Do You Really Know The Dangers of Caffeine?

Health Tip - Caffeine

Caffeine (Ka-feen) is a common chemical found in tea leaves, coffee beans, cacao (the stuff used to make chocolate, and cola nuts (the plant that gives cola soda its flavor).                        

How does Caffeine work?
It mimicks a hormone that tells the adrenal glands to crank out more adrenaline.

When humans drink or eat caffeine, it acts as a Stimulant (Stim-yuh-lunt).

                                      

Did You Know that Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the United States. Nearly 90% of adults every day, according to the Journal of the American Diabetic Association consume some form of caffeine.

Caffeine is considered a drug because of the many chemical interactions in the central nervous system.   

Caffeine will generally boost your energy for a short period of time then  you Crash! and bottom out at the point of exhaustion.

                           

Caffeine abuse or excessive use can cause:

• Exhaustion
• Fatigued
• Addiction
• Restlessness
• Heartburn
• High blood pressure
• Sleeplessness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Nausea
• Liver Shots ( from energy drinks) 

The dangers of Caffeine is it depletes the body of B vitamins, which your body needs for proper brain and nervous system functioning and for converting food to energy. 

                       
                                       
Caffeine Facts:

Did You Know That:

• Prolonged Caffeine use can cause "Caffeinism" when your body enters a state of adrenal exhaustion meaning your caffeine consumption has simply pushed your adrenal glands so much that they've burned out.

• Caffeine forces your glands to secrete when they don't have much left to give.

•  With in five minutes after you drink a cup of coffee that the caffeine begins to stimulate your central nervous system , triggering the release of stress hormones in your body causing a stress "Fight-or-Flight" response.

• Two cups of coffee a day is considered an acceptable amount (16 to 24 ounces, 50-200mg of caffeine).

•  YOU! can go through Caffeine withdrawals and symptoms can begin as soon as 12 hours after your last cup:
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Headaches (sometimes severe)
• Muscle stiffness
• Chills and/or hot spells

Symptoms can last for up to a week.

The number one culprit for Caffeine addiction and abuse is Coffee! but it is also found in other foods and drinks:

• Sodas
• Energy drinks
•  Tea
• Chocolate
• Medications
• Diet pills

Checkout the Caffeine Mg's in these items:

• Mountain Dew 12 ounces   55mg Caffeine
• Coca-Cola   12 ounces    54mg Caffeine
• Diet Coke  12 ounces   45mg  Caffeine
• Pepsi   12 ounces    38mg Caffeine
• 7-Up 12 ounces   0mg Caffeine
• Red Bull Energy Drink 8.3 ounces   80mg Caffeine
• Brewed Coffee (drip method) 5 ounces  115mg Caffeine
• Iced Tea    12 ounces    70mg Caffeine
• Dark Chocolate  1 ounce  20mg Caffeine
• Milk Chocolate 1 ounce   6mg Caffeine
• Cocoa Beverage   5 ounces    4mg Caffeine
• Chocolate Milk     8 ounces   5mg Caffeine
• Cold Relief Medication   1 tablet   30mg Caffeine

There are Benefits of taking small amounts of  Caffeine: 

• Weight control
• Alleviate pain
• Open up airways for improved breathing
• Overcome chronic fatigue
• Help people with high-risk liver disease
• Increase muscle strength
• Increase metabolism (breaking down fat)
• Increase pain relief medication effects
• Increase mental faculty
• Reduces asthma symptoms

Alternatives to Caffeine "Coffee"

• Water (8 more cups)
• Fruit juice
• Clear lemon-lime sodas (check the ingredients)
• Whole grains and fruit based carbs
• Healthy snacks (fresh fruits & vegetables)
• Healthy dairy items (low-fat yogurt)
• Exercise
• Get plenty of sleep

Beware of Diet pills which combine stimulants like Caffeine and ephedrine to suppress appetite and increase metabolism.

For more information go to www.professorshouse.com, www.naturalnews.com, www.reslife.com, www.doctoryourself.com, www.disabled-world.com, www.webMd.com, www.ask.com, and www.kidshealth.org

Remember! Information is power 
Consume every thing in moderation

Live well
Doc V