Facts About 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.
The question becomes then, why is caffeine so necessary and what is it that makes it so appealing? In scientific terms caffeine is known as trimethylxanthine and its molecular formula is C8H10N4O2. As a pure substance, caffeine is odorless and white in appearance and acidic in taste.
It was discovered in 1819 by a German chemist by the name of Friedrich Ferdinand Runger. He named it kafein after the German word for coffee-kaffee.
Caffeine is naturally occurring and can be found in a variety of plants; it actually acts a pesticide, keeping insects at bay.
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it reacts with the central nervous system, and stimulates awareness, increasing alertness and warding off drowsiness. It also has diuretic properties, meaning that in those unused to its effects it can increase urine production. Caffeine is absorbed within 45 minutes of ingestion. Its half life, varies but within adults it lasts about five hours.
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'.
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.
Regular drip coffee contains about 115-175 mg of caffeine. Mountain Dew contains 54.5 mg of caffeine. Jolt cola contains a whopping 280 mg of caffeine. Black tea contains 50 mg while green tea only contains 30 mg of the stuff.
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. - 17274
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.
The question becomes then, why is caffeine so necessary and what is it that makes it so appealing? In scientific terms caffeine is known as trimethylxanthine and its molecular formula is C8H10N4O2. As a pure substance, caffeine is odorless and white in appearance and acidic in taste.
It was discovered in 1819 by a German chemist by the name of Friedrich Ferdinand Runger. He named it kafein after the German word for coffee-kaffee.
Caffeine is naturally occurring and can be found in a variety of plants; it actually acts a pesticide, keeping insects at bay.
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it reacts with the central nervous system, and stimulates awareness, increasing alertness and warding off drowsiness. It also has diuretic properties, meaning that in those unused to its effects it can increase urine production. Caffeine is absorbed within 45 minutes of ingestion. Its half life, varies but within adults it lasts about five hours.
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'.
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.
Regular drip coffee contains about 115-175 mg of caffeine. Mountain Dew contains 54.5 mg of caffeine. Jolt cola contains a whopping 280 mg of caffeine. Black tea contains 50 mg while green tea only contains 30 mg of the stuff.
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. - 17274
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
7:16 AM
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