Caffeine

Caffeine a Legal Stimulate

Fresh Roasted Coffee

Caffeine and Coffee Statistics

In North America over 90% of Adults consume caffeine daily but few know how it works. Lets start out with the facts, 75% of Americans get their caffeine through coffee. The United States alone imports 4 billion dollars worth of coffee every year, over 12 billion dollars worth of sales from independent coffee stores. Finland, Switzerland and Sweden consume the most coffee. It is one of the largest industries with coffee producing nations in over 45 countries. Over 500 Billion cups are consumed in the world annually. But with all the caffeine floating around how does it work?

The Caffeine Molecule

A Simple Version of How Caffeine Works

This article is not about whether it is bad for you are not, for every study that says it is there is a conflicting study that says it is not. This is however a brief summery of how it works. When consumed orally, as is most common, and I would not advice injecting yourself with caffeine, it metabolises in the stomach in almost 45 minutes. It stimulates the metabolic system and your nervous system so you digest things quicker, and you it wakes you up, with a jolt.  So what happens is caffeine when its in your bloodstream goes to your brain a stimulates the adenosine receptors which causes it to release a more adenosine which affects your alertness and drowsiness, and causes your veins to widen to increase blood flow.

Caffeine Intoxication (You mean I can get drunk off it?)

Spider after a few Red Bulls

Well sort of. Depending on your body weight and tolerance if you have to much caffeine you may become caffeine intoxicated. It is not that much different from the effects of becoming high off other stimulates like cocaine or meth however it is less severe and you most likely wont die. What happens is you get the jitters the inability to keep still, rambling flow of talking, muscle twitches, irregular heart beat, lapse in judgement, delusions, restlessness, and nervousness. Sounds pretty terrible doesn’t it? If I were to describe those symptoms to you and you didnt know what drug it was what would you think it was. Oh yeah and you can overdose aswell, you would need around 80-100 cups of coffee. Or if your a teenage waitress you may need less to “overdose” only fourteen shots of esrpesso, then to the hospital. 

Caffeine is great if its taken in moderation. You should not be scared for your health, there simply is no research that has not been refuted proving it to be bad for you, although I would suggest not takeing any drugs if your pregnant. In fact some studies find it helps with memory, thats why before exams I drink three cups of coffee. And lastly here is a website which you can figure out your lethal limit of caffine, it is quite fun to use.

Sources for Information:

http://www.e-importz.com/Support/specialty_coffee.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine#cite_note-33

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_coffee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee