Should Caffeine consumption be regulated per day?
For years, caffeine has been the “drug” of choice of many people, with 80% of the world’s population consuming a caffeinated product each day. With this, It has been considered socially acceptable for caffeine to be
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is an unregulated psychoactive drug that has naturally produced stimulant properties that can be found in more than 60 plant species including tea leaves, coffee beans and cocoa seeds (myVMC, 2015). Due to this, caffeine is normally found in coffee, tea and chocolate products. Though, these days, it is also commonly used in energy drinks, soft drinks and food supplements (Petre, 2016). However, it can also be artificially produced in laboratories and factories using mainly a chemical synthesis of urea and other harsh chemicals such as methylene chloride (e.g. paint remover) and ethyl acetate (e.g. nail polish and nail polish remover) (Ettinger, 2011). In saying this, it makes it quite dangerous as it is also known to share a number of traits as a couple of notorious drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine and heroin (Bryant, n.a.). By this, caffeine uses the same biochemical mechanisms as the said drugs to stimulate brain function.
What happens inside the body when caffeine is consumed?
Caffeine is consumed by millions of people each day and night to increase wakefulness, alleviate fatigue, improve concentration as well as focus. However, upon many people who drinks or eats caffeine daily, most do not know the other effects of their acts.
When caffeine is consumed, it is absorbed through the small intestines where it is dissolved in the bloodstream (Bealer, 2017). Penetrating the blood-brain barrier, caffeine enters the brain and suppresses a neurotransmitter called adenosine, which is what causes for the body to get feelings of fatigue and tiredness (Stromberg, 2013). As caffeine resembles the shape of adenosine, it binds to a receptor once it reaches a nerve cell and cause for the cell’s activity to speed up, taking up all the receptors that adenosine would normally bind to and cause for the person to feel alert (Brain, n.a.). Additionally, due to the blockage of adenosine because of caffeine, other stimulants in the brain also works more effectively such as dopamine, a neurotransmitter which activates pleasure centres in certain parts of the brain. Essentially, caffeine prevents adenosine from having its intended inhibitory effects of arousal levels, however, due to the binding of caffeine to adenosine receptors that blocks adenosine, it causes for increased levels of stimulation and greater arousal results in the central nervous system (Nootriment, 2018). It also injects adrenaline into the system to give the person a boost and it manipulates dopamine production which is what is causing it to make the person feel good or get the feeling of completion when consuming caffeine (Brain, n.a.).
Perspectives
Doctors or medical professionals
With the recommended caffeine consumption of no more than 2.5mg of caffeine per kg of body weight per day, many doctors are concerned that caffeine consumption within teens can badly affect their brain development.
• The study also concluded that women who drank coffee while pregnant were 17% more likely to have their newborn die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. A study in New Zealand discredited the connection between low doses of caffeine and SIDS, but it did conclude that consuming 400mg of caffeine every day while pregnant may increase this risk due to the baby’s sudden withdrawal of caffeine after being born, leading to respiratory distress.
Effects of caffeine in teens
• Disadvantages
o Caffeine takes a major toll on a teen’s sleep. Every 10 milligrams of caffeine a 13-year-old boy consumes decreases his chances of getting 8.5 hours of sleep by 12 percent. Sleep deprivation in teens can affect their education, mental health, and physical health.
o Caffeine may also cause the body to lose calcium. Consuming too much caffeine could lead to bone loss over time. Drinking soda or energy drinks instead of milk may also place a teen at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.
o Caffeine may also aggravate underlying health issues, like heart problems. It may also interact with certain medications or supplements.
• Reports of people—usually teens and young adults—overdosing on caffeine. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports more than 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009 were associated with energy drinks.
o Logan Stiner, a high school student from Ohio, who suffered cardiac arrhythmia and a seizure after using powdered caffeine. Doctors determined he took more than a teaspoon of the powder, which was 16 times the recommended dose.
o There have been several other deaths linked to caffeine overdose. A New York Times investigation in 2012 found at least 13 deaths linked to energy drinks.
Effects of caffeine to adults and in the future
With the average, the recommended caffeine intake of a healthy adult is approximately up to 400 milligrams daily which is roughly the same amount of caffeine found in four cups of brewed coffee. Upon exceeding this, similar to acquiring an addiction to smoking, it can affect the human body in many different ways.
o Caffeine addiction
o Caffeine overdose
o Stomach irritation
o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Increased heart rate and respiration
o High blood pressure
o Heart problems
o Breast tissue cysts
o Insomnia
o Migraine
o Osteoporosis
o And a lot more.
Perspectives of doctors
With the recommended caffeine consumption of no more than 2.5mg of caffeine per kg of body weight per day, many doctors are concerned that caffeine consumption within teens can badly affect their brain development.
• A controversial study released in 1998 by the National Institute for Environmental and Health Sciences claimed that women who consumed at least one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to become pregnant than women who did not drink coffee. The study also concluded that women who drank coffee while pregnant were 17% more likely to have their newborn die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. A study in New Zealand discredited the connection between low doses of caffeine and SIDS, but it did conclude that consuming 400mg of caffeine every day while pregnant may increase this risk due to the baby’s sudden withdrawal of caffeine after being born, leading to respiratory distress.
• not only are they concerned about their brain development, doctors are also worried that as there may be an effect to brain development, there are possibilities that it can also affect their physical and mental health.
o Depression
o Anxiety
o Loss of concentration and focus
o Loss of sleep; loss of energy
o Iron deficiency; anaemia
o Etc.
Perspective of general public – usual caffeine consumers and non-caffeine consumers
• As many people rely on caffeine filled products such as coffee and tea to keep them awake for either their job or school, many believes that caffeine should not be regulated as it aids them from going through the day.
• However, in spite of this, there are also many people who drinks or eats caffeine filled products that are concerned that due to the unregulated caffeine in most parts of the world, it may cause for many to become addicted if not die of overdose just like this one 16-year-old student who unfortunately died of caffeine overdose upon consuming upon products that were high in caffeine within a short period of time.
• However, some people also believes that caffeine should not be regulated as some believes that consuming caffeine should be a person’s choice. By this it should be that people are able to learn to control themselves and be responsible upon their actions thus should not affect others who just enjoy occasionally consuming caffeine.