Sounds crazy – but it is true! Caffeine is produced by many plants and acts as a natural pesticide to protect them against insects. It also can help protect your brain function.
We usually consume caffeine for the energy boost it
provides, but for the plants that produce it, caffeine serves as a pesticide
that drives away insects and animals that would like to munch on their leaves
and fruit.
Science has discovered that caffeine stimulates the production of an enzyme that can help fend off Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The enzyme, NMNAT2 (nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl transferase 2) helps improve brain health in two ways:
- It protects neurons from the negative impact of stress.
- It helps prevent tau proteins from folding the
wrong way and forming masses of harmful plaques in the brain’s neurons.
Improperly folded proteins are linked to Parkinson’s
and Huntington’s diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou
Gehrig’s disease) as well as Alzheimer’s.
Brain Cell Stress Reduction
Research has shown that caffeine reduces the activity
of a receptor called adenosine A2A. This
receptor increases stress in brain cells and can slow your mental abilities as
you age. Reducing the activity of this
receptor prevents it from interrupting memory circuits in key areas of the
brain.
Caffeine and Alzheimer’s
While NOT a panacea – research has confirmed that
daily caffeine intake up to 261mg per day (the amount in two – three cups of
coffee) significantly reduced the chance of developing dementia.
Dark Side of Caffeine
Keep in mind that too much of a good thing is not a
good thing! Caffeine intake beyond
261mg has NOT been shown to improve benefits so limit your caffeine intake. This is the equivalent of one large coffee.
In addition, there is significant variation in how individuals respond to caffeine with slow and fast metabolizers. If you happen to be a slow metabolizer be very careful with how much caffeine you consume – and take none after Noon or you will likely disturb your sleep which is very bad for brain health!
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