Buzz or bustCaffeine works by temporarily blocking the calming effect of your brain’s natural sleep chemical, ‘adenosine’. In small doses, it can stave off feelings of fatigue but too much can disrupt sleep and leave you feeling anxious and jittery.
Caffeine also effects your cardiovascular system. More than three or four cups a day will slow your pulse and raise blood pressure, making your heart work harder to pump blood around your body.
If you have a heart problem, work in a physically demanding job, or spend time in the heat, limit your caffeine intake to prevent unnecessary stress on your body and avoid dehydration.
Caffeine culpritsCheck food and beverage labels as many products contain caffeine, from headache tablets and sporting drinks to herbal teas.
Camomile tea, also known as ‘Night Tea’, is one of the few without caffeine. Although not a sedative, it is known to reduce anxiety and has a calming affect that promotes drowsiness, and can help to settle stomach complaints.
If camomile is not your cup of choice, try some of the many other varieties, like Japanese Green tea, known for helping to lower blood sugar and high blood pressure, or native South African Rooibos (Red Bush) tea renowned for its distinct flavour and benefits for treating insomnia and nervous tension.
For something a little more exciting, try a nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) infusion, which is savoured as an aphrodisiac!
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your name. Read our have your say guidelines.