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
I can assure you that caffeine is addictive. Failure to obtain caffeine after regular use causes standard withdrawal symptoms (increased blood pressure, heart rate, and agitation), along with headache and lack of motivation. Just because the FDA classifies something as GRAS does not make it addictive, it just means it probably won’t kill you, so long as you use it right. I should point out that the FDA is not the most unbiased source of such data, since they rely on information provided by the drug companies. I need only point as far as the recent Celebrex and Vioxx fiasco to cast doubt on the quality, impartiality, and completeness of that information.
~MtN
The following, and much more, can be found under http://science.howstuffworks.com/caffeine1.htm, a very objective site with nothing to gain or lose from the marketing of caffeine…
“Caffeine is an addictive drug. Among its many actions, it operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin use to stimulate the brain. On a spectrum, caffeine’s effects are more mild than amphetamines, cocaine and heroin, but it is manipulating the same channels, and that is one of the things that gives caffeine its addictive qualities.”
Not addictive?
I drank a lot of coffee for over a year.
When I had a day without coffee I’d experience a severe headache.
I slowly switched to green tea, reducing the amount I drink and now I actually can live a day without caffeine
One thing I experienced with coffee drinking is the effect on those annoying painful benign breast lumps. When I cut back to 2 cups a day the painful flare ups went away, when I cut back to one big cup a week, my Sunday morning treat, They almost completely disappeared. And its been 2 years so its not a coincidence.
I would argue that caffeine is not technically addictive. Whereas caffeine does cause some withdrawal pain when someone stops using it, the individual IS able to stop. Unlike cigarettes, where the individual has extreme difficult quitting (some people will go to great lengths to get cigarettes), caffeine users are able to quit using it easily, provided they can deal with the pain.
I don’t know what “pain” are you talking about. I can safely go for days without coffee or energy drinks, and I have no headaches or any other addiction symptoms, I’m just not as alert.
People who say caffeine is not addictive are selling something. Sure, politicians and salespeople will manipulate the definition of “addiction” to suit their needs, but people who have had a tough time quitting know the truth. I have had a harder time quitting caffeine than my mother had quitting her 40 year smoking habit! At least smokers have “the patch” or other pills to help them. As far as I know, I will continue throwing money away to feed my Diet Coke addiction. I am sure they will have to pull it out of my cold dead hands in the end. Thank you coca-cola.
Ebeth, I don’t know how many cokes u have a day, but i’d start by cutting that number down by one for a few days,(until you feel fine wit it) and then down by one again after that, etc. and replace those cokes with water. Thats how I stopped drinking soda…and then i found energy drinks… but im not really addicted to them yet ( or if ur so deep into it, caffeine pills, and slowly cutting the amount of them [actually cutting the pill], but i doubt thats what u need if its coke ur drinking)
Yeah… I agree… addictive in a rather mediocre way. You can stop having it even after large levels, but you crave it for a few days after, have headaches, and are generally rather slothlike while getting off of it.
BUT it really doesn’t fight you too hard either. It’s just kinda uncomfortable. Just stop a weekend that you’re not expecting to be doing much, since it’s difficult to stop and take “down” days if you’re really needed to be alert at work.
Actually, studies have shown that caffeine is more physically addictive than marijuana (and by quite a bit).
It also causes headaches and a general unwell feeling if regular intake is stopped….meaning if you drink 3 cups of coffee a day and out of no where just stop cold turkey you get sick….that qualifies addiction in my book…
marijuana isn’t physically addicting. my suggestion to you is do some research before you try and prove a well written article wrong.
Marijuana isn’t physically additive whatsoever dumbass…
all of you are wrong. pot, in in itself is not addictive. however, Tetra- Hydra- Chloride, the crystalized drug on weed, is. withdrawl symptoms include headaches, frustration, short temper, sensetivity to light and loud noises, exostion, and extreme fatigue. mind you, the time period for these effects are all dependent on your personal motabalism and body wight. as THC is stored in your body fat.
P.S. Please forgive the misspellings.
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
Yes, caffine is addictive at least to me because if i dont have the substance i feel like stabbing somone for a cup of coffee