Effects of Caffeine on Human Health

1033 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Introduction about negative effect of caffeine

Caffeine is one of the most well-known orally consumed drug around the world. In the 1820s, a German chemist named Friedrich Ferdinand Runge first discovered caffeine by extracting it from coffee [6]. Coffee and tea are leading sources of caffeine in the adult diet whereas caffeinated soft drinks are leading sources of caffeine in the diet of children in North America [7]. The per capita consumption level of caffeine for consumers of all ages is approximately 120mg/day [4]. The purpose of this investigation is to conclude whether the regular consumption of caffeine is beneficial to human health.
Caffeine is an alkaloid which is a pharmacologically active substance consumed by many worldwide [7]. This chemical acts as a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant which suppresses drowsiness and promotes alertness. It is a naturally occurring substance commonly found in tea leaves, coffee beans, cocoa beans, cola nuts and other plants species [7]. Today, caffeine plays an essential role of being necessary ingredient in beverages like coffee, soft drinks, tea, energy drinks and also in foods like chocolate. The level of caffeine composition in foods and drinks primarily depends on the plant variety of which it derives from, the serving size, brand and the brewing method.
Table1 : The table above shows the general caffeine composition in certain foods and beverages.
Caffeine is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream and it reaches its maximum concentration in the blood within 1 to 1.5 hours following ingestion [7]. The effect of caffeine on the body is largely due to the binding of it to the adenosine receptor. Adenosine is a central nervous system neuromodulator that has specific receptors [3]. Neural activity...

... middle of paper ...

...www.foodinsight.org/Content/3147/Caffeine_v8-2.pdf [Accessed: 10 Oct 2013].
[5] Miller, A. 2011. Does Caffeine Affect Dopamine Levels?. Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/454154-does-caffeine-affect-dopamine-levels/ [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].
[6] Myaddiction.com. n.d. Caffeine History. Available at: http://www.myaddiction.com/education/articles/caffeine_timeline.html [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].
[7] Nawrot, P., Jordan, S., Eastwood, J., Rotstein, J., Hugenholtz, A. and Feeley, M. 2003. Effects of caffeine on human health. Available at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/10957470_Effects_of_caffeine_on_human_health/file/79e41508e60e522c2a.pdf. [Accessed: 10 Oct 2013].
[8] Reynolds, G. 2011. How Coffee Can Galvanize Your Workout. Available at: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/how-coffee-can-galvanize-your-workout/?_r=1 [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Java Man By Malcolm Gladwell Essay

    454 Words  | 1 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Research Experiment Examining the Effect of Caffeine on the Heart Rate of Water Fleas

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Caffeine is produced by plants as an insecticide. It is a drug that acts as a stimulant in humans and causes a raised heart rate, and is used to give more energy in drinks such as tea and coffee, add flavour to drinks such as coke, and in weight-loss foods. A raised heart rate increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as it makes the heart work faster which can wear it out. High levels of caffeine have been linked to increased stress and insomnia, which is also linked to heart disease as it raises blood pressure.

    Read More

  • THE FDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TOREGULATE THE INGREDIENTSIN ENERGY DRINKS

    1777 Words  | 4 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • Caffeine and Sports Performance

    1798 Words  | 4 Pages

    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)

    Read More

  • U.S. Budget

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Caffeine Research Papers

    1859 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Using Caffeine is a Sin Against God

    2101 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Effects of Psychoactive Drugs

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Negative Effects Of Caffeine Consumption

    1976 Words  | 4 Pages

    Caffeine is the single most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the United States (Einöther & Giesbrecht, 2013). According to Einöther and Giesbrecht (2013), 80% of the world’s population consumes caffeinated products every day, with coffee and tea being the primary sources. In the recent years, the demand for

    Read More

  • Comparing and Contrasting Coffee and Tea

    522 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Informative Speech On Coffee

    1260 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ledbetter, Carly. (2015, Feb. 27). How Much Coffee Do Americans Drink Every Day?. Huffpost Taste.

    Read More

  • Caffeine Addiction

    1571 Words  | 4 Pages

    Caffeine (also known as Guaranine) is a plant-based alkaloid that operates as an insecticide when found in plants and a stimulant when ingested by humans. It is most commonly found in coco, tea, and coffee plants. The caffeine works as a built-in pesticide in these plants by over-exciting insects to the point of extinction. Medically caffeine is known as trimethylxanthine . It is a white powder with an intense bitter taste that when consumed by humans, it is recognized as a psychoactive drug. These drugs work on the body’s central nervous system to affect brain functions such as consciousness...

    Read More

  • Caffeine Behavior Analysis

    1797 Words  | 4 Pages

    I chose to change this behavior when I became aware of the many health problems associated with drinking too much coffee or caffeine. According to WebMD, heavy caffeine consumption can cause health problems such as Glaucoma, Heart Disease and Osteoporosis. Coffee has also been proven to worsen Diarrhea, Bleeding disorders and Anxiety. According to Stein Et al (2000), coffee produces the

    Read More

  • Drinking Coffee Essay

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    It has been proven to prevent diseases and improve physical and mental ability. Fruits and vegetables also have tons of antioxidants but our bodies seem to absorb the most from coffee. Nutrients from the coffee bean are infused into the drink such as, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Manganese and Potassium, Magnesium and Niacin. These beneficial elements can help boost athletic performance, if taken at the right time before a workout. Caffeine increases the number of fatty acids in the bloodstream, which allows athletes' muscles to absorb and burn those fats for fuel, therefore saving the body's small reserves of carbohydrates for later on in the exercise. (Gunnars,

    Read More

  • Consumption of Green Tea and its Health Effect on Sleeping among Hong Kong Young Adults

    1497 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sereshti, H. & Samadi, S. (2014). A rapid and simple determination of caffeine in teas, coffees and eight beverages. Food Chemistry, 158, 8-13.

    Read More

More about Effects of Caffeine on Human Health

Open Document