Is Caffeine a Replacment For Exercise?

 Caffeine isn’t a replacement for exercise. That sentence is an odd but true one. Caffeine does give you energy and wake you up in the morning. However, exercise does the same thing. Caffeine takes less work. True but it has some serious negative impacts on your body and health. However, exercise has positive impacts on your physical and mental health. Then what kind of negative effects does caffeine have on your mental health?

    Caffeine has long-lasting negative effects on your mental health. For example, caffeine keeps you alert and aware of your surroundings. When you have too much caffeine it can heighten your anxiety. Caffeine also has some serious physical effects on your physical and long-term health. 

     How does caffeine affect your physical health? Well, caffeine can cause Insomnia; because caffeine keeps you awake, it also makes it difficult to fall asleep. It also makes it difficult for you to get good sleep and wake up feeling refreshed ready for your day; which will affect your ability to perform daily tasks correctly or at all. Caffeine affects your body internally as well. 

     Caffeine causes muscles to break down and Rhabdomyolysis which is where your damaged muscle fibers enter your bloodstream which can cause kidney failure and other serious medical problems that will affect the rest of your life. On top of that Caffeine can cause High blood pressure and increase your heart rate. When your heart rate gets too high it can tier your heart out because it is a mussel and like all muscles without rest will get tired and stop working correctly. When your heart is moving so fast there isn’t enough oxygen and blood pumping throughout the body and there isn’t enough oxygen getting to your brain which can kill you. Now, these things are less likely to happen if you don’t drink excessive amounts of caffeine however they are possible. The main reason that people drink so much caffeine is that they have trouble sleeping so they need something that can wake them up or keep them awake. Believe it or not, exercise can have the same effect in keeping you awake. 

     Exercise will help you be able to sleep because your brain and body are both tired. Your muscles need to be rested or they won't work properly for the next day which is why when you are done exercising you get tired in the first place. Not only is sleep good for your physical health it is good for your mental health. With a full recommended 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night you will be able to complete your daily routine without the need for anything to keep you awake. When you get the right amount of sleep it also beneficially affects your mental health.  

       Exercise can improve your anxiety. Unlike caffeine which can cause it to spike. Getting good exercise can also get your mind to focus on something other than the world around you. It can also reduce your depression and help other mental issues whether they are neurological-like tic disorders or physiological like ADHD and OCD. (This isn’t the case for all people, every person and every disability is different). Exercise can also help improve your appearance which is the main cause of body image problems which can cause some serious mental issues that also affect you physically in a negative way. As well as improving your mental health exercise can improve your physical health.

       Exercise can reduce your risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, coronary artery disease, and heart attack, by increasing blood flow and raising your oxygen levels in your body. The increased amount of oxygen is also good for your brain and heart. You are also increasing your physical strength which makes different daily tasks easier and the more muscle you have the harder it is for bones to snap. It is harder because there is more cushion and more material to absorb the shock of impact and it makes it harder to bend the bone in ways it can’t/shouldn't. 

       Knowing this caffeine isn’t a replacement for sleep and exercise. It is important to not drink caffeine in excessive amounts. As well as exercise regularly. It doesn’t have to be going to the gym every day but going on a short walk or playing a sport regularly. It will help your sleep patterns and your physical and mental health.