Caffeine Facts

The following is reprinted from Uncle John's Legendary Lost Bathroom Reader.

What is America's favorite drug? You guessed it - caffeine. We use more caffeine than all other drugs - legal or illegal - combined. Want to know what the stuff is doing to you? Here's a quick overview.

BACKGROUND

If you start the day with a strong cup of coffee or tea, you're not alone. Americans ingest the caffeine equivalent of 530 million cups of coffee every day. Caffeine is the world's most popular mood-altering drug. It's also one of the oldest: according to archaeologists, man has been brewing beverages from caffeine-based plants since the Stone Age.

HOW CAFFEINE PICKS YOU UP

Caffeine doesn't keep you awake by supplying extra energy; rather it fools your body into thinking it isn't tired. When your brain is tired and wants to slow down, it releases a chemical called adenosine. Adenosine travels to special cells called receptors, where it goes to work counteracting the chemicals that stimulate your brain. Caffeine mimics adenosine; so it can "plug up" your receptors and prevent adenosine from getting through. Result: Your brain never gets the signal to slow down, and keeps building up stimulants.

JAVA JUNKIES

After a while, your brain figures out what's going on, and increases the number of receptor cells so it has enough for both caffeine and adenosine. When that happens, caffeine can't keep you awake anymore … unless you increase the amount you drink so it can "plug up" the new receptor cells as well. This whole process only takes about a week. In that time, you essentially become a caffeine addict. Your brain is literally restructuring itself to run on caffeine; take the caffeine away and your brain has too many receptor cells to operate properly. If you quit ingesting caffeine "cold turkey," your brain begins to reduce the number of receptors right away. But the process takes about two weeks, and during that time your body sends out mild "distress signals" in the form of headaches, lethargy, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, and sometimes even stillness and flu-like symptoms. As a result, most doctors recommend cutting out caffeine gradually.

CAFFEINE'S EFFECTS

Good: Caffeine has been scientifically proven to temporarily increase alertness, comprehension, memory, reflexes, and even the rate of learning. It also helps increase clarity of thought. Bad: Too much caffeine can cause hand tremors, loss of coordination or appetite, insomnia, and in extreme cases, trembling, nausea, heart palpitations, and diarrhea. Widely varying the amount of caffeine you ingest can put a strain on your liver, pancreas, heart, and nervous system. And if you're prone to ulcers, caffeine can make your situation worse. If you manage to consume the equivalent of 70 - 100 cups of coffee in one sitting, you'll experience convulsions, and may even die.

CAFFEINE FACTS

The average American drinks 210 milligrams of caffeine a day. That's equivalent to 2-3 cups of coffee, depending on how strong it is. How you make your coffee has a lot to do with how much caffeine you get. Instant coffee contains 65 milligrams of caffeine per serving; coffee brewed in a percolator has 80 milligrams; and coffee made using the "drip method" has 155 milligrams. Top four sources of caffeine in the American diet: coffee, soft drinks, tea, and chocolate, in that order. The average American gets 75% of their caffeine from coffee. Other sources include over-the-counter pain killers, appetite suppressants, cold remedies, and some prescription drugs. What happens to the caffeine that's removed from decaf coffee? Most of it is sold to soda companies and put into soft drinks. (Cola contains some caffeine naturally, but they like to add even more.) Do you drink more caffeine than your kids do? If you correct for body weight, probably not. Pound for pound, kids often get as much caffeine from chocolate and soft drinks as their parents get from coffee, tea, and other sources.
The article above is reprinted with permission from Uncle John's Legendary Lost Bathroom Reader. This special edition book covers the three "lost" Bathroom Readers - Uncle John's 5th, 6th and 7th book all in one. The huge (and hugely entertaining) volume covers neat stories like the Strange Fate of the Dodo Bird, the Secrets of Mona Lisa, and more ... Since 1988, the Bathroom Reader Institute had published a series of popular books containing irresistible bits of trivia and obscure yet fascinating facts. Check out their website here: Bathroom Reader Institute

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

I have taken caffeine out of my diet nearly a month ago. I have went to starbucks twice a day For the past couple of years and also taken a excercise stimulant called ripped fuel for the past 3 years a few times a week. I am seriously so ill. Heart palpitations, nervousness, indigestion, diarrhea, headaches, really I feel like death. Is this normal? Someone please help!!!! Chame16922@aol.com if you have advice. Thanks
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Everything in moderation is what they say.

Advantages:
Caffeine has been scientifically proven to temporarily increase alertness, comprehension, memory, reflexes, and even the rate of learning. It also helps increase clarity of thought.

Disadvantages:
Too much caffeine can cause hand tremors, loss of coordination or appetite, insomnia, and in extreme cases, trembling, nausea, heart palpitations, and diarrhea.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I just had to make a few comments about this caffeine thing.
I'am 65 years old and in better shape than most people my age or younger.
I started drinking coffee(black) when I was in the seventh grade. That was my breakfast before going to school. At that time I had about 2-3 cups, then would have 2-3 cups in the evening. This escalated to my daily average of about 12 or more cups per day, which I have consumed for the last 25 or so years, along with my pack or so of cigarettes daily.
I'am not nervous and jerky and I get my normal 6 hours of sleep a day.
All of this talk about what caffeine does to you,(in my opinion)is just bull.
I believe it all depends on a persons metabolism. That is, like your DNA, everybodys metabolism is different.
So for all of you people that can't handle it, I will have my first cigarette and my first cup of coffee tommorrow morning, thinking of you. Cheers.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
big corporations (like starbucks) know that people are prone to addiction, and they're not helping... i say it's all a conspiracy... and everybody is buying into it.

although i do love a cup of coffee in the morning, i also practice self control. as long as caffeine (or any substance, really) is taken in moderation, it won't really be detrimental to your health. be smart.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.




Email This Post to a Friend
"Caffeine Facts"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More