Caffeine Case

Caffeine is a drug that is naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants such as: Coffee beans, Tealeaves, Kola nut and Cocoa beans (used to make chocolate). It's also produced artificially and added to certain foods. Caffeine is a drug that has an effect on human body. It acts as a stimulant - which means it speeds up the brain and nervous system and they work faster. Caffeine gives most people a temporary energy boost and elevates mood. Caffeine is present in tea, coffee, chocolate, many soft drinks, and medications. In it's natural form, caffeine tastes very bitter. But, most caffeinated drinks (Coca cola, Fanta, and Sprite) have gone through enough processing to camouflage the bitter taste.

Caffeine also acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system, and regular use of caffeine does cause mild physical dependence. But caffeine doesn't threaten your body physically or emotionally... the way addictive drugs do. If you stop taking caffeine abruptly, you may have symptoms for a day or two! The symptoms could be: Headache, Irritability, Depressed mood, Difficulty concentrating.

No doubt, caffeine withdrawal can give a few bad days however; its not as severe when compared to the withdrawal symptoms of harmful drugs or alcohol.

How caffeine affects your body:

When caffeine enters our bodies through the blood stream it goes to the central nervous system. Caffeine stimulates certain chemicals in the brain that produce an energizing effect, which makes people more alert and less drowsy. The caffeine increases your heart rate, and the production of stomach acid and urine. Caffeine can also raise blood pressure levels.

The effect of caffeine can take any where from 15 to 45 minutes to have an effect on the your body and usually reaches a peak within 30 to 60 minutes. Caffeine stays in your body for about 3 to 4 hours. But, oral contraceptives and smoking can increase the amount of time caffeine stays in your body.

Small amounts of caffeine can lead to:

 Feeling more awake

 Your heart beating faster

 Your blood pressure going up

 Having more stomach acid.

Larger amounts of caffeine can lead to:

 Feeling restless and anxious

 Headaches

 Having trouble getting to sleep

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