6 'Must Know' Facts about Caffeine ~ The most powerful drug on the planet is in your cup.

 

Caffeine is a mood-altering legal drug that many of us cannot live without on a daily basis since with the three most used caffeinated products being coffee, soda and tea. It is also the most widely used drug in the world, according to the 2016 Global Drug Survey. The report showed that caffeine products fell into the top of 20 most drugs used that included cocaine, cannabis, magic mushrooms, amphetamines, and LSD. Caffeine for the most part has received a bad reputation, but it has also shown to be healthy in small doses like boosting moods, aiding in concentration, and reducing the risks of liver cancer. Then other side of using too much caffeine can hurt you over, anything over 1,000 milligrams. The effects can range from depression, anxiety, and restlessness. With 85 percent of Americans consuming one caffeinated cup of coffee per day, no wonder why we are addicted. Perhaps you never knew what else caffeine can do to you besides give you a rush. Here are 6 interesting facts that you did not know.

Hearing Things

One study found that people who consumed too much caffeine could hear things that were not there. Caffeine can give person symptoms of schizophrenia. This included believing conspiracies and hallucinations. La Trobe University examined people who had five cups of caffeine and they all heard parts of the song “White Christmas,” but it was only white noise, no Bing Crosby! It is recommended that you don’t exceed more than 200 mg of coffee, or more than five cups a day, or risk having symptoms of psychosis. You can also get caffeine intoxication where it leads to insomnia, anxiety, muscle spasms, and heart problems.

Smokers Consume More Caffeine 

Have you ever wondered why people want to smoke while they drank their coffee? It is probably not because it looks stylish, but the enzyme that breaks down nicotine also zaps caffeine when it is ingested. Smokers can metabolize the caffeine better than people who don’t smoke. However, pairing smoking and drinking is a double whammy for your heart as it can stiffen the arteries. This combining of smoking and drink coffee was associated with a risk of getting heart disease. So dear smoker, cut back on the coffee or the soft drinks. It makes you need to consume more caffeine compared to a nonsmoker.

Remains in the Body for 12 Hours

Caffeine can stay in the body up to 12 hours, and it only takes between 30-45 minutes for it to be absorbed by the blood. By the time you go to bed, you may still feel restless, or fidgety. Having caffeine 6 hours before bedtime can reduce sleeping by one hour, and mess with you going into a deep sleep. In the morning you could be facing caffeine withdrawal symptoms, since the body is still coming down the caffeine you had the day before. This could be the reason you are so sleepy in the mornings, and the reason for not being in a good mood.

It Can Kill

You can die from too much caffeine. Caffeine powder, caffeine pills, or caffeinated energy drink consumption can have up to 5 grams of caffeine. This is the equivalent of drinking 24 or more cups of coffee, Live Science explained. The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers to avoid taking powders caffeine due to the risk of overexposure to caffeine. A teaspoon of powdered caffeine, can be lethal and the equivalent of having 28 cups of coffee. The caffeine can be bought in liquid or powder form. People who don’t like the taste of coffee use it for a boost, but with fatal results. Symptoms of an overdose are seizures, heart palpitations, vomiting, and passing out.

Sneaky Caffeine

If you notice there is caffeine in your headache medicines, and in many weight-loss products. The reasoning behind having caffeine in headache medications is that it narrows the blood vessels that surround the brain. When caffeine is added to drugs like acetaminophen, or ibuprofen the combination helps the strengthen the medication, Live Science reported. The problem is that if you take too much caffeine in medication or in any form it could cause a withdrawal headache. Also, there is caffeine in energy water, candy, peanut, protein bars, yogurt and gum. Chocolate has small amounts of caffeine, and so does decaffeinated coffee.

It Can Cause a Mental Disorder

Having withdraws from caffeine is actually a diagnosed mental disorder? The American Psychiatric Association, which published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-5) addressed caffeine withdrawal as a legitimate problem among people. Caffeine is a drug and people who withdraw from it have fatigue, mood changes, depression, insomnia, cold sweats, and lethargy. Since the symptoms are closely related to anxiety, the APA believed strongly that it should be listed among anxiety disorders. “Caffeine withdrawal is defined as a syndrome resulting from abrupt cessation or reduction in caffeine, following prolonged daily use,” as explained in the manual. Caffeine withdrawal was added to the DSM-5 in 2013.

You can’t deny that the love of caffeine will never grow cold, as it plays such a major role in our lives. It can be a friend, or a health foe. And like anything else in excess, it can be extremely dangerous. Caffeine can be admired, but it is also a drug and should be respected.

Corine Gatti-Santillo is a freelance digital journalist, editor, and content producer. She is also the The Christian Post Voices Editor. She is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com.