Caffeine is the most frequently used psychoactive stimulant worldwide. It is a naturally occurring central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class. This medication is most often obtained from coffee beans, but it is also found naturally in some types of tea and cacao beans. It is also used as an ingredient in soft drinks and energy beverages. Caffeine's principal purpose is to counteract weariness and sleepiness, although it has several other applications.
According to a research released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the typical adult drank around 300 mg caffeine per day between 2003 and 2008, with teens ingesting approximately 100 mg/d. Caffeine is unlikely to cause acute medical issues at amounts found in food and beverages; nevertheless, a shifting market in which energy drinks are not subject to FDA regulatory requirements has increased worries about caffeine-related health risks.
Caffeinated energy drinks' increasing popularity over the last decade has generated fresh worries about their influence on public health. Energy drinks, as indicated above, contain significantly more caffeine than traditional cola beverages, with caffeine levels ranging from 75-300 mg per cup. Caffeine-containing substances such as guarana, kola nut, or yerba mate are also common.
Caffeine has different CNS, cardiovascular, and metabolic effects depending on how much is consumed. Caffeine dosages of 85-250 mg (the equivalent of 1-3 cups of coffee) may provide sensations of alertness, reduced tiredness, and easier thinking flow. High dosages (250-500 mg) might cause agitation, anxiety, sleeplessness, and tremors. Caffeine, at large amounts, can produce a hyperadrenergic syndrome, which can lead to seizures and cardiovascular instability.