MORE COFFEE OR BETTER FOCUS? The Surprising Science of Caffeine & Breathing | Dr Sedat Arslan

Does more coffee actually make you perform better, or does it just make you feel more switched on?

In this episode of Degrees of Health, Ben Hopkins chats to Dr. Sedat Arslan about his new study looking at caffeine, L-theanine and breathing in professional esports players.

They get into whether adding L-theanine to caffeine can improve reaction time, why slow breathing produced a surprisingly similar result, and what this might mean for anyone trying to focus better.

From gaming to studying, work and even getting ready for a podcast, the conversation explores why being more stimulated isn't always the same as performing better.

In this episode:

Caffeine and the difference between feeling alert and actually performing betterWhat happened when L-theanine was added to caffeineWhy breathing produced such an interesting resultWhether the findings could apply beyond esportsThe limitations of the study and what comes nextA few practical ideas for improving focus without just drinking more coffee

A really interesting conversation about finding that sweet spot between being switched on and staying calm.

ChaptersIntroduction to the study and guestBackground of Dr. Arslan and research focusWhy esports and caffeine? Understanding the contextCombining caffeine with L-theanine and breathingStudy design and participant detailsEffects of caffeine alone on reaction timeImpact of L-theanine and diaphragmatic breathingResults of breathing intervention and practical implicationsIndividual variability and future directionsHow breathing influences cognitive performancePractical takeaways and broader applications

Find Dr. Sedat Arslan:

Website: sedatarslan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/docdrsedatarslan/

If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe to Degrees of Health and let us know in the comments: Do you find that slowing down actually helps you focus?