Chris Bravo
Period 7
Forensics Biology
Caffeine Research Paper
Caffeine is a chemical consumed by Americans on a daily basis. Every cup of coffee,
every energy drink, and every chocolate product contains a certain amount of caffeine. Caffeine
is seen by many as a source of energy to get through the long stressful hours of the day, but it is
also labeled to be unhealthy and hurtful depending on the situation. Caffeine is one of the most
used chemicals in everyday life, whether it be science, medication, or recreational.
Caffeine has been consumed from caffeine-bearing plants since before recorded history.
However, the discovery of the chemical did not happen until 1809, when a young physician by
the name of Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge isolated the substance. As mentioned earlier, caffeine
was consumed from plants before recorded history, but the worlds first caffeinated soft drinks
were created in the 1880’s. Caffeine is everywhere, it can be found in tea, supplements,
chocolate, soda, guarana, and obviously coffee. Caffeine has since then been a major player in
the food industry for years, and years to come.
Statistics about caffeine are bound to surprise the reader. According to the U.S Food and
Drug Administration, “Roughly 80 percent of Americans consume caffeine every day.” To put
that into perspective, The U.S Census Bureau counted 331.4 million people as U.S inhabitants.
This means that roughly 265,120,000 people consume caffeine in the U.S alone! Not to mention,
some U.S residents should not take caffeine due to their age. Children under the age of 12 should
not take caffeine, per the American Academy of Pediatrics. The statistics above demonstrate the
potential of companies who produce caffeine-containing products. The most popular and “best”
product that contains caffeine is widely accepted to be coffee. According to research done by
[Link], “Folgers was the leading brand of regular ground coffee in the United States in
2020 by a wide margin. The brand produced sales in excess of one billion U.S dollars, double
that of its next close rival, Starbucks.” Its safe to say, that these brands will remain in demand for
years to come. Caffeine is not only a part of most of our bodies daily, but it plays a role in the
economy.
A lot of question can be drawn from success associated with caffeine, such as “, How
does it affect the body?” According to studies done by [Link], “Caffeine is well
absorbed by the body, and the short-term effects are usually experienced between 5 and 30
minutes after having it. These effects can include increased breathing and heart rate and
increased mental alertness and physical energy. Depending on the individual, these effects can
last up to 12 hours.” This study proves the popularity of caffeine-based drinks. People need
something to get them going every morning, and caffeine-based products are the way to go.
Additionally, [Link] stated “, Caffeine increases energy metabolism
throughout the brain but decreases at the same time cerebral blood flow, inducing a relative brain
hypoperfusion. Caffeine activates noradrenaline neurons and seems to affect the local release of
dopamine.” This study indicates that caffeine can be good for quick source of energy but can be
damaging if used in the wrong way. Logically, too much caffeine can me damaging as well.
According to a study by [Link] “, Moderate caffeine consumption has
been associated with improvements in energy, mood, weight, cognition, and physical
performance. However, too much caffeine may cause headaches, anxiety, trouble sleeping,
irritability, respiratory issues, chest pain, thirst, and frequent urination.” All in all, caffeine is a
very good and quick source of energy but can be dangerous if consumed uncontrollably.
All things considered, caffeine is an important part of many people’s day, and has a
major economic footprint. Caffeine is a quick source of energy for many, and it helps people get
through their tiresome day. Caffeine can have side effects if consumed unwisely and
uncontrollably.
Sources not mentioned:
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