In this episode, Sam goes on a caffeine deep dive after traumatizing herself with an energy drink on an empty stomach (lol). She explores the physical and mental effects of drinking caffeine, plus how much you should be having, when you should be having it, and what types you should look for. She shares some shocking findings about synthetic caffeine (BAD), as well as the possibility of using caffeine as a preventative tool to protect against Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's (GOOD).

Listen to this episode if you want to optimize the way you use caffeine, or if you just want to feel and perform better at work or in the gym.

Key moments:

01:10 What inspired this episode

01:45 Sam's mantra about symptoms

02:24 Storytime

10:15 Sam's exact caffeine routine

12:35 What actually...is...caffeine?

13:13 The difference between natural and artificial caffeine

14:01 How natural caffeine is processed for consumption (also fun nerd moment!)

15:41 How synthetic caffeine is made (INSANE)

16:51 Craziest thing Sam has ever heard about caffeine

17:25 Somehow it gets worse

19:25 What does caffeine do in your body?

20:00 Caffeine and the brain

20:15 How caffeine impacts your sleep

21:50 How caffeine impacts your cognition

22:53 Yerkes-Dodson law broken down (important)

23:56 How caffeine impacts your memory

25:30 Caffeine and your mental health

25:44 Caffeine and anxiety

26:35 How caffeine affects your emotional state

27:14 Caffeine and depression (unexpected)

28:21 Long-term impacts of caffeine on your brain

28:28 Caffeine’s role in preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia (this is bananas)

29:55 Caffeine’s role in preventing Parkinson’s

31:10 The short-term physical effects of caffeine on your body

32:07 Caffeine overdose

32:20 How caffeine helps us in exercise/at the gym

33:26 The long-term physical effects of caffeine on your body

34:39 The most popular caffeinated products and their pros/cons

34:47 The benefits of drinking coffee (and the best way to drink it)

35:55 The benefits of drinking tea (and what kind is best)

36:57 The truth about energy drinks

39:03 Caffeine pills

39:49 Yerbamate

40:56 Can you become addicted to caffeine?

42:24 Upcoming episode topics

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