Effects of Caffeine - Guest Post from US

If you have been following my blog, you will definitely be familiar with Esmiralda from US,one of my most popular guest blogger who have been adding valuable materials to my blog from the medical background. This time she would like to post something on Caffeine, a stimulant found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans (chocolate) and kola nuts (cola) and added to soft drinks, foods, and medicines,in medical terminology.

Here's what Esmiralda has to add to it.Let's read.......Caffeine is the world's most popular psychoactive (mood-changing) drug and is used more widely than alcohol and tobacco. It can lead to physical dependence, which by definition results in a withdrawal syndrome when habitual intake is stopped abruptly.

In other words: when someone who usually uses caffeine suddenly stops, many symptoms may be observed, including headaches, tiredness, irritability, lack of concentration, and nausea. Although death from caffeine overdose is not common, it does occur and may be intentional ( this happens more likely with the use of caffeine tablets).

With the increasing popularity of carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks, however, emergency room physicians and toxicologists are noting an increase in caffeine-related problems and symptoms, especially among young adults.

In 2006 almost $4 billion was spent on energy drinks in the USA alone, and this is indicative of a worldwide trend. In addition, 500 new brands energy drinks were introduced around the world in that same year.

So-called energy drinks have significantly higher levels of caffeine than the carbonated soft drinks. It is proven that this scenario is used to hook children and youth: kids are first exposed to sugary soft drinks; caffeine is than added, and energy drinks are introduced. The next step is the addition of alcohol to energy drinks. 1 in 3 teens are likely to use energy drinks compared to 1 in 10 adult.

We have a duty to inform our youth, set the appropriate example in our own habits, and lobby against this evil attack on our society. Caffeine is useful as a component of certain analgesics used in the treatment of migraine as well as some other pain conditions.

We do well to prayerfully and consistently apply the temperance principle: "True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful". (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p562).

Till I come back with some more useful posts that might be able to bring about some positive changes to your life,do keep reading and don't forget to post your comments.