The Affects of Caffeine - Negative effects of caffeine, caffeine content, and how it affects the body.

The Affects of Caffeine - Negative effects of caffeine, caffeine content, and how it affects the body.
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What is caffeine?

In its purest form, caffeine is odorless and tastes bitter. It is a stimulant, a substance that induces alertness, mental function, and a sense of well-being. After being ingested, the food or drink takes its course as usual. Once it gets to the stomach and small intestine it is absorbed into the bloodstream. As it goes through the bloodstream it will increase the heart rate, constrict the blood vessels, and relax air passages. The affects are usually noticed after 15 to 20 minutes after being consumed. Once entered in the body, it takes a few hours to be excreted from the body.

Adenosine & Caffeine

The brain can’t tell the difference between adenosine and caffeine. Adenosine is a chemical in the brain that causes drowsiness. When caffeine gets to the brain it fools certain receptors that adenosine usually binds to. The nerve cells speed up instead of slow down like it should, because the adenosine has been replaced by the caffeine. The pituitary glands notice the sudden change in the brain and thinks that there might be an emergency. Because of this, the gland starts to produce epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. The adrenaline is what really gets the body going, and is what gives you so much energy when you have caffeine. It dilates the pupils, increases the heart rate, the liver releases sugar into the bloodstream (for extra energy) and the blood pressure rises.

Caffeine Content

Caffeine is most commonly found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and soft drinks, while also being found in nuts, chocolate, and some pain relievers and medicines. Moderate consumption of this substance is considered to be about 300 mg, depending on the individual. Caffeine is lethal in very large doses, around 90 cups of coffee in a short period of time. As far as I know, there has not been a documented death due to an overdose of caffeine.

Caffeine content (5 oz):

  • Coffee 100mg
  • Coffee(decaf) 2-5mg
  • Tea 40-80mg
  • Hot Cocoa 1-8mg

Caffeine content (12 oz):

  • Mountain Dew 55mg
  • Tab 47mg
  • Coca Cola 64mg
  • Dr. Pepper 61mg
  • Pepsi 43mg
  • Root Beer 0mg
  • Sprite 0gm
  • 7-up 0mg

Affects & Dependency of Caffeine

Caffeine may help you wake in the morning, and even keep you up later when you are tired, but is it really worth it? Some short term affects may include decreased fine motor skills, headaches, nervousness, dizziness, a jump in epinephrine, and an increased amount of urine. Like many other things, your body can become dependent of caffeine. Dependency of caffeine usually happens at having about 4-5 cups of coffee a day. Withdrawal symptoms usually include nervousness, a decrease in blood pressure, restlessness, fatigue, feeling sleepy (due to the adenosine), and headaches. Research has shown that caffeine is not harmful to humans, as long as it’s not a large amount consumed daily. If kept in moderation, caffeine seems to have no negative affect if in one’s diet.

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