Facts About Caffeine

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.

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 just what is caffeine and why do we all crave it so much? Caffeine is the layman’s term for chemical compound 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine. In its pure, unadulterated form, caffeine is a white crystalline xanthine alkaloid with a bitter taste.

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

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. It acts quite literally like a pick me up. Ingest caffeine and you’ll feel less drowsy, more alert and ready to go. This is why so many people rely on it to wake up in the mornings. Caffeine also has diuretic characteristics, although studies have shown that these aren’t necessarily significant. Caffeine takes about 30-45 minutes to be absorbed by the body. The duration of its effects varies, but for the average healthy adult, it lasts around 4-5 hours.

There are varying opinions as to the effects and benefits of caffeine. High caffeine consumption which is considered to be more than 6,000 mg/day (most Americans consume about 280 mg/day, while about 20-30% consume more than 600 mg) is considered to be adverse to one’s health. It can lead to sleeping problems and it is addictive.

The more caffeine you consume, the more tolerance for it you build, meaning that you have to take more to feel its effects; it’s the same with other drugs. Caffeine tolerance or adaption is developed quickly. It can be addicting. Consumers of large quantities of caffeine do often experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

Caffeine, when taken in moderate amounts, has been proven to stimulate mental and physical prowess. Scientific trials have proven that it can enhance athletic endurance.

Your typical drip-brewed coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine. A cup of black tea (8 oz) contains 50 mg of caffeine. Sodas such as Coke and Pepsi contain 40-50 mg per 12 ounce can, while chocolate contains 6 mg per ounce.

Caffeine is not recommended in large quantities for pregnant women. Although the findings are as yet inconclusive, there is some evidence to suggest that caffeine may affect the formation of the fetus or possibly increase the risk of miscarriage. It may also affect fertility. That being said, there is no direct link connecting caffeine to miscarriage.

Some religions discourage the consumption of caffeine due to its stimulative properties.

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