Drinking more #water helps you to #eat less, as it causes #hunger pains to subside and helps you eat less during a meal if you drink a couple of glasses prior.
Showing posts with label Caffeine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caffeine. Show all posts
Friday, 1 April 2016
The Water Challenge
Drinking more #water helps you to #eat less, as it causes #hunger pains to subside and helps you eat less during a meal if you drink a couple of glasses prior.
Thursday, 13 August 2015
Why mixing alcohol and caffeine is so deadly By Linda Shrieves
By Linda Shrieves
People love their caffeine - in coffee, colas and now in their alcohol. But mixed together, particularly in high volumes, the combination of caffeine and alcohol can be deadly. That's why toxicologists and doctors are encouraged to see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration crack down on the makers of drinks such as Four Loko and Joose, which experts compare to two cups of coffee combined with the equivalent of four or five beers.
Why caffeine and alcohol are so toxic together isn't fully understood, but the combination appears to impair a drinker's judgement more than drinking alcohol alone. That has led to what some researchers call "toxic jock syndrome."
"Amongst some users, there's a higher incidence of risk-taking behaviours because their perceptions of their limitations are distorted," said Dr. Steven Lipshultz, Chief of pediatrics at the University of Miami medical school.
As a stimulant, caffeine jazzes up your whole body, increasing blood pressure, heart rate and in some cases, causing heart palpitations and an irregular heartbeat. Caffeine also leads to headaches, jitteriness, agitation, stomach problems and abnormal breathing. It's the equivalent of an adrenaline rush, said Lipshultz.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant that slows down the brain's functioning and impairs one's ability to walk, talk and think clearly.
Mixed together, the stimulant and the depressant do not cancel each other out.
"Some people have the idea that the caffeine will negate the effect of the alcohol - and that's simply not true," said Dr. Glenn Whelan, assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy.
Instead, the caffeine appears to override the natural sleepiness that occurs when someone drinks alcohol. It also delays the feeling of drunkenness, so those who drink an alcoholic energy drink are likely to keep drinking beyond their normal limits.
How dangerous is one can of an alcoholic energy drink? Many brands in this burgeoning beverage field are packaged in 23.5-ounce cans that contain 260 milligrams of caffeine and are 12 percent alcohol by volume.
The effect on a drinker depends on a person's body weight, but teens and college students - many of whom are more slender than older drinkers and haven't developed a tolerance to alcohol - are far more likely to be affected by just one can, experts say.
"One can of Four Loko in a small, young woman can produce a blood alcohol level of .15 - that's almost twice the legal limit," said Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a professor of toxicology at the University of Florida. "In some individuals, that could be life-threatening - or lead to a life-threatening event."
Even those who can tolerate a single can will probably drink it in a short period of time. And that, says Whelan, is why Four Loko is known as "blackout in a can."
"If you drink a 24-ounce can of Four Loko in one hour, that's almost like drinking a full six-pack of beer in an hour," Whelan said. "But you have that caffeine making you more alert, so you keep drinking. It's like the worst of the worst things you can do."
Scientists aren't sure exactly how the body processes the combination of caffeine and alcohol because the combination - at least in the quantity seen in these alcoholic energy drinks - is too dangerous to test on humans in scientific experiments.
"There have been no studies approved because of the lack of safety," said Goldberger at the University of Florida. "There are no studies that address physiological changes when someone drinks an alcoholic energy drink."
However, in 2008, University of Florida researchers conducted a study in which they interviewed college-aged adults leaving bars. They found that bar patrons who reported drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks - 6.5 percent of study participants - were three times more likely to be intoxicated than drinkers who consumed alcohol only.
The average breath-alcohol concentration reading for those who mixed alcohol and energy drinks was 0.109, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08. Consumers of energy drink cocktails also left bars later at night, drank for longer periods of time, ingested more grams of ethanol and were four times more likely to express an intention to drive within the hour than patrons who drank alcohol only.
Now that the FDA is cracking down on alcoholic energy drinks, some wonder if they will only be replaced by cocktails of Red Bull and vodka or Jagerbombs, a shot of Jagermeister liqueur dropped into a glass of Red Bull. But those, said Goldberger, aren't nearly as strong as a Four Loko or a Core Spiked.
One 8.3 ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. By contrast, a 12-ounce serving of Coke contains 34 milligrams of caffeine. Four Loko contains about 260 milligrams of caffeine in each can.
"Comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges because the alcohol content of a Red Bull plus vodka is only about one-fourth or one-fifth of what is found in a Four Loko," Goldberger said. "And Red Bull doesn't really contain that much caffeine. You'd have to drink three Red Bulls to get the same caffeine you'd find in an alcoholic energy drink. There's a big difference."
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People love their caffeine - in coffee, colas and now in their alcohol. But mixed together, particularly in high volumes, the combination of caffeine and alcohol can be deadly. That's why toxicologists and doctors are encouraged to see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration crack down on the makers of drinks such as Four Loko and Joose, which experts compare to two cups of coffee combined with the equivalent of four or five beers.
Why caffeine and alcohol are so toxic together isn't fully understood, but the combination appears to impair a drinker's judgement more than drinking alcohol alone. That has led to what some researchers call "toxic jock syndrome."
"Amongst some users, there's a higher incidence of risk-taking behaviours because their perceptions of their limitations are distorted," said Dr. Steven Lipshultz, Chief of pediatrics at the University of Miami medical school.
As a stimulant, caffeine jazzes up your whole body, increasing blood pressure, heart rate and in some cases, causing heart palpitations and an irregular heartbeat. Caffeine also leads to headaches, jitteriness, agitation, stomach problems and abnormal breathing. It's the equivalent of an adrenaline rush, said Lipshultz.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant that slows down the brain's functioning and impairs one's ability to walk, talk and think clearly.
Mixed together, the stimulant and the depressant do not cancel each other out.
"Some people have the idea that the caffeine will negate the effect of the alcohol - and that's simply not true," said Dr. Glenn Whelan, assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy.
Instead, the caffeine appears to override the natural sleepiness that occurs when someone drinks alcohol. It also delays the feeling of drunkenness, so those who drink an alcoholic energy drink are likely to keep drinking beyond their normal limits.
How dangerous is one can of an alcoholic energy drink? Many brands in this burgeoning beverage field are packaged in 23.5-ounce cans that contain 260 milligrams of caffeine and are 12 percent alcohol by volume.
The effect on a drinker depends on a person's body weight, but teens and college students - many of whom are more slender than older drinkers and haven't developed a tolerance to alcohol - are far more likely to be affected by just one can, experts say.
"One can of Four Loko in a small, young woman can produce a blood alcohol level of .15 - that's almost twice the legal limit," said Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a professor of toxicology at the University of Florida. "In some individuals, that could be life-threatening - or lead to a life-threatening event."
Even those who can tolerate a single can will probably drink it in a short period of time. And that, says Whelan, is why Four Loko is known as "blackout in a can."
"If you drink a 24-ounce can of Four Loko in one hour, that's almost like drinking a full six-pack of beer in an hour," Whelan said. "But you have that caffeine making you more alert, so you keep drinking. It's like the worst of the worst things you can do."
Scientists aren't sure exactly how the body processes the combination of caffeine and alcohol because the combination - at least in the quantity seen in these alcoholic energy drinks - is too dangerous to test on humans in scientific experiments.
"There have been no studies approved because of the lack of safety," said Goldberger at the University of Florida. "There are no studies that address physiological changes when someone drinks an alcoholic energy drink."
However, in 2008, University of Florida researchers conducted a study in which they interviewed college-aged adults leaving bars. They found that bar patrons who reported drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks - 6.5 percent of study participants - were three times more likely to be intoxicated than drinkers who consumed alcohol only.
The average breath-alcohol concentration reading for those who mixed alcohol and energy drinks was 0.109, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08. Consumers of energy drink cocktails also left bars later at night, drank for longer periods of time, ingested more grams of ethanol and were four times more likely to express an intention to drive within the hour than patrons who drank alcohol only.
Now that the FDA is cracking down on alcoholic energy drinks, some wonder if they will only be replaced by cocktails of Red Bull and vodka or Jagerbombs, a shot of Jagermeister liqueur dropped into a glass of Red Bull. But those, said Goldberger, aren't nearly as strong as a Four Loko or a Core Spiked.
One 8.3 ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. By contrast, a 12-ounce serving of Coke contains 34 milligrams of caffeine. Four Loko contains about 260 milligrams of caffeine in each can.
"Comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges because the alcohol content of a Red Bull plus vodka is only about one-fourth or one-fifth of what is found in a Four Loko," Goldberger said. "And Red Bull doesn't really contain that much caffeine. You'd have to drink three Red Bulls to get the same caffeine you'd find in an alcoholic energy drink. There's a big difference."
Monday, 10 August 2015
Effects of Caffeine on the Body
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It can temporarily make you feel more awake and energetic, but it can also give you the jitters. Withdrawal or overdose can cause a range of problems.
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| The Effects of caffeine on the Body |
Effects of Caffeine on the Body
Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in many plants, including coffee beans and tea leaves. Kola nuts and cacao pods also contain caffeine. Caffeine can also be man-made, and it is added to many of our foods and drinks. Many over-the-counter and prescription medications contain caffeine. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 90 percent of the world’s population ingests some form of caffeine. In the United States, about 80 percent of us take in some caffeine every day.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s safe for most healthy adults to consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. How much caffeine each beverage contains varies a lot, so reading labels is important. There’s also a great variation in the amount of caffeine an individual can tolerate without unpleasant side effects. If you consume roughly the same amount of caffeine every day, you can develop a tolerance to it. Your tolerance level is affected by your age, body mass, and any health conditions you may have. Caffeine can also interact with certain medications.
Six hundred milligrams a day is generally considered too much, according to the FDA. That’s the equivalent of four to seven cups of coffee. Keep in mind that a standard size cup of coffee is eight ounces. If you’re using a mug or getting your fix at a coffee house, chances are you’re drinking 16 ounces or more. If you usually take in a lot of caffeine, stopping suddenly can cause symptoms of withdrawal. It’s best to decrease your consumption slowly.
Caffeine provides no nutritional value. It’s tasteless, so you don’t necessarily know if it’s in your food. However, it can affect your mood and cause physical side effects.
Central Nervous System
Caffeine reaches your brain quickly and acts as a central nervous system stimulant. The most noticeable effect is alertness. It can help you feel more awake and less tired, so it’s a common ingredient in medications to treat drowsiness.
Caffeine and headaches have a complicated relationship. Too much caffeine can give you a headache. However, your body develops a tolerance to caffeine. If you normally consume caffeine and stop suddenly, it can cause a headache. Caffeine is used in some over-the-counter and prescription-strength headache and migraine remedies.
Despite the common wisdom of drinking coffee to recover from too much alcohol, caffeine doesn't actually help your body process alcohol any faster.
If you’re not used to it, caffeine can give you the jitters. If you have an anxiety disorder or sleep disorder, caffeine may make it worse.
Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include anxiety, irritability, and drowsiness. In some people, sudden withdrawal may cause tremors.
It’s also possible to overdose on caffeine. Symptoms of an overdose include confusion and hallucinations. An overdose can result in death due to convulsions.
Digestive and Excretory Systems
Caffeine raises the amount of acid in your stomach and may cause heartburn or upset stomach. It’s also a diuretic, triggering your body to get rid of water. That’s why it’s not a great thirst quencher. Extra caffeine doesn’t get stored in your body. It is processed in the liver and exits in your urine.
If you have stomach problems, like acid reflux or ulcers, ask your doctor if it’s okay to have caffeine. Large doses of caffeine cause you to lose too much water, especially when consumed in conjunction with exercise.
Withdrawal from caffeine can cause nausea and vomiting. Symptoms of caffeine overdose include diarrhea, excessive thirst, and increased urination.
Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
Caffeine is absorbed from your stomach. It reaches its highest levels in your bloodstream within an hour or two.
Caffeine can make your blood pressure go up for a short time. In most people, there is no long-term effect on blood pressure. If you have irregular heart rhythms, caffeine may make your heart work harder. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart-related problems, ask your doctor if caffeine is safe for you.
An overdose of caffeine may cause rapid or irregular heartbeat and breathing trouble. In rare cases, caffeine overdose can cause death due to convulsions or irregular heartbeat.
Skeletal and Muscular Systems
Caffeine in large amounts may interfere with absorption and metabolism of calcium. This can contribute to bone thinning (osteoporosis).
Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include achy muscles. An overdose can cause muscle twitches.
Reproductive System
Caffeine travels within the bloodstream and crosses into the placenta. Since it is a stimulant, it can cause your baby’s heart rate and metabolism to increase. Too much caffeine can also cause slowed fetal growth and increase risk of miscarriage. In most cases, a little caffeine is safe during pregnancy.
Caffeine can also contribute to painful lumps in the breast (fibrocystic disease). According to the Mayo Clinic, there is some evidence that large amounts of caffeine can interfere with estrogen production and metabolism, making it harder to get pregnant.
If you have lumpy breasts, are pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant, ask your doctor about safe levels of caffeine.
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