http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1008/565794_video.html?ref=newsstory
This video illustrates how addiction to caffeine is a rising trend in today's culture. For a behavior modification class, I had to use this video and propose an intervention/behavior modification to combat a dysfunctional behavior. This topic has intrigued me outside of the class, so I continue to read articles about it on occasion.
Caffeine is a drug that can be found everywhere. It's not regulated and the government doesn't require the caffeine content to be listed in the ingredients, except with soda and energy drinks, but that was only a recent law. Caffeine is found in many different foods, as it's a cheap ingredient to add that foodmakers hope will add appeal and desire for the product from consumers. Even decaf coffee has caffeine in it! Not nearly as much as a regular coffee, but the belief that it doesn't have any isn't true!
I think caffeine is a reinforced substance because it causes generally pleasant sensations from the "caffeine high" as well as increased alertness. The alertness is especially reinforcing for college students staying up late to study or finish a paper!
What's your average daily caffeine intake? Do you have a coffee each morning or an afternoon energy drink often?
I enjoyed this video as well. We all know that our society's caffeine intake is increasing, but to reveal the harm the energy drink craze is having on students hits rather close to home. It is becoming everyday life to see people drinking heavily caffeinated beverages, but it isn't just the products that sell purely as a means of giving consumers a shot of "energy" that contain caffeine. It was mentioned in this video that it is wise for manufacturers to add caffeine to their products because it is relatively cheap and adds a little something to their product. Many foods that we wouldn't even associate with caffeine have it (chips, candy, oatmeal etc.). We see a girl who became addicted to energy drinks her freshman year of college. The caffeine produces hypersensitivity to dopamine stimulation through repeated use—caffeine is a drug, and it is not monitored very effectively. Canadians are taking the issue more seriously and completing further research on the effects. Will America do the same?
The following link provides a list of common foods filled with caffeine. Highly sugared foods have high caffeine content in addition to teas and frozen yogurts. Often times these foods will intentionally be named including the words “boost,” “spark,” or “jolt” to clarify their content. We need to know more about what we’re putting into our bodies and set aside the mentality that “if something doesn’t kill us then its ok to do.” Our actions will catch up with us whether we like it or not.
http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Foods_Containing_Caffeine
I, personally, love caffine! :) It is kind of ironic that I am now an addict, when my entire life growing up I hated pop or anything of that sort. Since I hit college, that's compeletly changed. Now that I am constantly busy, I feel like I need to have some sort of caffine throughout the day to keep me going. I know that caffine in general has a bad wrap, and that some forms of caffine have even been banned in some countries because of health reasons (Red Bull was banned in France, Denmark, and Norway for some time). However, I really think that its more of a control, common sense, and need for more research issue than anything else.
I used to be 'addicted' to Red Bull, but after hearing so many horror stories about it I stopped drinking it, and then developed a distate for it. They don't serve Red Bull in LaGuardia (an airport in NYC) because a man sat at the bar and had 4 cans of Red Bull in one sitting, and then had a heart attack. Dispite this and other horror stories about Red Bull, research still insists that it is safe (with the exception of pregnant women...). These researchers were most likley hireed by Red Bull companies, so there may or may not be any bias involved.
In relation to the horror stories with caffine energy drinks and Red Bull, I think common sense needs to be inplicated more than anything else. Obviously, if you sit and slam 4 cans of Red Bull and try to run and catch your plane-your heart isn't going to be very happy with you. But I don't see anything horribly wrong with grabbing an energy drink on your way to class or work to aviod falling asleep.
Here is a quick-to-read article about the ban in France:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/5753.php
In the article posted by Sadie it mentions how Red Bull is often used as a mixer in alcoholic drinks. Red Bull and vodka was popular among my friends freshman year, so I have been exposed to people drinking this mixture (of course I have never had it as I’m not 21 yet…). I remember hearing that there has been some controversy concerning this drink so I decided to see what I could find. In an article on abcnews.com, it says that people who drink Red Bull and vodka do not see themselves as drunk because they feel more awake. The article mentions that they are then at a greater risk for accidents because they drive without realizing they are drunk. There are also problems associated with the respiratory system in those who mix stimulants with alcohol. At the end of the article however, it mentions that in studies it has shown that the drinks are not harmful if a person drinks responsibly.
As for coffee, I am a devoted drinker. I have at least one cup a day and on busier days I could drink up to three cups. Although that may not seem like a lot to some people (for instance my brother drinks about three pots a day), the caffeine in coffee really affects me. I see no harm in drinking coffee, but I also know my limit. I know that if I have anything with caffeine in it after 5 pm I will be up all night. So, I think that caffeine intake is just like everything else, you just need to know how to regulate it.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2759942&page=1
This title caught my attention because I love coffee, hot or cold. In fact, I am drinking a cup right now. I have a cup of coffee almost daily. While there are times, I go without drinking any coffee for a couple of days, I always seem to get back into the swing of having coffee. I was interested in looking into the affects of coffee and found an article on WebMD about the health effects of coffee. The article’s name is, “Coffee: The New Health Food?” written by Sid Kirchheimer and reviewed by Michael W. Smith, M.D. This is the website I found it at…
http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food?page=3
I found it interesting because it addressed the health benefits of coffee or caffeine to be exact. As Maggie previously stated, coffee is fine in moderation; however, like anything overindulging is not beneficial to your health. Hu, one of the persons interviewed for the article said, “The bottom line: "People who already drink a lot of coffee don't have to feel 'guilty' as long as coffee does not affect their daily life,"
One part of the article that intrigued me was called, “Boost to Athleticism”. The Olympic Games committee even deemed the caffeine in coffee a “controlled” substance. A controlled substance is something that can only be consumed in small, specific amounts by athletes. The caffeine in coffee has direct effects on the body and mind. I was not aware that the caffeine in coffee causes muscles to produce larger contractions. Coffee can also have a positive affect when taking tests. It obviously makes you more aware of your surroundings and can boost concentration.
Although there are some positive aspects of drinking coffee, there are also negative aspects. According to the article, reaction to coffee can be based on your individual body’s ability to tolerate the caffeine. Coffee can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. There are also some guidelines that alert some group to not drink coffee. These groups are pregnant women, heart patients, and people at-risk for osteoporosis are advised to consume little to no coffee.