Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | C | Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader publication

Wake up and smell the caffeine: caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. Here''s what you should know about it. (drugs).

Article Excerpt
Latte, cola, espresso, Mountain Dew, tea, cocoa, chocolate, diet pills, and Excedrin. What do they have in common? Caffeine. You would probably guess that the latte, espresso, and cola contain this widely used stimulant drug, but the fact that the others do may come as a surprise.

Caffeine is actually found in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 60 plants, including coffee beans, kola nuts, cocoa pods, and tea leaves. It has been enjoyed in food and beverages for thousands of years, and today experts say it is the most widely used drug in the world. It is estimated that more than 110 million people in the United States consume caffeine in coffee alone each day.

Revving Up the Brain

You may not think of caffeine as being a drug. But scientists classify it as a central nervous system stimulant that interferes with the neurotransmitter adenosine, which constricts the bronchi reducing the ability to breathe. Caffeine blocks this effect and helps asthmatics breathe better.

In small doses, caffeine increases alertness and energy level and can cause dizziness, sleeplessness, and nervousness. It raises blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. It also stimulates the burning of calories (the basal metabolic rate), which...