Effect of caffeine in our daily lives.

Caffeine is an alkaloid; nitrogen containing molecule has a slightly bitter taste and are physiologically active. It’s a mild stimulant having a strong effect on the central nervous system; it is found in food products, consumption of caffeine in coffee, tea, several soft drinks, cocoa, drugs, chocolates and other natural foods. Chemical name 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine.

Intake of caffeine into the body is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and assimilated into the system, is a mild stimulant to the central nervous system, works by binding to a selectively neurotransmitter receptors site on the nerve cells, producing a continual signal, these effects are responsible for the effects of caffeine consumption.

In large quantities, caffeine can cause undesirable side effects such as irregular heartbeat, excess stomach acid, nervousness, headaches, heart burns, high blood pressure and blood sugar level. Also, it can produce birth defects when pregnant woman ingests caffeine; the foetus is exposed and more effected by the drug because of its smaller size.

The consumption or ingest rate of caffeine is sometimes not to the best of our knowledge, whether you drink coffee or not must of us put caffeine in our body , some do it because of energy rush, staying awake to study, whether we eat or drink the effect is still same. Caffeine causes blood vessels in the brain to tighten meaning; less oxygen gets into the blood stream, reason why you can’t a good night sleep if you drink coffee at night because caffeine blocks what is needed to have a deep sleep.

Caffeine has a lot of effect, increasing dopamine levels by exciting parts of your brain that controls pleasure and helps the drug become addictive. Have you ever thought that mountain dew has more caffeine content than it has in coca-cola, while caffeine level in coca-cola has more than in Pepsi in which most of us consume these products on a daily basis without knowing the effects on our health? I personally have never learned this much about caffeine, sure it’s a thing you want to stay awake at night studying, watching movies.

In as much as caffeine has its side effects it also has its health benefits, drinking coffee contains no calories, no fat and barely any carbohydrates; reduces risk of getting cancer, developing skin cancer; used for the treatment of migraine headaches because of its constricted dilated blood vessels; also relieves asthma attacks by widening bronchial airway.

Typical withdrawal symptoms associated with caffeine users even in normal caffeine use is very small meaning only one of coffee. Symptoms are commonly headaches, fatigue, irritability and muscle pain, these symptoms can occur within 24 hrs after the last dose of caffeine. But can be so severe as to cause distress or impairment.

A survey shows that more than 80% of adults consume caffeine on a daily basis; women metabolize caffeine about 25% faster than men do.



Resource: http://www.medicinenet.com/caffeine/article.htm


Structural formula of caffeine.


Some examples of caffeine drinks.

Coca Cola soft drinks



coffee beans



coffee



Energy drinks