Beverage Lobby Says Caffeine’s Not a Drug. Really?

February 24, 2013 By Kate Heyhoe

The ABA Says Caffeine Is Not a Drug. Really?

In a 2011 news release, the American Beverage Association (ABA) has actually stated, “caffeine is not a drug.” It also says caffeine is a stimulant.

Conflicting statements don’t do much for credibility, and misleading statements chip away at consumer safety. Caffeine is classified as a drug, a type of central nervous system stimulant; the FDA considers it both a drug and a food additive. Naturally, the ABA has a mission to boost profits for its members. But by making caffeine confusing, beverage makers undermine the public’s ability to consume caffeine safely and responsibly.

Read the full ABA press release

Canada Caps Energy Shots at 200mg

February 9, 2013 By Kate Heyhoe

The Canadian Government has placed caffeine limits on so-called “energy shots” as part of an overhaul of its clasification system for the sub-category. Micro-sized caffeine drinks are now allowed a maximum of 200mg of caffeine per shot, after the change came into effect on Tuesday (5 February), Health Canada said. Manufacturers must also clearly label the amount of caffeine and other active ingredients in each product.

More details

Gum to Go

March 7, 2013 By Kate Heyhoe

Stay Alert caffeinated gum was initially a joint project by Walter Reed Army researchers and Wrigley’s Gum. After its success with American troops, Israeli’s elite pilots and special operation forces added it to their supply arsenal in 2011. The pilots were skeptical at first, but after getting past the taste, they now carry caffeinated gum on all missions lasting more than 48 hours. Full article: Caffeinated gum keeps Israeli pilots, commandos alert

Caffeine Basics: Intro and Contents

January 1, 2013 By Kate Heyhoe

Caffeine Basics: A User’s Manual

* Caffeine came without instructions. THIS is the missing manual.*

Welcome to my free online book about the basics of caffeine – including coffee, tea, chocolate, soda energy drinks and more. Think of this as your “user’s manual” for caffeine. It’s a complete book and separate from my blog posts. You can move through the chapters sequentially: arrows at the bottom of each Caffeine Basics Post lead you to the next entry in the book. Or you can jump around using the Table of Contents below. Blog readers may also use the site’s SEARCH button to find info in the book’s chapters and in the blog posts. NOTE: New chapters are uploaded as soon as they are completed.

Table of Contents:

The complete book includes 12 chapters in all. Chapters will be added here as they are uploaded.

A Quick Inventory of Caffeine’s Effects

January 1, 2013 By TW

Nobody forces us to ingest caffeine. It’s not necessary. We choose to do so.

In studies where participants didn’t know they were ingesting caffeine, they opted for caffeinated beverages over non-caffeinated ones. This suggests that something in caffeine makes our brains love it, or at least want it, whether we know it or not.

So even without understanding how caffeine works, it’s easy to understand our attraction to caffeine. Here’s a rundown of the bells and whistles that come with a low to moderate dose of caffeine (100-200 mg for most people, and no more than 300 mg):

Makes you alert: Caffeine quickens reaction times and improves alertness. It reduces fatigue.

Sharpens mental focus: Attention spans last longer. Under caffeine, concentration improves. Memory may or may not improve, but caffeine appears to protect against memory loss, especially when you’re under stress. (Benefits to memory are inconclusive.)

Improves mood: People report increased well-being, happiness, and sociability. They feel energized and less depressed.

Boosts physical performance: Athletes experience improved speed, endurance, and reaction time. Caffeine helps the body burn fat instead of carbohydrate, blunts pain, and can suppress appetite.

Provides therapeutic benefits: Caffeine relieves pain. It’s also a powerful antioxidant. It can protect certain cells from long-term damage. Current research suggests caffeine may also reduce cognitive decline associated with aging, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. It also appears to prevent gallstones, and is used in treatment for Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, and colorectal cancer. It opens up bronchial passages, and helps asthmatics breathe easier. Caffeine leads to increased stimulation of your heart.

At the same time, caffeine can be fickle and flighty in its actions. Caffeine can benefit the heart by dilating coronary arteries and speeding up oxygen delivery. In the brain, caffeine has the opposite effect; it constricts blood vessels, reducing pressure and blood flow to the brain, and relieving headaches. In the lungs, caffeine relaxes bronchial tubes, making breathing easier.

Caffeine Basics: Table of Contents