The Low Down on Caffeine
It's become a morning tradition-each and every day we wake up and get the day started with a cup of piping hot coffee. It seems that many of us simply can't live without the stuff. Those quad shot, venti lattes from Starbucks have become an essential part of our morning routines. So just what is it that makes that infamous black sludge sludge so irresistible? The answer is caffeine. Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant used throughout the world to help us get through the day.
More than 80% of the entire world population consumes caffeine, whether it be in coffee, tea, sodas, or candies, each and every day. Around 90% of all Americans consume the stuff on a daily basis. More than half of them consume more than 300 milligrams each day. That's a lot of caffeine.
So, the big question is why does caffeine have such an effect on us? Why is it so powerful and why are we slaves to it, especially in the morning? Caffeine, known scientifically as trimethylaxanthine is quite simply a stimulant. In its pure, unmodified form, it's a crystalline substance that tastes bitter.
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.
The benefits as well as potential dangers of consuming caffeine have been the subject of many studies. It is known that consuming too much caffeine, thus more than 6,000 mg per day (most people consume around 300 mg a day on average) can lead to various sleep problems. Caffeine is also quite addictive.
People tend to build tolerances to caffeine, much like other drugs. This means they need to ingest more caffeine to feel the effect. Caffeine tolerance is known to develop quite rapidly. Those who consume large amounts of caffeine may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, stomach pain and irritability when they've not had any caffeine.
Moderate consumption of caffeine seems to increase one's capacity for physical and mental labor. It can actually enhance athletic performance and endurance. Caffeine works by stimulating your neurons.
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.
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.
Caffeine consumption is forbidden by some religions. - 17268
More than 80% of the entire world population consumes caffeine, whether it be in coffee, tea, sodas, or candies, each and every day. Around 90% of all Americans consume the stuff on a daily basis. More than half of them consume more than 300 milligrams each day. That's a lot of caffeine.
So, the big question is why does caffeine have such an effect on us? Why is it so powerful and why are we slaves to it, especially in the morning? Caffeine, known scientifically as trimethylaxanthine is quite simply a stimulant. In its pure, unmodified form, it's a crystalline substance that tastes bitter.
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.
The benefits as well as potential dangers of consuming caffeine have been the subject of many studies. It is known that consuming too much caffeine, thus more than 6,000 mg per day (most people consume around 300 mg a day on average) can lead to various sleep problems. Caffeine is also quite addictive.
People tend to build tolerances to caffeine, much like other drugs. This means they need to ingest more caffeine to feel the effect. Caffeine tolerance is known to develop quite rapidly. Those who consume large amounts of caffeine may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, stomach pain and irritability when they've not had any caffeine.
Moderate consumption of caffeine seems to increase one's capacity for physical and mental labor. It can actually enhance athletic performance and endurance. Caffeine works by stimulating your neurons.
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.
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.
Caffeine consumption is forbidden by some religions. - 17268
About the Author:
Learn more about one cup coffee makers. Stop by Damian Papworth's site where you can find out all about one cup coffee makers and the type of coffee they can make for you.
posted by X - Men at
11:02 AM
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