When you drink soda or coffee, the energy buzz you get comes from caffeine. This compound, which can occur both naturally and chemically, can affect you for at least six hours after consumption, but your body does not store it. Caffeine imparts a number of positive and negative health effects, but knowing your tolerance for caffeine is vitally important.
Where Caffeine Comes From
Caffeine doesn't come from just one place -- you can find it in the leaves and seeds of a variety of plants, such as coffee and cocoa beans. Chemically produced caffeine is often added to foods, including soda and pain relievers. Caffeine imparts a bitter flavor, although when added to products, the taste is often masked by added sugar and other flavorings.
Positive Medicinal Effects of Caffeine
Many people drink beverages containing caffeine to fight fatigue, giving them the stamina to stay awake and contributing to mental alertness. You may also take cold medications that have caffeine in them to combat grogginess that may occur during illnesses. This chemical may help if you suffer from migraine headaches. MayoClinic.com advises you to drink something with caffeine in it to ease pain, particularly when the migraine is in its early stages. Caffeine alone can improve your condition, although you can also drink caffeinated beverages along with pain medication to enhance the effect.
Negative Effects of Caffeine
Drinking too much caffeine can have negative effects on your health. Consuming 500 to 600 mg of caffeine per day can stop you from getting a full night of sleep and interrupt sleep patterns. It can also trigger muscle spasms, anxiety, irritability and gastrointestinal problems. MayoClinic.com notes that men most often experience negative health problems from caffeine. While it affects women, it is more pronounced in men.
Myths
Despite popular belief, drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages does not counteract alcohol, a depressant, in your body. Some people recommend consuming caffeine as a way of becoming more alert and reducing the slow reaction time that accompanies drinking alcohol, however, this only makes for a slightly more alert drunk person.
Dosage Recommendations and Warnings
Do not drink caffeine if you are pregnant, as it may harm your fetus. You should also carefully monitor your caffeine intake if you have a sensitivity -- if you react to small amounts of caffeine, you could experience headaches, tremors or heart palpitations. MedlinePlus notes that for a healthy person, however, moderate intake stands at 250 mg of caffeine per day, which is the equivalent of three 8-oz. servings of coffee. Speak to your physician about caffeine intake, as it can interfere with some medications.
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