Caffeinated Craziness!

Most people consume some type of caffeinated product regularly. According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), approximately 150 million Americans drink coffee every single day! This does not account for people who consume other caffeinated products other than coffee, such as energy drinks and other performance supplements that contain caffeine. Of course, this information should come as no surprise to anyone reading this. Who doesn't like that alert buzz that you get from a few sips of hot joe!? We all need that extra pick-me up to stay on top of the game at work or at school or even in the gym, right?! Besides, for the past 25 years, "The best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup!"

Caffeine Pros:

Caffeine consumption has been growing considerably over the past few years. To help accelerate this, more health research studies have discovered positive health outcomes for people who drink coffee regularly. Some of these studies show a decreased incidence of diabetes, Parkinson's disease and asthma.

In addition to these health studies, performance supplements have been increasing the caffeine market. There are quite a large number of supplements that can help workout performance because of the amount of caffeine in the supplement. Caffeine can help increase focus and endurance, which can help many athletes perform better.

Caffeine Cons:

Unfortunately, many of us forget that caffeine is a drug. The more we use it, the more dependent on it we are! For people who consume at least 2 cups of coffee each day, skipping a day may create withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include: headache, fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting and muscle stiffness and soreness! For someone who is active, it's quite a challenge to stay active during withdrawal! In addition to that, our moods are greatly affected by how much, or how little, caffeine we have consumed. If you skip even half the amount of caffeine you normally consume, depression usually ensues! Of course, if you have the caffeine your body craves or maybe give it a little bit more (which is what most drug addicts want to do!), you will have that nice elated feeling of control and peace and the whole world will sing in harmony!

Personally, I have found that caffeine can be a helpful servant, for a little while. However, it quickly becomes a ruthless master! I have used (and still use, because I am hooked) multiple types of caffeinated pre-workout beverages and supplements. Caffeine can give you a bit more focus when working out and help you push yourself a little harder than you normally would. However, keep in mind that the more you use a caffeinated product prior to working out, the more you will need to keep using it, just to be "normal". Try working out without caffeine after you have used a caffeinated product daily for 3 months! The birds outside will stop chirping so peacefully!

Caffeine Intoxication

In addition to caffeine withdrawal, there is a much worse situation that could develop. Caffeine intoxication! Just like alcohol, you can have too much caffeine. Of course everyone's individual tolerance is different. Symptoms associated with intoxication may include: restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, flushed face, muscle twitching, seizures, heart palpitations and death. High amounts of caffeine consumption can be a factor in developing anxiety disorders and depression according to the American Psychiatric Association. For some people, the above conditions can develop with as little as 250mg of caffeine/day (about 2 cups of coffee) other people would need 1000mg to notice those affects.

My recommendation:

I personally believe that using caffeine for what it is intended for, as a stimulant, can help give you an advantage when you use it, infrequently. I remember having one small cup of coffee before I took a test and it helped me concentrate during that exam. However, I would make sure to not consume anything caffeinated for a couple of days afterwards to make sure I didn't develop a habit. I would recommend trying to keep caffeine consumption infrequent to allow your body to recognize the caffeine when you consume it and not become dependent on it.

The bottom line when thinking about caffeine is to remember that it is a drug!

It all starts with drinking one cup of coffee each day to help you get off to a "good start". Then, your body gets used to that and you need 2 cups to give you that alert edge! Then that medium at Dunkin' Donuts turns into a large (approx 3 cups) when you want to be extra focused for your presentation. Then, before you know it, you will need the whole pot before lunch time just to get the wheels turning! Anxiety then starts to accelerate and you find you can't sleep as well at night. Ibuprofen becomes your next best friend because of all the headaches you are getting from caffeine withdrawal and you take that with some Tums because your stomach hurts from new peptic ulcers that develop from the intense amount of caffeine (and ibuprofen) that you need to consume, just to feel normal! Definitely the picture of health, right!?

"Do you not know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV