Caffeine, also known as methyltheobromine, is a central nervous system stimulant that humans consume on a daily basis. Found in coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages, caffeine has many side effects. While caffeine can make the consumer feel more alert, there are health concerns such as dependence and hypertension.
Caffeine has a specific chemical structure that enables it to be absorbed easily into the stomach and intestines. It is derived from purines, and is hydrophobic, which allows easy passage through cell membranes. (MOST POPULAR) For this reason, the oral route for administration is more rapid than the intramuscular route (PUB CHEM). After caffeine passes through the stomach, it goes to the liver where it is metabolized. The liver breaks down caffeine into theobromine, theophylline, and paraxanthine, which are known as metabolites. (MOST POPULAR) After ingestion, there are high levels of paraxanthine in the blood. As blood flows through the liver again, paraxanthine is broken down into 1-methylxanthine. (MOST POPULAR) This process is crucial for caffeine excretion. Due to caffeine’s permeability, it can easily pass from one side of the cell membrane to the other. This property makes it very difficult for the kidneys to excrete caffeine. By converting paraxanthine into 1-methylxanthine, the 1-methylxanthine cannot pass from the kidney membrane to the blood stream again. Without this process, caffeine would stay in the body for days at a time. (MOST POPULAR)
As mentioned earlier, caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system by working against another molecule, adenosine. Adenosine is a type of purine that is attached to a ribose sugar molecule. Adenosine is a part of...
... middle of paper ...
...rchers concluded that the typical slow waves of the rats were diminished from day thirty-one to forty-two. (DAILY) This meant that the rats were getting less deep sleep and their sleep was less efficient at developing synapses. (DAILY) The researchers also noted that the lack of deep sleep impacted the rat’s behavioral development. (DAILY) Typically, as rats age, they become more curious. The rat population in the experiment actually became more tentative after consuming the coffee. (DAILY) Although the results from this experiment do not necessarily suggest that caffeine intake for teenagers is dangerous, it does raise a question for further investigation.
Mentioned before, caffeine has been considered a substance that can be abused and users can become dependent on it. Dr. Naoshi Ogawa conducted two case studies that examine clinical dependence on caffeine.
Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, is the main psychoactive ingredient in energy drinks, which enhances alertness and mood, and counteracts symptoms of sleep. There is no doubt ...
By this definition, and after knowing the effects of caffeine upon the human body, I have come to the conclusion that drinking caffeine is a sign of a lack of respect for oneself, and of an unappreciative attitude toward the life that each of us has been blessed with. Furthermore, it shows of either our inability, or unwillingness to learn to think clearly.
Ephedrine and caffeine work individually and as a combination when ingested into the body (http://www.endureplus.com/caffeine_ephedrine.htm). Caffeine has properties that stimulate the central nervous system and the energy metabolism in the peripheral tissues. These stimulations can cause four other reactions: adenosine receptor blockage, improved neuromuscular transmission, increased muscle contractility, and increased adrenalin levels. Ephedrine also stimulates parts of the central nervous system and the peripheral tissues known as the adrenergic receptors. Essentially ephedrine can act like adrenalin in the body so a person’s energy level increases also. The effect of the combination of ephedrine and caffeine is best described as promoting thermogenesis (http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag98/dec98_heat.html). Thermogenesis is the “chemical production of heat within the body to promote the oxid...
Caffeine is a bitter white alkaloid found in coffee, tea, and kola nuts and is used as a stimulant and diuretic. It is a stimulant, which means it increases your heart rate and metabolism and makes you feel more alert. If pregnant you should do best to limit yourself to 200mg of caffeine a day. If you regularly have more than 200mg of caffeine during your pregnancy, it could increase the risk of a miscarriage or your baby having a low birth weight. A low birth weight may mean your baby has some health problems when he’s born or in the future.
Caffeine raises your blood pressure when you drink/eat it, raising your blood pressure in general is not a good thing but imagine drinking and/or eating caffeine daily, and your blood pressure constantly rising. Another negative aspect is that caffeine can have a disruptive effect on your sleep. The most obvious effect of the caffeine is that it can make it hard for you to fall asleep. It can help you stay awake during the day but can also make you stay awake during the night when you are trying to fall asleep. You can also have withdraws from caffeine, going back to the story “Java Man” the author Malcolm Gladwell considered it a drug and remember you can get addicted to drugs (you can really get addicted to anything). There are plenty more negative ways caffeine can disrupt your lifestyle but you know what they say for every negative thing you can say there can be some
Caffeine is a mild stimulant that occurs naturally in at least 63 plant species. Caffeine can be found in the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots of these various plants. Caffeine is part of the methylxanthine family. It consists of a xanthine molecule with three methyl groups attached to it. Caffeine can be found in many products like sodas, tea, and coffee, but it also occurs in several other products such as prescription medications, diuretics, and pain relievers. Caffeine’s widespread use and popularity have caused many people to view the substance as an addictive drug. Thus making caffeine the most inexpensive and readily available drug known to man. Then on the other hand there are people who view caffeine as a helpful stimulant that increases the individual’s concentration and awareness as well as many other physical traits. The important thing to remember is that caffeine’s affects vary based on the person, the amount ingested, the frequency of consumption, and individual metabolism. (http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/kopykit/caffeine.html)
A lot of people often wonder what caffeine is. When isolated in pure form, caffeine is a white crystalline powder that tastes very bitter. The chief source of pure caffeine is the process of decaffeinating coffee or tea. Caffeine is used to provide“boost energy” or a feeling of heightened alertness. It is often used to stay awake longer and late into the night. Many people feel as though they “cannot function” in the morning without a cup of coffee to provide caffeine and the boost it gives them. Caffeine is an addictive drug. It operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin use to stimulate the brain. Caffeine effects are more mild than amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin, but it is manipulating the same channels, and that is one of the things that gives caffeine its addictive qualities. If you feel like you have to have caffeine everyday and cannot live without it, then you are considered addicted to caffeine.
Caffeine is the most popular and most widely used stimulant in the world. In Canada, the average person drinks 2.6 cups of coffee a day; that is equivalent to 949 cups of coffee a year. (Van Houtte) Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that improves ones attention, focus, and fatigue. When caffeine is ingested it causes your neurons to move at a faster rate, increasing alertness. (Fit Day) Caffeine also binds to the neural receptors, which blocks the adenosine, which prolongs tiredness. Caffeine is a white odorless powder that is most commonly found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and pops. Caffeine can also be considered and ergogenic aid. Ergogenic aids are external influences that enhance/ improves ones strength, endurance, reaction time and speed of recovery. (Healthline) The three theories that make caffeine an ergogenic aid during exercise is the effect it has on the central nervous system, skeletal muscles, and metabolic changes. (Sheila G. Dean) Caffeine also has a positive effect on an individual’s health, some positive effects include: reduces risk of developing liver cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s. (Chawala) Caffeine has been proven to have positive effects on an athlete’s performance, and ones overall health.
Caffeine is a stimulant that has not been given the attention that some says it deserves. Caffeine is found in many everyday substances. It can be found in coffee, tea or sodas. Caffeine can be found on almost every street corner. There is a coffee place in just about every town. Sodas and coffee are found...
The term energy drinks refers to beverages that contain caffeine in combination with other ingredients such as guarana and other vitamins and minerals. In other words, energy drinks can be defined as a soft drink containing a high percentage of sugar, caffeine, or another stimulant, typically consumed during or after sporting activity or as a way of overcoming tiredness. Energy drinks are highly sweetened, caffeinated beverages that are packaged in brightly colored, slim line containers. They are sold virtually everywhere. At first, energy drinks were sold as a medicinal tonic drink and they have some benefits if person take it in limit. There are various negative effects of energy
As the vast majority of Americans are addicted to caffeine, studies show that the effects during post-consumption, can be positive or negative depending on the amount and frequency of caffeine intake. As the demand for caffeine has increased, the caffeine industry has increased its amount of marketing and establishments to help aid this demand. Caffeine addiction can lead to serious health and physiological detriments. It is evident that the primary reason for consumption of caffeinated beverages is due to positive effects, such as alertness. The media has an abundance of marketing to continue to illustrate this main effect.
Nathaniel Mckaye Alexander Whelan English IV 18 September 2017 Caffeine Addiction Millions of people including adults and kids are addicted to caffeine. A lot of them don’t even acknowledge that they have an addiction, and some may not even know. Caffeine addiction is something most people either don’t recognize or don’t perceive as a problem. Caffeine addiction looks like a problem because teens are getting addicted, people have to deal with withdrawal effects and other physical side effects.
Caffeine is a chemical found in coffee, tea, soft drinks and various easy to get foods and drinks. Like all drugs, caffeine has its good and bad side. Caffeine’s categorized as a stimulant, meaning it temporarily increases alertness and energy. With this stated, you may ask yourself, what’s so bad about a little high associated with coffee or chocolate? I mean it’s practically harmless, right.
Coffee is the first thing that people associate with instant energy on a groggy morning. “In the U.S., coffee is king of beverages” (Reinke) Research has been done that has named coffee as an addiction to the people who consume large quantities of it. Coffee was named the top source of antioxidants. This is partly because of the amount consumed each day. Some of the antioxidants that coffee has are quinines and chlorogenic acid. It also contains trigonelline, an antibacterial compound. This is where coffee acquires its delicious aroma. Now let’s step back for a minute and just think about how much caffeine people consume. In an 8oz cup of coffee it has about 85 milligrams of caffeine. This is about double the amount that tea contains. Studies have shown that caffeine stimulates the brain and nervous system. This is where you get that energized feeling. After about the third cup, knees start to bounce, pens are clicking and people start running laps around the office. Caffeine can become addicting if you drink too much. Coffee can become that addictive habit people are unable to shake.
Preview: The potential effects are related to the main ingredient in coffee – caffeine. Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system that increases alertness and energy, but it is also very addictive.