Drinking coffee while pregnant alters the fetal brain
A large new study puts caffeine-drinking moms on alert.
- A study finds that the brains of children born to mothers who consumed coffee during pregnancy are different.
- Neuroregulating caffeine easily crosses the placental barrier.
- The observed differences may be associated with behavioral issues.
A large study of nine- and ten-year-old brains
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY3NzIyOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDk5MjQ0N30.UCu1Ygfi_rmO-xLpW-KOgCX-MJ3bfqjzfIVg4Kmcr9w/img.jpg?width=980" id="d2e15" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c96aa86f8dbe08aa8536502ac1769497" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1440" data-height="960" />Credit: myboys.me/Adobe Stock
<p>For the study, researchers analyzed brain scans of 9,000 nine and ten-year-olds. Based on their mothers' recollections of their coffee consumption during pregnancy, the researchers found that children of coffee drinkers had clear changes in the manner in which white brain matter tracks were organized. These are the pathways that interconnect brain regions.</p><p>According to Foxe, "These are sort of small effects, and it's not causing horrendous psychiatric conditions, but it is causing minimal but noticeable behavioral issues that should make us consider long-term effects of caffeine intake during pregnancy."</p><p>Christensen says that what makes this finding noteworthy is that "we have a biological pathway that looks different when you consume caffeine through pregnancy."</p><p>Of children with such pathway differences, Christensen says, "Previous studies have shown that children perform differently on IQ tests, or they have different psychopathology, but that could also be related to demographics, so it's hard to parse that out until you have something like a biomarker. This gives us a place to start future research to try to learn exactly when the change is occurring in the brain."</p><p>The study doesn't claim to have determined exactly <em>when</em> during development these changes occur, or if caffeine has more of an effect during one trimester or another.</p><p>Foxe cautions, "It is important to point out this is a retrospective study. We are relying on mothers to remember how much caffeine they took in while they were pregnant."</p><p>So as if being pregnant wasn't difficult enough, it sounds like the most conservative and safe course of action for expectant mothers is to forgo those revitalizing cups of Joe and switch to decaf or some other un-caffeinated form of liquid comfort. We apologize on behalf of science.</p>What your morning coffee really does to your brain
Your morning coffee is good for you - if you drink it at the right time.
- Caffeine, the main stimulant found in coffee, works on a chemical level to give you energy by replacing the biochemical adenosine, which makes you tired.
- There are many health benefits to caffeine, such as a boost in metabolism and an increase in physical performance/muscle strength.
- To get the most positive impacts of your daily caffeine intake, drink coffee between 10 in the morning and 12 noon or between 2 in the afternoon and 5 in the evening.
Your brain on coffee
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1b7784d7ec18a202dd02c5c97e1499d4"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4YOwEqGykDM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-caffeine" target="_blank">Caffeine</a>, the main stimulant in coffee, works on a chemical level to give you a boost of energy. However, caffeine is structurally similar to another chemical naturally created in the body, called <a href="https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1067/adenosine" target="_blank">adenosine</a>, which makes you tired.</p><p>Some substances imitate natural neurotransmitters and can take their place in receptors. For example, morphine can bind to the receptors in the brain meant for your endorphins (which is a natural kind of 'morphine' produced by your brain). </p><p><strong>Caffeine replaces adenosine, which builds your adrenaline and causes dopamine to linger longer.</strong></p><p>Similar to how morphine binds to endorphin receptors, the caffeine in your morning coffee binds to your brain's adenosine receptors, preventing the biochemical from making you tired. </p><p>Caffeine also builds your adrenaline supply which increases your heart rate and allows blood to pump faster. At the same time, caffeine prevents dopamine from being reabsorbed into your system, which allows it to linger in the brain for a longer amount of time, causing you to feel it's positive effects (such as happiness) for a longer amount of time. </p><p>This lingering of dopamine is what often triggers the brain to crave more caffeine. After all, while dopamine itself <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-who-stray/201701/no-dopamine-is-not-addictive" target="_blank">isn't inherently addictive</a>, it does play a large role in many addictions. </p><p><strong>More coffee means more adenosine receptors which means more coffee...</strong></p><p>The brain is a complex and intricate system. The more coffee you drink, the more adenosine receptors are formed, meaning it can take more coffee to keep you awake now than it did when you started drinking coffee as a young adult. </p><p><strong>According to<a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/2390099/overdosing-caffeine" target="_blank">research</a>, caffeine has a half-life of around 6 hours. </strong></p><p>Within the first 10 minutes, the caffeine enters your bloodstream and is pumped throughout your body, causing an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. </p><p>Up to 20 minutes after intake, caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors, neutralizing fatigue. Dopamine levels increase and linger, which provides the drinker with an alert and focused feeling. </p><p>Within 30 minutes, your adrenal glands shift into high gear and begin producing more hormones. During this time your vision may become sharper due to your pupils dilating. </p><p>Within 40 minutes, your body begins producing more serotonin, which improves the neuron function within your spinal cord - this leads to improved coordination and muscle strength. </p><p>After 4 hours, your metabolism increases, which is why you burn energy faster. Your body begins to break down stored fats during this time. </p><p>Within 6 hours, the liquid coffee has gone through your system and you will likely feel the urge to urinate, during which time approximately half the caffeine you consumed is expelled. </p>How to make your coffee habit benefit you
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzIxMTYwMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MjkyMjUzMH0.-aKCrd265VKKDjI2g8QruGKdXs6i2RIcYSeRdygZwLY/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C72%2C0%2C72&height=700" id="9f1b6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3a409121a158d78aba0b22335d00f702" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="concept of coffee time coffee cup on blank background with clock" data-width="1245" data-height="700" />What time of day you drink your coffee can mean the difference between a good habit and a bad habit.
Photo by bluehand on Shutterstock
<p>Of course, with anything caffeinated, moderation is key. When consumed in excess, caffeine can cause anxiety, heart palpitations, and sleeping problems.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/too-much-caffeine/" target="_blank">Consumer Reports</a>, up to 400mg of caffeine per day (which equals two to four 8 ounce cups) can be part of a healthy diet, however anything over 600mg per day is too much. </p><p><strong>What are the health benefits of coffee? </strong></p><p>Despite what you may have been told, there are several ways your daily caffeine intake is good for you. Not only can coffee improve your energy levels, but it can cause your brain to function <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee#section1" target="_blank">at optimal levels</a>, making you smarter. </p><p><u>Some other health benefits of coffee include: </u></p><ul><li>Boosting your metabolism</li><li>Improving your physical performance </li><li>Helping you with your nutrient intake (the vitamins B2, B3, B5, manganese, and potassium are all found in coffee)</li><li>Lowering your risk of developing type 2 diabetes</li><li>Helping fight depression symptoms and make you happier </li><li>Providing a source of antioxidants </li></ul><p><strong>Consuming caffeine when cortisol levels are high decreases the health benefits.</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-cortisol" target="_blank">Cortisol</a>, a naturally-occurring stress hormone, has a very distinct circadian rhythm that is regulated by the brain's central pacemaker. Interrupting this rhythm can lead to metabolic abnormalities, fatigue, and poor quality of life, according to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19223520" target="_blank">a 2009 study</a> published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. </p><p>Consuming caffeine when your cortisol levels are at a natural peak can lead to interference in the production of cortisol and an increase in your tolerance, which can impact your response to stress and will cause to you need more and more caffeine as time goes on.</p><p><strong>When is the best time to drink coffee?</strong></p><p>The cortisol levels in your body are at a natural peak three times per day, one of which is in the early morning. According to <a href="https://time.com/3903826/coffee-early-morning-worst-time/" target="_blank">this article in Time Magazine</a>, the best times to drink coffee (or ingest caffeine) are between 10 in the morning and 12 noon, and then again between 2 in the afternoon and 5 in the evening. </p><p>This will allow your brain to make the most of your caffeine surge, as it's not replacing any other important functions, such as the cortisol release that naturally happens several times per day. </p>Scientists Discover Why Your Brain Can't Block Out Unwanted Thoughts
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