Caffeine is a crystalline that is commonly used for energy and diuretic purposes. There is quite a bit of controversy about if caffeine is good, bad, or just o.k. for you. Conflicting studies have been done proving each of these points. Caffeine is commonly put in soda such as Coca-Cola, and energy drinks such as Monster. This is to give the drink energy bursting and addicting qualities, as caffeine can be quite addictive.
Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline Xanthine Alkaloid, and acts as a psychoactive stimulant and a diuretic. Caffeine was discovered by Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, in 1819. Since its discovery, caffeine production has increased throughout the world, and caffeine is now the most widely consumed psychoactive substance. In North America, 90% of all adults consume caffeine daily. Caffeine occurs naturally, but it also can be made synthetically. Caffeine is commonly found in beans, leaves, and fruit. The most common consumption of caffeine comes from the coffee bean that is used in coffee. Caffeine stimulated the Central Nervous System, which has the effect of alleviating drowsiness and improving brain response time.
Caffeine is known by many names in the scientific world, including: 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine, trimethylxanthine, theine, methyltheobromine. Caffeine’s chemical make-up is C8H10N4O2. The lethal dose of caffeine is 192 mg/kg (oral). Caffeine is odorless, and appears as white needles of powder. The boiling point of caffeine is 178 degrees Celsius, while the melting point is 237 degrees Celsius.
Caffeine has been a target of the news and health media. Studies of caffeine have been done, and they have had very conflicting results. A study in 2008 suggested that women that consumed 200 milligrams or more of caffeine per day had twice the miscarriage risk as woman who drank none. Another study in 2008 found no link between miscarriage and caffeine consumption on a study of 2407 pregnant women. A study in 2007 suggested that caffeine had no effects on the human body in terms of Alzheimer’s, while a 2007 study suggests that caffeine actually protects the brain from Alzheimer’s.
Caffeine is commonly consumed by exercise enthusiasts before workouts. As caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant, it serves as a great thing to consume previous to a workout. Studies have been done to show the effectiveness of caffeine on athletes. A study showed that 5.5 of milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body mass resulted in subjects cycling 29% longer during high intensity circuits. Another study conducted in 1979 showed a 7% increase in distance cycled over a period of two hours. These results imply that caffeine has a lasting effect on the body, which opposed the common idea that caffeine causes “crashes” where the body slows down after a period of high energy. Results such as these add to the controversy that is caffeine.
Caffeine does have some proved at known effects on the body. The American Psychiatric Association recognized that caffeine-induced sleep disorders and caffeine-induced anxiety disorders do indeed exist. During a caffeine-induced sleep disorder, people experience erratic and uncontrollable sleep patterns. A study done in 2006 suggests that these disorders affect about 1 in 10 of the population in the United States. Several studies have been done that show caffeine intake is associated which an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease in men, but studies on females have been inconclusive. The reason for this is somewhat of a mystery. According to a controversial study, caffeine, in coffee form, significantly reduces the risk of heart disease.
Rubin, Rita USA TODAY writer.
(20 January 2008).
“New studies, different outcomes on caffeine, pregnancy”.
How Stuff Works, “How Caffeine works”
