All About Caffeine

By: Damian Papworth

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 is a nervous system stimulant and a diuretic, meaning it makes one feel awake and less drowsy and it also increases the production of urine. Caffeine is processed by the body within 30-45 minutes of ingestion; the effect wears off in about three hours depending on the amount consumed.

There are various benefits as well as disadvantages to consuming caffeine. Consuming too much caffeine-more than 6,000 mg/day which is a lot considering that the average intake is around 280 mg/day-isn't recommended. Consuming anything in excess can lead to problems, and caffeine in excess can lead to sleeping disorders and even addiction.

It's easy to build up a tolerance for caffeine. This basically means that your body easily adapts to higher levels, which means you end up having to intake more caffeine to feel its effects. Those who do consume high amounts of caffeine each day often end up feeling withdrawal symptoms such headaches and stomach pains when they don't get their caffeine 'fix'.

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.

Percolated coffee contains around 80-135 mg of caffeine per serving; drip coffee, on the other hand contains 115-175 mg of caffeine. A Starbucks coffee, tall, 12 ounces contains 240 mg of caffeine. Green tea contains 30 mg, while black tea contains 50 mg.

Studies have shown that caffeine, may, potentially have adverse effects on pregnant women. There seems to be some correlation between miscarriages and increased caffeine intake, although there is no direct evidence to prove this.

Some religious followers don't consume caffeine-Christian Scientists, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, among others.





About the Author:

Want to find out more about one cup coffee makers, then visit Damian Papworth's site on how to choose the best one cup coffee makers for your needs. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.



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