Xref: utzoo sci.med:15115 sci.bio:2734
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From: reiser@pmafire.UUCP (Steve Reiser)
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Caffeine questions...
Message-ID: <1990Feb21.153415.9369@pmafire.UUCP>
Date: 21 Feb 90 15:34:15 GMT
References: <2569@leah.Albany.Edu>
Reply-To: reiser@pmafire.UUCP (Steve Reiser)
Organization: WINCO Computer Engineering, Idaho.
Lines: 46

In article <2569@leah.Albany.Edu> ss6349@leah.albany.edu (Steven H. Schimmrich) writes:
>
>   Forgive me if this has been covered before but I'm not a regular reader of
>this group.
>   I have some questions about caffeine.  I've been a heavy consumer of coffee
>suffering from headaches, and have had actual cravings for coffee.  Is this
>normal? Is caffeine addictive in any way? Is it all psychosomatic? Can anyone
>give me any references as to the effects of caffeine?  How much caffeine is
>there in a mug of brewed coffee, instant coffee, a can of Pepsi, Coke, etc.?

Caffeine is medically classified as a mild habit-forming drug. Addiction
is called caffeinism and is usually evident in those consuming over 500
mg/day (3-8 cups/day depending on its strength) . Caffeine is similar to
adenosine in the brain ( a vasodilator). Caffeine blocks out adenosine
causing blood vessels to constrict which is why it is used in many headache
remedies. It takes 15-45 minutes to reach peak levels in the blood and is
usually eliminated in  5-6 hours. Concentration and accuracy in simple tasks
are improved, reaction time is shorter, and endurance is improved by enhanced
metabolism of fatty acids. On the negative side, there are indications
that it impairs short term memory, and delicate handwork is impaired
above 150 mg/day.

Caffeine contents:

Drip coffee 60-180mg; perk coffee 40-170mg; instant coffee 30-120mg;
decaffeinated coffee 2-5mg; instant decaf 1-5mg

Most teas are 60-80mg

one ounce of chocolate can have 5-35mg

Mountain Dew 54mg
Coca-Cola    45.6mg
Pepsi-Cola   38.4mg
Jolt Cola  about 100mg

NoDoz 100mg
Vivarin 200mg

Steve

-- 
Steve Reiser (reiser@pmafire.UUCP or ...!uunet!pmafire!reiser)
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