Caffeine: the acceptable addiction?
Caffeine: the acceptable addiction? Our society is becoming so caffeine dependent that psychiatrists have coined a new phrase for their diagnostic manual: caffeinism. Our obsession with caffeine consumption has made it the most widely used drug in the world. It is found in a number of foods, medications and beverages, and the average American consumes 150-225 mg of caffeine each day. And alarmingly, the intake of caffeine has been positively correlated with the degree of mental illness in psychiatric patients. Caffeine stimulates the release of norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters in the brain. This ex-plains the immediate lift you experience after you drink a cup of coffee. Consistent overuse of caffeine results in a lack of these same brain amines which affect mood, not to mention its adverse effects on vitamin B1, iron and magnesium absorption. Re-member, caffeine activates the sympathetic nervous system and can make us feel jittery, anxious or even fearful. Caffeine continually stimulates the nervous system, and it artificially creates energy. Cocaine and amphetamines work the same way as caffeine.