Did you know?

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that acts on the nervous system

According to the Food & Drug Administration, 80 percent of the adults in the United States consume caffeine daily. The FDA does not require companies to label the levels of caffeine in products; therefore, consumers do not have exact knowledge of how much they are ingesting.

Here are some examples of the caffeine content found in some common beverages:

One cup of brewed coffee contains 95-200 mg of caffeine.
One eight-ounce serving of black tea contains 40-120 mg of caffeine.
One eight-ounce serving of green tea contains 15-60 mg of caffeine.
One 12-ounce serving of a soft drink, such as a cola contains 20-80 mg of caffeine.
Sports or energy drinks typically contain 48-300 mg of caffeine per serving.

Caffeine facts

Caffeine is a stimulant obtained from more than 60 different types of plants found around the world.
The scientific name for caffeine is 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine.
Caffeine is considered to be the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world.
Coffee, soda, and tea are the most common sources of caffeine in the American diet.
Discontinuation of regular caffeine use may result in withdrawal symptoms.
The effects of caffeine persist for about three hours or less.
affeine is found in some combination medications and weight control products.
The American Medical Association and the Food & Drug Administration note that a moderate intake of caffeine is "generally recognized as safe."

How it works
Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system, heart, muscles and the centers that control blood pressure. It can raise some people’s blood pressure, but might not have that effect on those who consume caffeinated items regularly. In the same way, caffeine can increase urine flow but might not in people who consume it frequently.

When taken in food or beverages appropriately, caffeine is considered to be safe in adults. It is completely absorbed within 30 to 45 minutes, and its effects substantially diminish within about three hours. It is eventually excreted so there is no accumulation in the body. Caffeine has been shown to affect mood, stamina, the cerebral vascular system, and gastric and colonic activity.

Because every body varies in tolerance levels, caffeine may not be for everyone, as unwanted side effects can occur. These include insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritation in the stomach, nausea and vomiting, increased heart rate and shortness of breath. Large doses can cause headache, anxiety, chest pain and even ringing in the ears.

People with voice disorders, singers and other professionals who use their voices to make a livelihood are often advised against using caffeine, because developing research seems to indicate that it may actually harm voice quality. Further studies are pending.

Usages
Caffeine is most commonly used to improve mental alertness, but it has many other usages. It is used in combination with painkillers to treat migraine headaches, simple headaches and to prevent and treat headaches resulting from epidural anesthesia.

Some people use caffeine to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and low blood pressure. It is the most commonly used stimulant among athletes and taken within limits, is allowed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Urine concentrations over 15 mcg/mL are prohibited. (In most people, it would take eight cups of coffee with 100 mg/cup to reach such a high concentration.)

Caffeine is also used in some skin care creams, which are applied to reduce redness and itching in conditions such as dermatitis.

National Caffeine Awareness month was developed to help people become educated on one of the most often used and commonly found stimulants in food and beverages. Pay attention to the signals your body gives you and avoid caffeine if you are sensitive to it.