Jun 04 2010
Coffee & Caffeine
Caffeine is what makes most people reach for their morning cup of coffee. While there are many other drinks that contain this potent ingredient, coffee caffeine is the most popular beverage that contains this powerful jolt of energy. Baristas in coffee shops can attest to its popularity when they are serving up double and even triple shot lattes on a daily basis. Caffeine is a stimulant that has been around for hundreds of years and is the go-go juice that starts out many people’s days and for some keeps them going all day long.
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and even some soft drinks. Statistics show that 80% of the world ingests caffeine on daily basis, over 90% of Americans consume some form of caffeine daily, the majority of which is through coffee, and coffee based drinks. Gravity may keep the planets in motion but caffeine seems to be what keeps people in motion.
Caffeine is the ingredient that is found in the coffee bean that makes coffee addictive. It can also be found in the leaves and fruits of many other plants. Mother Nature has used this ingredient to help keep insects off a variety of plants. The caffeine that gets the morning started in that hot coffee comes from the coffee bush plant.
Caffeine’s addictive properties come from it being a stimulant. When ingested it reacts in the central nervous system to increase awareness and alertness and stop drowsiness. The heart rate typically increases and the person may feel a burst of energy. Coffee also acts as a diuretic and causes increased urine production.
Caffeine studies have shown that moderate consumption of caffeine can increase physical and mental performance in individuals. Some studies suggest that moderate amounts can also increase physical endurance in athletes.
On the other hand, there are down sides to consuming too much caffeine. Addiction to caffeine is probably the most common addiction. Coffee drinkers who decide to quit will often find themselves suffering from severe headaches and lethargy until their body adjusts. Drinking too much coffee can also lead to having jittery hands, a sign of being over stimulated.
The amount of caffeine that is considered too much is around 6,000 mg per day. Drip coffee contains anywhere from 115-175 mg of caffeine and a tall Starbucks coffee contains 240 mg. The average intake is approximately 280 mg per day, which would equate to two cups of home coffee or one tall coffee shop coffee.
Caffeine is the main reason most people drink coffee. While there are some people who like coffee simply for its taste, it would be a safe to assume that they started out drinking it for the caffeine and developed a taste for it. Some people eventually change over to decaffeinated coffee due to health reasons but they still crave their morning coffee regardless.
-Sharon Chapman
Related posts:
- Coffee & Caffeine Myths Debunked
- Kick Cellulite With Caffeine
- Coffee Decaf
- Decaf Coffee
- Coffee and Tea