CAFFEINE
I. It’s 1:45 a.m., and 21-year-old Thomas Murphy is burning the midnight oil, studying for an
important engineering exam he has at 2:00 in the afternoon later today. To stay awake and focused,
he’s had two cups of coffee in the last three hours and is now downing a popular energy drink –
one that has two to three times the amount of caffeine as a similar sized can of soda. Many students
like Murphy, as well as marathon runners, airline pilots, and long-distance travelers, owe their
energy– and sometimes– to one of mankind’s oldest stimulants: caffeine. Many say they couldn’t
live without it.
II. The power to counter physical fatigue and increase alertness is part of the reason caffeine ranks
as the world’s most popular mood-altering drug. It is found not only in sodas, energy drinks, coffee,
and tea, but also in diet pills, pain relievers (like aspirin), and chocolate bars. Many societies
around the world have also created entire rituals around the use of caffeine: afternoon tea in the
U.K., the café culture of France, tea ceremony in Japan, and the morning cup of coffee or tea that
in many cultures marks the start of the day.
III. Caffeine is in many of the foods or drinks we consume, but is it really good for us? Charles
Czeisler, a scientist and sleep expert at Harvard Medical School, believes that caffeine causes us
to lose sleep, which he says is unhealthy. “Without adequate sleep –the typical eight hours– the
human body will not function at its best, physically, mentally, or emotionally.” Too often, Czeisler
says, we consume caffeine to stay awake, which later makes it impossible for us to get the rest we
need.
IV. Health risks have also been tired to caffeine consumption. Over the years, studies have
attributed higher rates of certain types of cancer and bone disease to caffeine consumption. To
date, however, there is no definitive proof that caffeine actually causes these diseases.
V. A number of scientists, including Roland Griffiths, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine in the U.S., believe that regular caffeine use cause physical dependence. Heavy caffeine
users, Griffiths says, exhibit similar behaviors: their moods fluctuate from high to low; they get
mild to severe headaches; or they feel tired or sad when they can’t have a coffee, soft drink, energy
drink, or cup of tea. To minimize or stop these feelings, users must consume caffeine –a behavior
Griffiths say that is characteristic of drug addiction.
VI. Despite these concerns, the general opinion in the scientific community is that caffeine is not
dangerous when consumed moderately –for example, by having one or two small cups of coffee
(about 300 milligrams of caffeine) per day. Furthermore, a lot of current research contradicts long-
held negative beliefs about caffeine, and suggests that it may, in fact, have health benefits. For
instance, studies have shown that caffeine can help ease pain by reducing muscle inflammation.
Because it is a stimulant, caffeine can also help improve on one’s mood. Research has also shown
that some caffeinated drinks –specially certain teas– have disease-fighting chemicals that can help
the body fight a number of illnesses, including certain types of cancer.
VII. In addition, as a type of mental stimulant, caffeine increases alertness, memory, and reaction
speed. Because it fights fatigue, it facilitates performance on tasks like driving, flying, and solving
simple math problems. And while it is true that caffeine can increase blood pressure, the effect is
usually temporary and therefore not likely to cause heart trouble –especially if caffeine is
consumed in moderation.
VIII. And despite its nearly universal use, caffeine has rarely been abused. “With caffeine, overuse
tends to stop itself,” says Jack Bergman, a specialist at Harvard Medical School. If you consume
too much, “you get… uncomfortable, and you don’t want to continue.
IX. Caffeine’s behavioral effects are real, but most often, mild. Getting that burst of energy, of
course, is why many of the most popular drinks on Earth contain caffeine. Whether it’s a student
drinking coffee before class or a businessman enjoying tea with lunch, mankind’s favorite
stimulant is at work every day, all over the world.
