A recent study found that consuming four to five cups of ground coffee per day and habitual coffee intake of up to five cups per day significantly reduced all-cause mortality and Cardiovascular (CV ) mortality – we can live longer and healthier with caffeine .
For cardiovascular health, recent studies have shown that coffee consumption, up to five cups daily, has been linked to a lower risk of conditions like hypertension and heart failure. This protective effect is largely due to coffee’s rich antioxidant content, which fights oxidative stress and inflammation. Interestingly, caffeine can both dilate and constrict blood vessels, depending on the area of the body and specific conditions, influencing overall circulatory health.
Beyond the heart, caffeine has shown promise in reducing the risk of physical frailty among older adults, indicating its potential to combat age-related decline in physical function. Its anti-inflammatory properties and muscle performance enhancement are thought to play a role here.
Embracing Caffeine’s Role in Our Skin Care Routine
Moving to skin health, caffeine’s antioxidant properties may protect against photoaging, improve the skin barrier, and lower the risk of certain cancers. Caffeine eye creams and skincare products vasoconstrictive effects can also diminish redness and inflammation, contributing to better skin health. Notably, caffeine’s ability to decrease blood flow to the under-eye area suggests it could help reduce puffiness and dark circles, making it a popular ingredient in topical creams.
Many people use caffeine in their skincare routine as well as our daily consumption because of these long term benefits, but it will not generally bring back lost support below the skin. Caffeine is a great antioxidant, and a great vasoconstrictor making it a choice for topical applications and oral use, which may be of benefit in reducing the appearance of dark circles and eye bags. For people with sensitive skin types the often under-rated ingredient “caffeine usp” can protect against free radicals while helping to diminish the appearance of redness and irritation. Some advanced medical grade SPF sunscreen products will include this powerful ingredient to enhance the sunscreen’s antioxidant properties to help in the fight against the damaging properties of over exposure to the sun.
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Caffeine for Eye Bags and Dark Circles (Eye Creams, Eye Gel, + Eye Serum)
Caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties, which can narrow the blood vessels beneath the skin, temporarily reducing the appearance of darkness and puffiness to the skin around the eyes or tired eyes. This diminution in blood flow can alleviate the look of tired, swollen, and puffy eyes, casting an appearance of alertness and freshness over signs of fatigue.
Caffeine Application may temporarily soften the appearance of under-eye bags, yet it does not resort or lift, where lost foundation has occurred. The structural changes—the loss of bone density, the weakening of muscle, the redistribution of fat—remain unchanged. Thus, while caffeine can offer a temporary benefit from the visual signs of under-eye bags, it cannot rebuild the eroded foundations.
Caffeine has the ability to give some skin level effects by constricting blood vessels, and temporarily making improvements in the under eye area.
Genetics and time and age play as major variables in the shape of the under eye area. However, the biggest effects come with the loss of support from below the skin, such as lost bone, muscle, and fat. The skin creases with this lost support, resulting in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.
Bone resorption, a natural part of aging, erodes the once sturdy scaffolding of the face. Muscles, too, become smaller and add to this lost tone and tone and firmness. Fat can be not only redistributed but also lost in areas of support – furthering the change in foundation below the skin.. collectively these changes result in the sagging and puffiness that result as under-eye bags.
READ MORE: Home Remedies for Under Eye Bags
Benefits of Caffeine + Other Ways Caffeine Can Help Our Health
Caffeine’s benefits extend to cognitive function and mental health, enhancing alertness and concentration while offering protective benefits against cognitive decline and depression. Its role in mood enhancement is mediated through effects on neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
Antioxidant benefits of caffeine include reducing oxidative stress and potentially lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Moreover, caffeine enhances physical performance, aiding in endurance and weight management by boosting metabolic rate and fat oxidation.
However, it’s crucial to consider caffeine’s source and overall diet when assessing its benefits. Especially when it’s combined with a lot of sugar and high saturated fat creams – it can negate the benefits. Opting for sources like black coffee and green tea, and personalizing intake based on individual health profiles, can maximize benefits while minimizing risks.
For those seeking more substantial changes, medical interventions, including fillers, or surgery, may offer a more direct approach to correcting or surgically adjusting for the structural deficits that cause under-eye bags.