Caffeine, Americans most abused energy source. Caffeine is integrated in so many beverages we drink and in some of the food we eat and some people may not realize how much they actually consuming on a daily basis. Caffeine has a lot of positive effects or advantages when consumed. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system by increasing heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory drive. This allows you to become more alert, sometimes process information a bit more quickly and in the short term reduces drowsiness and fatigue. Although these effects can happen in the body naturally, for example getting frightened or shocked, it is much more convenient to grab a cup of coffee or can of soda to achieve similar effects. Some of the disadvantages are that caffeine consumption that it is habit forming and quitting consumption can have adverse effects.
A valuable lesson was learned over a two week period; stopping the ingestion of caffeine cold-turkey really sucks. I know that is not a formal term but it kind of sums up the overall experience. I blogged about the withdrawal effects I felt and how it affected my mood, my job and my overall ability to function. I began this fourteen day experiment anticipating that I was going to endure a little bit of pain but combined with working full time (with built in overtime), going to school part time and planning a wedding I found that I drink caffeinated products frequently not only to get me through the day but also because they are so prevalent in our drink choices. I really found that out the hard way during the last fourteen days when I walked into 7-11’s or gas station mini-marts looking for something to drink and realizing that there are few drinks that do not contain caffeine or high amounts of energy boosting vitamins. It only took a couple of times walking into these stores, taking a step back and realizing that the so called “healthy” drinks (fruit juice drinks that are from concentrate or have lots of sugar added) are usually located in the corner of the refrigerated section.
Another revelation I had during this fourteen day experiment was understanding the difference between addiction and habit forming. I have joked on numerous occasions that I am addicted to caffeine and although I had some severe withdrawal symptoms when I stopped consuming caffeine, I would defend the article in my proposal taking the position that caffeine is habit forming considering I drank it every day and like anything else you take out of your diet that you consume every day, the body will have to adjust. I kind of related it to cravings. Some people have really strong cravings and they will go out of their way to satisfy those cravings. For me drinking coffee is my most prevalent craving and I satisfy it almost every day.
This fourteen day experiment really exposed how much caffeine I consumed on a daily basis and I think the most important change I will take away from this experiment is reducing the amount of caffeinated products I consume. Like I said before, I will continue to drink coffee and tea on a regular basis but I think that those beverages are slightly healthier than soda, Red Bull and other similar products. More research might be needed but I feel that flavored water is better than soda and other alternatives. When I stopped consuming caffeine I began looking at the ingredients on popular energy drinks I realized that when I can’t pronounce some of the ingredients in these drinks that it can’t be good for me. Now I can’t say that I will never consume these products again but I am confident that they will no longer be a part of my daily options for caffeine ingestion.
