Caffeine

The stirring up substance we all know is part of coffee, tea, cacao and many other beverages, but also of several plants. Regarding chemistry, caffeine is an Alkaloid (C8H10O2N4.H20).

Caffeine was proven in coffee in 1820. 1838 in another famous beverage called tea a substance was discovered which owns a chemical structure similar to caffeine.
As already mend, caffeine is part of connection (e.g. in plants). Pure caffeine develops as a beside product in the production of caffeine free coffee..

Caffeine, taken by a beverage, distributes itself in the whole body within 5 minutes. This substance is diminished very slowly, i.e. in five to six hours. During this time coffein is very effective. Also after this period of diminishing, caffeine can be traced in the body.

Four important effects of Caffeine:

• prevents sleep, keeps awake
• increases temporarily the perseverance
• increases temporarily the physical efficiency
• reduces headache

Caffeine can also show the following reactions in the human body:

• energizes the central nervous system
• strengthens heart and lung activity
• increases the blood pressure
• promotes the kidney activity
• increases the production of gastric acid

Due its ability to extend blood vessels, caffeine is used for the treatment by migraine. It also strengthens the effect of painkillers. Caffeine knows even to ease asthma accumulations slightly, because it is able to extend the respiratory system.

A cup of coffee includes approximately 75 micro grams of caffeine, a cup of tea half of this.
Drinks as coca cola contain a great amount of caffeine. Also in chocolate products caffeine has been discovered, but only very small amounts.

With a normal consumption of about 5 cups of coffee (=375 micro grams caffeine) there are no dangers. Only with a daily consummation of over eight cups (=600 micro grams of caffeine) one has to count with nausea, strong excitation, heart lawn, swindle and cramps.
With excessive doses the energizing effect of caffeine changes to a paralyzed one. The deadly dose one assumes at 4 grams of caffeine.