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital use caffeine and Viagra® as medications, according to a news release timed to World Premature Day. 

Who knew there was such a day — and it is today, November 17. What’s more, it is part of Prematurity Awareness Month. 

Since two teenagers in our family are preemies, I feel funny about not be aware of them. But then again, neither World Premature Day nor Month were known and celebrated fifteen years ago, as far as I can remember.

Premature babies may stop breathing continuously, if their brains forget to send signals to their lungs. Caffeine has proven very helpful in this condition, by stimulating their brains, diaphragms, and lungs. 

Hence caffeine is given to nearly all of the babies in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) as they come off ventilators. “The better their lungs works in the short term, the better their brain health will be in the future, preventing lifelong neurologic problems,” Dr. Edward Shepherd, section chief of neonatology at Nationwide Children’s, said in a news release. “Consistently giving these little babies the equivalent of a cup of coffee can have remarkable results.”

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved its use in newborns, the drug can be used in intensive care settings. When used in preemies, it reduces pulmonary vascular resistance, relaxing the lungs and keeping the heart from having to work as hard. 

“Caring for babies born prematurely is different than caring for adults or older children. We adapt what has been learned in adults and pediatrics for our very special, unique neonates,” Shepherd said. “These babies’ lives depend on medication that is reliable and can help lead them into a healthy childhood.”

The hospital treats more than 4,400 preemies every year.

You can read the full news release by Nationwide Children’s Hospital here: 
http://newswise.com/articles/caffeine-to-viagra-the-medications-saving-preemies-may-surprise-you2

Monster’s products seem to get a lot of bad publicity. With their high amount of sugar, combined with caffeine, the Monster energy drink, according to some customer advocates, pose a high risk to members of the public. 

Let’s see… is this negative publicity really justified?

Monster’s drinks were introduced by Hansen Natural Corp. in April 2002. Hansen Natural? What’s natural about formulated and mass-produced drinks in aluminum cans?


Never mind… the energy drink has been very popular for its black can and its green M logo. It is a huge market share holder in the energy drink sector, the fastest growing segment at the moment. Hansen is taking advantage of this trend by sponsoring extreme sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX and motorcross, like Red Bull. They certainly have learned from the master!

Their ingredients include carbonated water, glucose, sucrose, natural flavors, sodium citrate, added color, caffeine, panax ginseng root extract, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, inositol and guarana seed extract, among other things. They have been posited as the main cause why these, and energy drinks in general, are harmful for our health. 

Now, for sure there are people who died after consuming the energy drink. In response, the FDA is carrying out research on multiple stories about the energy drink that have resulted in the deaths of certain persons. 

So… how harmful are the suspected ingredients? Take a look:

Sugar

The sugar content in each drink is about 5-6 teaspoons, making the drink a no-no for diabetics or anyone sensitive to sugar. More importantly, refined sugars and carbohydrates unhealthy over 3-4 teaspoons (1/2 oz) a day for anybody.

Caffeine

A 16 oz can contains about 160 mg of caffeine. That is about on a and a half times of the caffeine in one cup of coffee and twice as much as is recommended for older children and teenagers. 


Other ingredients

Besides the ginseng root and guarana seed extracts, none of them contribute to a healthy diet. However, the amount of these extract is much less than required to be effective - essentially they are added for marketing, not health reasons

On the other hand… why bother with, say, “semi-healthy” energy drinks, like Monster, when you can have the real thing with CaffeinAll?