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Caffeine Side Effects

Caffeine side effects usually occur in case of consuming large amounts of caffeine, except for when you are very susceptible to the effects of caffeine.



Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulating substance that is found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of more than sixty plants. It can also be produced synthetically and then added to food products. It is also often added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, over-the-counter diet pills, and cold medicines. Caffeine has no flavor and it can be removed from a food by a chemical process called decaffeination.

Caffeine is a diuretic as it helps rid your body of fluids. It gets rid of short-term fatigue and drowsiness and improves concentration and focus, simply because caffeine blocks adenosine, which is a chemical in the body that tells it to shut down when tired. However, keeping the adenosine in the body continuously blocked is not something that you’d want. After the initial caffeine high, the bad things that caffeine is known for sets in.

There is no nutritional need for caffeine and it can be avoided in the diet. Caffeine is absorbed and passes quickly into the brain. It does not collect in the bloodstream or get stored in the body. It leaves the body in the urine many hours after it has been consumed. It does not reduce the effects of alcohol, although many people still believe a cup of coffee will help a person "sober-up."

Coffee beans


How you react to caffeine may be determined in part by how much caffeine you're used to drinking. People who don't regularly drink caffeine tend to be more sensitive to its negative effects. Other factors may include body mass, age, medication use and health conditions such as anxiety disorders.

Research also suggests that men are more vulnerable to the effects of caffeine than are women. If you're susceptible to the effects of caffeine, just small amounts — even one cup of coffee or tea — may prompt unwanted effects, such as restlessness and sleep problems.

How much is enough? To be able to avoid caffeine side effects, three 8 oz. cups of coffee (about 250 milligrams of caffeine) per day and 5 servings of caffeinated soft drinks or tea is considered an average or moderate amount of caffeine. Ten 8 oz. cups of coffee per day is considered excessive intake of caffeine.

Caffeine Side Effects:

Caffeine is usually safe for most adults when used appropriately, but in case of consuming larger amounts, best known caffeine side effects are:

• Addiction

• Anxiety

• Bed wetting

• Dehydration

• Depression

• Dizziness

• Elevated blood pressure

• Fatigue

• Heartburn

• Increases cholesterol

• Increased heart rate

• Insomnia

• Nausea

• Restlessness

• Stomach irritation

• Tremors

• Urinating more often

• Vomiting



Stopping caffeine suddenly may cause caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Agitation

• Apathy

• Cramps

• Depression

• Drowsiness

• Feeling hot and cold

• Headaches

• Inability to concentrate

• Irritability

• Nausea

• Ringing in the ears

• Runny nose

• Shakiness

• Vomiting

* Large amounts of caffeine is unsafe during pregnancy as it might increase the chance of miscarriage and other problems. Caffeine in large amounts is unsafe during breast-feeding as caffeine passes into breast milk and it can cause sleeping problems, irritability, and increased bowel activity in breast-fed infants. Caffeine may have a negative effect on a child's nutrition if caffeinated drinks replace healthy drinks, such as milk. A child who consumes caffeine may also eat less, because caffeine reduces the appetite.

Too much caffeine can make stress and anxiety, bleeding disorders, bipolar disorders, child hyperactivity, heart conditions (irregular heartbeats), diabetes (affecting the way body uses sugar), acid reflux or stomach ulcers, fibrocystic disease (painful and lumpy breasts), glaucoma (increasing the pressure inside the eye), high blood pressure, chronic headaches and osteoporosis (interfering with the body's ability to absorb calcium) worse.

Caffeine in energy drinks


*Here I'd like to tell you about my favorite diet program that uses a lot of the healthy lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.

The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.

The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*

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