The Low Down on Caffeine

What is it that prompts our need for that morning cup of Joe? Why is it that we can't drag ourselves into consciousness without first taking a sip of a triple shot nonfat latte? It's the caffeine, of course. Caffeine is a natural stimulant. In fact, caffeine is actually considered the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world.

Statistically, around 80% of the world's population drinks or eats caffeine in some form or other, either in coffee, mate, tea, or chocolate etc. every single day. A whopping 90% of Americans ingest caffeine on a regular day to day basis. Just over half of those intake more than 300 milligrams of the stuff daily. Caffeine seems to make the world go round.

So, the big question is why does caffeine have such an effect on us? Why is it so powerful and why are we slaves to it, especially in the morning? Caffeine, known scientifically as trimethylaxanthine is quite simply a stimulant. In its pure, unmodified form, it's a crystalline substance that tastes bitter.

The German scientist Friedrich Ferdinand Runger discovered caffeine in the year 1819. He christened it kaffein, given that it could be derived from the beverage coffee.

Caffeine occurs naturally in some species of plants, which use it to keep away potentially fatal insects. Caffeine is actually a natural pesticide.

Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it reacts with the central nervous system, and stimulates awareness, increasing alertness and warding off drowsiness. It also has diuretic properties, meaning that in those unused to its effects it can increase urine production. Caffeine is absorbed within 45 minutes of ingestion. Its half life, varies but within adults it lasts about five hours.

The benefits as well as potential dangers of consuming caffeine have been the subject of many studies. It is known that consuming too much caffeine, thus more than 6,000 mg per day (most people consume around 300 mg a day on average) can lead to various sleep problems. Caffeine is also quite addictive.

It's easy to build up a tolerance for caffeine. This basically means that your body easily adapts to higher levels, which means you end up having to intake more caffeine to feel its effects. Those who do consume high amounts of caffeine each day often end up feeling withdrawal symptoms such headaches and stomach pains when they don't get their caffeine 'fix'.

Moderate consumption of caffeine seems to increase one's capacity for physical and mental labor. It can actually enhance athletic performance and endurance. Caffeine works by stimulating your neurons.

Regular drip coffee contains about 115-175 mg of caffeine. Mountain Dew contains 54.5 mg of caffeine. Jolt cola contains a whopping 280 mg of caffeine. Black tea contains 50 mg while green tea only contains 30 mg of the stuff.

Studies have shown that caffeine, may, potentially have adverse effects on pregnant women. There seems to be some correlation between miscarriages and increased caffeine intake, although there is no direct evidence to prove this.

Some religious followers don't consume caffeine-Christian Scientists, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, among others.

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Tags: Beverages, coffee, Drinks, food and beverages, food and drinks, health, leisure, nutrition

October 09 2009 08:00 am | coffee

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