Is there anything wrong with coffee and caffeine? Caffeine puts that extra zip into your morning cup. Nobody likes to admit it, but people all around the world are hopelessly and happily addicted to caffeine.
Whether you’re drinking your favorite cola, tea, or coffee, the chances are good that the beverage in your hand right now is caffeinated. Indeed, more and more individuals are choosing to avoid the affects of caffeine withdrawal and when asked “regular or decaf,” they’re choosing to go fully leaded with a heavily caffeinated drink!
Caffeinated or Decaffeinated – What’s in Your Cup?
As the health debates rage on as to whether or not caffeine in general, and caffeinated drinks specifically, are unhealthy, the average Joe on the street doesn’t seem to be paying any attention to the Caffeine Debate.
At this very moment, men and women are enjoying countless cups of caffeine-rich Starbucks coffee. And, while some of these caffeine-loving drinkers might be discussing the inherent merits of caffeinated versus decaffeinated beverages, the more likely scenario is the common caffeine-drinking consumer is trying to decide whether to go with Folgers or Green Mountain, or whether they prefer ground beans to instant.
Indeed, whereas caffeine research continues to uncover the addictive properties of caffeinated products and the affects of withdrawal, most caffeine drinkers are more concerned with whether to visit Maxwell House or Barrie House for their next caffeine fix.
In fact, instead of worrying about withdrawal from caffeine, workers across the globe are much more interested in the pick-me-up that a caffeinated drink gives their working day. So, the next time you’re choosing caffeinated or decaffeinated, or if you are fearing the affects of withdrawal, don’t worry-walk up to the counter and order yourself a nice, tall cup of Joe. With extra caffeine!
Caffeine Effects – Good Or Bad?
Caffeine effects can be both good and bad, depending on the time and person. The effects of caffeine differ widely between people due to our natural differences.
Effects are also somewhat dependent on the time elapsed, as caffeine’s effects generally peak after approximately thirty minutes to one hour after consumption. So, if you visit Starbuck’s at 10:00 am you will not feel the effect of the caffeine until an hour or so later.
Caffeine is a stimulant, found in many substances including coffee. The effects of caffeine intake include increased heartbeat, respiration, and basal metabolic rate, as well as a subjective “lift”. Caffeine consumption stimulates a short “lift” followed by a crash with the size of the effect depending on the amount of caffeine consumed.
How Much Caffeine Can We Swallow?
Overdoses are possible when large amounts of caffeine are consumed. Two to seven cups of coffee may result in restlessness, dizziness nausea, headache, tense muscles, sleep disturbances, and irregular heart beats.
Caffeine doses above 7 cups of coffee may over-stimulate a person’s body, resulting in the above symptoms as well as an anxiety attack, ringing ears, vomiting, difficulty breathing and convulsions. Effects will vary between people.
If caffeine, specifically that from coffee, has a negative effect on you, Folgers, Green Mountain¸ Millstone and Maxwell House produce decaf variations, both in beans and ground form.
So, if you experience any symptoms of a caffeine overdose, see your doctor and consider switching to decaffeinated coffee.