Caffeine

Caffeine is a drug that is naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants. It can also be reproduced artificially.

Caffeine is in tea leaves, coffee beans, chocolate, many soft drinks, pain relievers, and other over-the-counter pills. In its natural form, caffeine tastes very bitter. But most caffeinated drinks have gone through enough processing to camouflage the bitter taste.

Caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system, causing increased heart rate and alertness.

Caffeine is addictive and may cause withdrawal symptoms for those who abruptly stop consuming it.

Caffeine moves through the body within a few hours after it's consumed and is then passed through the urine. It's not stored in the body.

Caffeine works against the body in two ways: It has a mild dehydrating effect because it increases the need to urinate. And large amounts of caffeine may cause the body to lose calcium and potassium.

Neuroscience for Kids

Frequently Asked Questions

Caffeine Comparison Chart

Caffeine and Your Child

How Caffeine Works

It operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine and heroin use to stimulate the brain. On a spectrum, caffeine's effects are more mild than amphetamines, cocaine and heroin, but it is manipulating the same channels, and that is one of the things that gives caffeine its addictive qualities.

Many people consume a gram or more every single day and don't even realize it.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/caffeine1.htm

Frequently Asked Questions About Caffeine

http://coffeefaq.com/caffaq.html

Caffeine Content of Foods and Drugs

http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm

Caffeine Information Archive

http://www.caffeine.zeonhost.com/

Caffeine

http://www.cmcsb.com/caffeine.htm

Teen Ink

-Magazine written entirely by teens for teenagers. ...

http://www.teenink.com/Past/9900/December/Health/Caffeine.html

Caffeine: Psychological Effects, Use and Abuse

http://www.garynull.com/Documents/CaffeineEffects.htm

Caffeine And ADHD

ADHD National Institute of Mental Health

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm

Pharmaceutical Treatment For ADHD

are the major stimulants used in the treatment of ADHD . They have been shown to decrease motor ... clinical trials done with caffeine were hopeful, but the majority of recent trials ...

http://www.buyherbsdirect.com/articles4.htm

Java Jive On Kids, Caffeine

Studies have shown that caffeine can help a child with concentration when doing something repetitive

Parents should put an emphasis on teaching children proper nutrition that includes calcium, vitamins, and quite possibly caffeine in moderation.

http://www.umm.edu/pediatrics/java_jive.html

You Can Find Caffeine In The Following Food and Drinks

Tea

Coffee

Chocolate

Caffeinated Soft Drinks

Caffeine Pills

Coffee Beans

Vivarin

NoDoz

Excedrin

Anacin

Cocoa

Midol

Dexatrim

In Moderate Doses It Can

increase alertness

reduce fine motor coordination

cause insomnia

cause headaches, nervousness, and dizziness

raise blood pressure

mild diuretic

Typical Withdrawal Symptoms

headache

fatigue

muscle pain

drowsiness

irritability

nausea

vomiting

Caffeine enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine and can have its effects as soon as 15 minutes after it is consumed. Once in the body, caffeine will stayaround for hours: it takes about 6 hours for one half of the caffeine to be eliminated.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/caff.html

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I made the Langa List on 11/21/2002