Do you start your day with a fresh, steaming cup of coffee? Do you drink coffee to satisfy your addictive craze? Do you need caffeine to keep you awake? Well, 90% of Americans do. In an average day 90% of Americans consume some type of caffeine. With so many people ingesting caffeine, do they know what it is? Are you conscious of your intake? Do you know how much you have per day? Did you know you could die from caffeine poisoning or overdose? You can!
             Medically caffeine is known as trimethylxanthine. In its pure form caffeine is a white crystalline power. It is odorless but, has a strong bitter taste. Barq's Root Beer contains caffeine, and the company says that it has "12.78mg per 6oz." They also state that it is used as a "flavoring agent for the sharp bitterness." Caffeine is used medically as cardiac stimulant and a mild diuretic (increases urine production). Surprisingly caffeine affects the body much like amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. All of these drugs are addictive and they all use the same channels to stimulate the brain. Caffeine effects are much more mild on the body though. However, researchers believe that those channels used by amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and caffeine in some manner affect the addiction properties of the mammalian brain. Caffeine is addictive just like amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. It just does not have as strong effect upon the body. Do you need to consume caffeine daily to function properly? If so then you are most likely addicted.
             Caffeine naturally occurs in some 70 plants the best known include coffee beans, tealeaves, and cocoa nuts, it is also added to many beverages and other man-made foods (see attached list). Here is a small listing of Americans' most common sources for caffeine: A typical drip-brewed coffee contains 100mg per 6oz serving. (Remember that is for 6oz, not the 12, 16, or 20oz cups sold at most coffee shops.)A typically brewed tea...