In 1820, caffeine was first isolated from coffee beans. Today, caffeine can be found in many energy drinks, soft drinks, coffee, tea, diet pills and chocolates. Despite the allegations that caffeine may raise cholesterol or impair fertility, it continues to be one of the most widely used mood-altering drugs. According to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, it is estimated that between 80 and 90 percent of adults and children will habitually consume caffeine. Fifteen percent have stopped using caffeine because they were concerned about their health or had unpleasant side effects.
Caffeine Sources
Caffeine is found in numerous plants, according to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Coffee is the leading dietary source of caffeine for adults; children get the majority of their caffeine from soft drinks. Although most people are aware that coffee, tea and most sodas contain caffeine, other sources are not as well known. Some coffee ice creams and yogurts will deliver a significant dose of caffeine, and a serving of dark chocolate candy can contain up to 30 mg of caffeine. Over-the-counter stimulants and some analgesics, such as Anacin and Excedrin, can contain doses up to 130 mg per to tablet dose.
Caffeine Actions on the Body
Caffeine will elevate an person's mood and produce a feeling of well-being, happiness, alertness and sociability. Larger doses can produce more negative effects, such as increased anxiety, nervousness, jitteriness an upset stomach. However, these negative effects are mild and generally brief. According to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and helps reduce your feeling of fatigue while it improves wakefulness and helps you concentrate and focus.
When to Stop
For most healthy adults, moderate doses of about 200 to 300 mg per day are not harmful, according to Mayo Clinic. But in some instances, you may consider limiting the amount of caffeine you get each day. Depending upon your sensitivity to caffeine, even a little may make you jittery. If you drink more than 4 cups of coffee each day, you aren't getting enough sleep, or you are taking medications and supplements that interact with caffeine, you may want to consider eliminating it from your diet entirely.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Caffeine withdrawal syndrome has several significant characteristics, according to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. These signs and symptoms include headache that begins gradually and sometimes becomes throbbing and severe; fatigue; sleepiness; difficulty concentrating; decreased motivation; irritability; depression; anxiety; flu-like symptoms; and impairment in cognitive performance. According to Johns Hopkins University, caffeine withdrawal syndrome is now being included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is considered the ultimate reference on mental disorders. The goal of the research from Johns Hopkins University was to review the literature regarding caffeine withdrawal and determine how often it produced clinically significant distress. In general, people suffer increased withdrawal because of an increase in their daily dose of caffeine. However, they also suffered symptoms after the elimination of doses as low as 100 mg per day, which is approximately the amount found in 1 small cup of coffee.
Quit the Caffeine Habit
Research from Johns Hopkins University regarding caffeine withdrawal syndrome indicated that people tried to avoid withdrawal symptoms through regular use of caffeine. However, they also found that people could reduce their caffeine habit without suffering from severe symptoms by using a simple stepwise approach that eliminates the need for a dose.
Member Comments