What is Caffeine and How Does Our Mass Consumption of it Effect Us?

In a world on the go where there is a Starbucks at every corner of every city, you can get your fix of the cheapest and "most used drug." Today it seems to me that caffeine is not only the most used but also most abused. With no age required to use it, it seems like everyone is using from children to elders. Markets that specialize in caffeine delivering products are growing every year, making millions of dollars.

Caffeine is produced artificially and is also derived from many different types of plant seeds and leaves. It is most commonly found in coffee beans, chocolate beans, energy drinks, soft drinks, and over- the counter pills for dieting and some asthma medications. Caffeine's bitter taste it hidden through a variety of artificial flavors.

Caffeine is classified as a drug because of how it stimulates the central nervous system, resulting in increased heart beat, respiration. Caffeine is commonly used to increase stamina, energy, and increase alertness. Caffeine has also been known to decrease depression and reduce boredom. Other effect's is that it may cause easy persuasion to change your mind. It is commonly used to aid headaches and body aches.

Recently I saw a program on television that preached the health problems involved with caffeine abuse. I began thinking of how much caffeine I most likely consume annually, and wondered how it may be affecting me. Every time I hear something used on a regular basis has just been proven harmful to your health I think "of coarse it's harmful for you, what isn't." The truth is everything you do is harmful when you do it enough. You may eat too much of something or in other cases drink too much.

"Although with caffeine you can get your fix through both eating and drinking, which is my first reason why I feel caffeine is so easily abused."