What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a tuly addictive drug. It has the same mechanisms and amphetamines that cocaine and heroin use to stimulate the brain. Although caffeine effects are milder than amphetamines of cocaine and heroin it is manipulating the same channels of the brain, which gives it its addictive power. Feeling that you can not go throughout your day without ingesting caffeine is a sign of addiction.
Affects of caffeine:
Another effect of caffeine is often anxiety. Caffeine stimulates the parts of the brain that are responsible for the "fight or flight" mechanism which is why some people who consume caffeine may experience anxiety. Some people who are addicted to caffeine may become irritable and feel that they need more caffeine to calm this emotion. Another common affect of caffeine is not being able to go to sleep or disturbing a good night's sleep. If a woman is breastfeeding and consumes only up to three cups of caffeine a day, the baby may also become irritable and have trouble sleeping.
Where is caffeine found?
Caffeine is found naturally in plants, such as coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa nuts and is extracted to mix into beverages. Many beverages contain caffeine such as: coffee, cappuccino, tea, soda, chocolate drinks, and even some bottled water. Although caffeine may seem mild, you may be drink more of it then you realize.
Did you know...?
"Typical brewed tea contains 70 mg per 6-ounce cup."
"Typical colas (Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, ect.) contain 50 mg per 12-ouncs can. Things like Jolt conatin 70 mg per 12-ounce can."
"Typical chocolate milk contains 6 mg per ounce."
"Typical drip-brewed coffee contains 100 mg per 6-ounce cup. If you are byring your coffee at Starbucks or a convenience store or drinking it at home or the office out of a mug or a commuter's cup, you are consuming it in 12-14 or 20- ounce containers. You can calculate the number of milligrams based on your normal serving size."
So why do American's consume so much caffeine?
The answer is stimple...stress. American's have hectic and fast paced lifestyles. Although this is good for some, it is very stressful for others. For some the feeling of stress acna be motivating and energizing in the short term. "In short bursts, the cascade of hormones and neurotransmitters involved in the experience of stress can be lifesaving and performance enhancing; but on a long- term basis, the effects of these hormones constantly coursing through the body can be disabling, contributing to a number of disease processes. Coffee drinking and caffeine intake stimulatre the cascade of hoemones and increase the levels of cortisol, one of the body's stress hormones, intensifying and increasing the chronicity of the physical stress response." This means that by drinking caffeine you feel as though you are less stressed because your hormones are increases and "masking" your stress feelings.