Caffeine occurs naturally in the seeds, leaves, or fruits of more than sixty-three plant species throughout the world. The primary sources available in the United States, however, are coffee, tea, cacao (cocoa), and kola (cola) plants. These are grown and produced in tropical locations and shipped all over the world. Two other plants, maté and guarana, are primarily grown and consumed in Sout…
Table 3.2 in Chapter 3 shows the per capita consumption of beverages: milk, tea, coffee, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices and fruit drinks, canned iced tea, and vegetable juices. Consumption of carbonated soft drinks generally rose between 1966 and the early 1990s and then leveled off somewhat. Most carbonated soft drinks contain caffeine. Coffee consumption was relatively stabl…
Caffeine is classified as a stimulant because it increases the activity of the cardiovascular system, digestive system, and sympathetic nervous system (that which generally mobilizes the body for greater activity), and produces a sense of alertness in the brain. It also has a mild diuretic effect, eliminating water from the body by increasing urination. In moderate amounts, it can increase the abi…
The question of whether caffeine is addictive has been debated for decades. Some medical experts believe it is mildly addictive because it fits the criteria for addiction: dependence and tolerance. In "Clinical Pharmacology of Caffeine" (Annual Review of Medicine, 1990), Neal L. Benowitz observed, "Minor criteria for addiction liability include the development of tolerance, ph…
One major side effect of consuming large quantities of coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate is a nervous feeling or jitters. In general, the more caffeine that is consumed, the more likely the person is to suffer these side effects. For some people, however, even a minor amount of caffeine can disrupt their sleeping patterns, cause their hands to shake, or create anxiety. The physical effects …
People who are sensitive to caffeine or those who want to moderate their caffeine intake can still enjoy their favorite beverages in decaffeinated forms. Decaffeination removes almost all the caffeine (about 97%) from coffee or tea. There are three common methods of decaffeination. Methylene chloride, in its inhaled form, is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. When methylene chloride is d…
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