Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine is a substance that occurs naturally in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 60 plants, including tea leaves, kola nuts, coffee, and cocoa beans, and in plant derivatives known as botanicals. Botanicals, such as guarana, yerba mate, kola nut and green tea extract, are common dietary supplement ingredients and are printed on the label's ingredient list.

Caffeine can also be produced synthetically (man-made) and used as an additive in food products.

Caffeine is in coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, many soft drinks, energy drinks, and frequently added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, appetite suppressants, and cold medicines.

Caffeine has many effects on the body's metabolism, including stimulating the central nervous system, which makes you more alert and gives you a boost of energy.

The central nervous system, which includes the brain and the spinal cord, is the main "processing center" that controls all of the body's organs and systems. Caffeine is absorbed and distributed very quickly. After absorption, it passes into the brain.

There are approximately 95 milligrams (mg) of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee. For most people, moderate doses of caffeine (200 to 300 mg) aren't harmful. That's about two to three cups of coffee a day. But, there are drinks you can buy with 500 mg of caffeine in them. This amount of caffeine is risky for some people, especially if you take medications (many medications will interact with caffeine) or if you consume other foods and drinks that contain caffeine. Some dietary supplements contain caffeine, even if caffeine is not listed on the label. Among 53 dietary supplements analyzed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), caffeine levels ranged from about zero to 800 milligrams per serving.

A person consuming as little as 100 mg of caffeine a day can become dependent on it. Abrupt withdrawal of caffeine may cause headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, nervousness, and other symptoms. Reduce caffeine intake gradually to prevent any symptoms of withdrawal.

Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others according to traits such as age, size, and health. Some people who regularly take in a lot of caffeine soon develop less sensitivity to it, needing more caffeine to achieve the same effects.

Too much caffeine can affect your health and can cause:
Restlessness
Anxiousness
Nervousness
Irritability
Dizziness
Jitters
Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) including nursing infants of mothers taking caffeine
Headaches
An increase in the production of stomach acid and may worsen ulcer symptoms
Upset stomach
Diarrhea
Dehydration
Skin rashes
Excessive urination - Caffeine acts on the kidneys as a diuretic (increasing urine and urine sodium/potassium levels and potentially decreasing blood sodium/potassium levels) and may worsen incontinence (incontinence means inability to control your urine or bowels)
Nausea
Vomiting
Abnormal heart rhythms
An increase in blood pressure
Anxiety
Depression
Tremors
Toxicity is possible with high doses

Caffeine Content of Some Foods, Drinks & Drugs:
7-Up - 12 oz - 0 mg of caffeine
Cocoa beverage - 5 oz - about 4 mg of caffeine
Chocolate milk beverage - 8 oz - about 5 mg of caffeine
Milk chocolate - 1 oz - about 6 mg of caffeine
Dark chocolate - 1 oz - about 20 mg of caffeine
Cold relief medication - 1 tablet - about 30 mg of caffeine
Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar - 1.45 oz - 31 of caffeine
Jolt gum - 1 stick - 33 mg of caffeine
Coca Cola - 12 oz - 34 mg of caffeine
Pepsi - 12 oz - 38 mg of caffeine
Diet Coke - 12 oz - 45 mg of caffeine
Mountain Dew - 12 oz - 55 mg of caffeine
Iced tea - 12 oz - about 70 mg of caffeine
Jolt cola - 12 oz - 72 mg of caffeine
Rockstar energy drink - 8 oz - 80 mg of caffeine
Red Bull energy drink - 8.3 oz - 80 mg of caffeine
SoBe No Fear - 8 oz - 83 mg of caffeine
Rip It, all varieties - 8 oz - 100 mg of caffeine
Enviga - 12 oz - 100 mg of caffeine
Excedrin extra strength - 2 tablets - 130 mg of caffeine
Full Throttle - 16 oz - 144 mg of caffeine
Monster energy drink - 16 oz - 160 mg of caffeine
NoDoz (Maximum Strength) - 1 tablet - 200 mg of caffeine
Vivarin - 1 tablet - 200 mg of caffeine
Cocaine - 8.4 oz - 280 mg of caffeine
Spike Shooter - 8.4 oz - 300 mg of caffeine

Caffeine will not reduce the effects of alcohol, although many people still believe a cup of coffee will "sober-up" an intoxicated person.

Caffeine does not accumulate in the bloodstream nor is it stored in the body. It is excreted in the urine many hours after it has been consumed. It takes less than an hour for caffeine to begin affecting the body and a mild dose wears off in three to four hours.

In the United States, there is no requirement to state the amount of caffeine present in a food, beverage or supplement on the product's label. If caffeine in its pure form is added to a product, however, there is a requirement to add the word "caffeine" to the label's ingredient listing.

Caffeine in its natural form tastes very bitter. Most caffeinated drinks have gone through enough processing to camouflage the bitter taste.

Caffeine may be used as a treatment for migraine headaches, but for some people it can make headaches worse.

Caffeine may be used in relieving, for a short time, fatigue or drowsiness.

Caffeine is frequently added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, appetite suppressants, and cold medicines.

Caffeine can be removed from a food by a chemical process called decaffeination.

How much caffeine a child receives should be closely monitored. Although caffeine is safe in moderate amounts, it may negatively affect a child's nutrition. Caffeinated beverages may be replacing nutritious drinks such as milk. A child who consumes caffeine may also eat less, because caffeine suppresses the appetite. There is no nutritional requirement for caffeine, so it can be completely restricted in a child's diet. Caffeine is a stimulant. Avoiding caffeine may be necessary for a hyperactive child.

If you are pregnant, have coronary heart disease, or peptic ulcers, your doctor may recommend that you limit or avoid caffeine intake.

People with severe liver disease should use caffeine cautiously, as levels of caffeine in the blood may build up and last longer.

Wow, I didn't realize too much caffeine can cause so many health problems!

7-Up really has no caffeine in it? And chocolate has that much! I always considered myself to be a very low consumer of caffeine because I never drink coffee or soda pops, but I do eat chocolate!

Yep, 7-Up has no caffeine in it. There are other drinks like Fresca and Sprite that don't have caffeine in them either.
I tried to find out about how much caffeine is in green tea, and sources quote anywhere from 3 to 30 mg of caffeine in a cup of green tea. I buy decaffeinated green tea. I don't know though, if anything that has gone through the decaffeination process is good for you or not.

I don't see coffee on that list... about how much caffeine do you think is in a cup of coffee?

There are approximately 95 milligrams (mg) of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee.

That's funny, Coffee has more caffeine than Redbull.

Really? I hadn't realized pain medicine has caffeine in it! I wonder why that is?

Maybe it's because they want to keep you awake so you are aware of your pain, then you will take more pain medicine and they will make more money.

no I think it is because caffeine opens blood vessel, reducing inflamation... It allows blood to run more freely