Koffein. That is German for caffeine, something many of us don't seem to be able to get along without. We buy super sized drinks in a coffee shop to fuel our day. We pour ourselves cups at home and either drink them black or add sugar and creamer or milk. We gulp down energy drinks or caffeinated soda. Teas and some herbal supplements carry caffeine as well.
Caffeine is most commonly used to
improve mental alertness. That's why so many of us consume it. It's a
legal stimulant and many of us are addicted to it. Withdrawals can be
painful headaches, the jitters, and an intense desire to hurt someone
if we don't get it “right now”. (Okay, I made up the last one. At
least I hope I did.)
Caffeine can be used in combination
with other things to deal with headaches, especially migraines.
People with ADHD use it as a depressant instead of a stimulant. It
helps them stay focused and wind down instead of being hyper all the
time.
But too much can cause problems. It can
cause a racing heart, a bad side effect if you already have heart
problems. It can lead to the jitters or hyperactivity in those who
are particularly sensitive to it. It can cause sleep problems,
including insomnia, if taken before bedtime. It can cause or increase
anxiety.
As with anything in this world, using
it in moderation is key. I have an energy drink and I nurse it all
day. I've found that it gives me the right amount of stimulation
without giving me the racing heart and nausea that I get downing the
whole thing in a short amount of time. I don't get jittery. I don't
get light headed. I can also down a liter of Mountain Dew in a day,
though again like the energy drink I nurse it all day.
I know people who can suck down two or
three energy drinks in a day and feel nothing. Their bodies have
built up such a tolerance to the caffeine that it doesn't phase them.
That can prove to be dangerous to them because they still get the
physical side effects and so much caffeine is not good for them.
I'm not saying don't ingest caffeine. I
tried to stop. The headaches were horrendous and even after a few
days didn't go away. A single can of Mountain Dew and the headaches
stopped. I'm just saying ingest it in moderation. A single cup of
coffee or tea instead of a pot full. A single can of soda. If at all
possible, don't do energy drinks.
Be safe and be aware of what can happen
if you overdose on anything, including caffeine.
