Caffeine Myths and Facts
There’s been a lot of news stories lately about the ill effects of caffeine, so this little snippet of information should be well-timed. From Vivarin comes this list of caffeine information (collated from several sources on the site).
Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that has been enjoyed by people for thousands of years. It is generally regarded as the most widely consumed, food/drug in the world. Caffeine enhances certain aspects of both physical and mental performance, as well as alertness.
People who use caffeine regularly and responsibly to make the most of their day, often face conflicting and confusing statements regarding the effects of caffeine on a person’s health. Caffeine is one of the most comprehensively studied substances with centuries of safe consumption when taken in moderate doses. As a result, there is a vast amount of scientific data that can provide answers to the many questions that exist surrounding the use of caffeine.
Myth:Caffeine is not safe.
Fact:Because caffeine is so widely used, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully reviewed and deemed it as safe and effective. In 1958, caffeine was placed on the Food and Drug Administration’s list as generally recognized as safe (GRAS). A comprehensive review of caffeine safety was recently published and concluded that moderate daily caffeine intake at doses up to 400 mg per/day was not associated with adverse effects such as general toxicity, cardiovascular effects, effects on bone status and calcium balance (with consumption of adequate calcium), changes in adult behavior, increased incidence of cancer and effects on male fertility. Another article that reviewed the effects of caffeine on human behavior also concluded that caffeine is unlikely to cause adverse events when taken in moderation.
Experts agree that moderation and common sense are the keys to safe consumption of caffeine. What is considered a “normal” amount of caffeine depends on an individual’s sensitivity, and can be affected by frequency and amount of intake, body weight, age and a person’s overall health. People with health problems may want to consult their physician regarding their use of caffeine.
Myth:Caffeine is an addictive drug.
Fact:Caffeine is a pharmacologically active substance; it can work as a mild stimulant, and therefore is considered a drug. Few caffeine users report loss of control of caffeine intake or significant difficulty in reducing or stopping caffeine if desired. Thus, caffeine is not addictive and is not listed in the category of addicting stimulants.
Caffeine, on the other hand, is classified by the FDA as an over-the-counter (OTC) substance and thereby regulated by more stringent safety standards. As mentioned earlier, the FDA has approved caffeine as a safe and effective substance and placed caffeine on the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) listing.
Myth: Caffeine causes heart disease.
Fact:A comprehensive review of caffeine safety was recently done and published which concluded that moderate daily caffeine intake at a dose level up to 400 mg per/day was not associated with cardiovascular effects.
Furthermore, the Framingham Heart Study examined potential links between caffeine intake and cardiovascular disease. This study showed that there is no significant relationship between caffeine consumption and development of stroke or cardiovascular disease. Thus, it was concluded that moderate caffeine consumption is not a factor in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A Harvard University study confirmed this report, concluding that caffeine intake does not “appreciably increase the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.”
Myth: Caffeine causes cancer.
Fact:Many studies have looked at the relationship between caffeine intake and increased risk of certain cancers, but no associations have been discovered or supported by this research.
43 Comments
Funny that these ‘facts’ that are all in a good light and ‘myths’ which happent to all be bad are published by a maker of caffeine products.
After reading this article, I still don’t believe it. I drink “cokes” or sodas if you wish every day, and glasses of them, specifically the diet kind. I quit drinking them for a week or two one time. (I was trying to think of of my health.) However, the withdrawal effects made me feel blah. I was really really tired, had a loss of concentration, some headaches, and constant thoughts about wanting another one. But..it’s tough for me..I feel stupid, but I’ve just been drinking them my whole life. I’m gonna quit though..I mean it’s just in my best interest..but I’ve recently made a slight improvement..now I’m stuck on drinking bottles of Propel water!!
“Few caffeine users report loss of control of caffeine intake or significant difficulty in reducing or stopping caffeine if desired. Thus, caffeine is not addictive and is not listed in the category of addicting stimulants.” Caffeine isn’t addictive like pot and alcohol aren’t addictive. Unlike heroine they do not create a physical dependence. But like many substance, plenty of people become addicted. In fact caffeine causes withdrawal symptoms for many people who try to quit after consuming large amounts of it for long times. Your right to suggest that it is less addictive than many things, or to say that caffeine addiction rarely causes serious problems, but to say it is flat out not addictive is a lie.
Marsh, ME. (2001). Caffeine as an addiction. Psychology and Education: An Interdisciplinary Journal,
i’m currently writing a repot on the effects of caffeine and it isn’t actually addictive. it causes the body to become dependent rather than addicted. dependence is similar to addiction but the effects aren’t as severe. please check this website if you are interested in knowing more
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web3/Howard.html
oops i mean report. sorry
I have been taking Vivarin for 20+ years. I have a hard time getting by without it on some days. I believe if you take it as prescribed that all will be will in the world. We all need a little something to get us going in the morning!
[...] If you aren’t used to drinking a ton of caffeine go slowly and listen to the messages your body is sending you. Don’t overdue it, bad things can happen [...]
P.S. Please forgive the misspellings.