Why Coffee seems to be the Most Difficult Caffeine Product to Give Up

Having a cup of coffee in the morning while browsing through the day's newspaper makes my day complete. This statement, of course, is so used up since it is also true for countless others. Coffee never fails to give that certain jolt in the morning that seems to hone our mental effectiveness and prepare us for the long, arduous grind ahead. Coffee drinkers are known to dote on the beverage's flavor and aroma. But something else makes coffee a very popular drink in many countries, especially in the United States where about a billion kilograms are consumed every year.

We all know, of course, that caffeine is that special something that puts that certain lift in coffee which so obsesses its users that they have a hard time performing their usual activities without a cup (I need two to get me going). For many others, coffee is like a crutch on which they rely to enable them get through the various stages of the day: as a morning starter, as a coffee-break bracer, and as a stimulant to stay awake, especially after a heavy meal or when there's a need to stay up late at night to finish some work. Some people I know depend on coffee to pep them up during business or social gatherings.

A cup of coffee contains approximately a hundred milligrams of caffeine. If only for its being an old-time stimulant, caffeine is so well-known to the physician, especially since it is in fact a drug which also occurs naturally in other products - tea, cola drinks, and chocolate. Caffeine is known to stimulate primarily the brain. It is also believed to stimulate the heart, accelerating the pulse and elevating the blood pressure. It also acts like a diuretic, increasing the excretion of urine.

Even a small amount of caffeine has a rousing effect on the central nervous system. It can heighten our confidence and activeness and can even better our disposition. It can help raise our ability to carry out monotonous functions. In athletes, caffeine may help increase their ability to sustain prolonged, stressful activities.

Comparing the approximate caffeine content of the different caffeine products, we'll understand why coffee seems to be the most difficult of them to give up. Two ounces of espresso coffee pack as much as 120 milligrams caffeine; six ounces of regular brewed coffee have about 103 milligrams caffeine; and six ounces (about one rounded teaspoon) of instant coffee contain about 57 milligrams of caffeine.

Of the different types of tea, black has the largest amount of caffeine at about 53 milligrams per six ounces. Cola drinks (depending on the brand) contain anywhere between 37 and 47 milligrams caffeine per 12-ounce serving. In chocolates, the one used for baking contain 58 milligrams caffeine per ounce, while a 41-gram dark chocolate only has about 31 milligrams caffeine.

There has been a long-running debate about the power of caffeine to cause long-term health problems such as heart disease and cancer. No conclusive evidence however has been found to link coffee consumption with these illnesses. With this in mind, I feel perfectly fine enjoying my two cups in a day. [Read the Original Article]