We wake up each morning and inevitably grab a mug of coffee before heading out the door. It’s become our de facto fuel. These days it’s become the norm to make a stop at the local java shop for a grande triple shot latte with sugar free vanilla flavoring. Coffee has become a staple for the morning. The reason for this is simple-caffeine. The stuff is loaded with it. Caffeine is a stimulant. It wakes us up.
Caffeine is actually the most widely used psychoactive ‘drug’ in the world. About 80% of the total world population consumes caffeine, in tea, in coffee, in sodas and even in chocolate, on a daily basis. Fully 90% of Americans consume caffeine in one form or other each day. Half of those 90% ingest more than 300 milligrams of caffeine on a daily, day to day basis. Caffeine makes things work.
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.
Caffeine was first discovered back in 1819 by a German chemist called Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, who called it kaffein due to the fact that it was found in coffee or kaffee in German.
Caffeine is found in beans, leaves and fruits of various plant species which use it to ward off and even kill certain types of insects.
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.
People tend to build tolerances to caffeine, much like other drugs. This means they need to ingest more caffeine to feel the effect. Caffeine tolerance is known to develop quite rapidly. Those who consume large amounts of caffeine may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, stomach pain and irritability when they’ve not had any caffeine.
When consumed in moderation, caffeine can enhance physical and mental performance. Studies have shown that caffeine can improve endurance in athletes especially in high intensity activities.
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.
Some studies have correlated miscarriages with increased caffeine intake amongst pregnant women, but there is no conclusive, hard evidence to support a direct link.
Some religions discourage the consumption of caffeine due to its stimulative properties.
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