How Caffeine Affects the Body
When we hear people talking about drug use, our minds will wander to common drugs such as Ecstasy, Marijuana, and Heroine. However, caffeine is said to be the most common drug in the world. An estimated 100 million people in the United States ingest caffeine every day, but most people are not aware that it is considered a drug. Generally, caffeine is classified as a stimulant. Stimulating the central nervous system is one of many effects caffeine has on the body’s metabolism. This stimulation can result in a person becoming more alert or more energetic. Typically, the amount of caffeine in two to four cups of coffee a day is not dangerous. However, caffeine in excessive amounts can make you anxious, restless, and irritable. It may also keep you from sleeping well and cause migraines, unusual heartbeats, or other problems. If a person chooses to stop caffeine use, they may experience severe symptoms of withdrawal. Caffeine in Foods and Beverages
Caffeine isn’t exactly dangerous however the foods and beverages that contain it can be unhealthy. Foods like yogurt, ice cream, and various different kinds of candy bars have 1 to 85 mg of caffeine in each serving.
Caffeine is associated with the family of heterocyclic compounds known as purines, and the drug can also be classified as an alkaloid. The chemical formula for caffeine is C8H10N4O2 .

The molecular structure of caffeine

With a molar mass of 194.19 grams per mole, this drug is soluble in water and many other organic solvents. In its most pure form it looks like tiny white crystals. Caffeine can be prepared by synthesis from uric acid or by being removed from natural sources.
Where Do We Get Caffeine?
More than fifty plants, including the ones that provide us with coffee, cola, tea, and cacao, produce caffeine from the purine xanthine. Caffeine is in fact a natural component that can be found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some sodas; however it is commonly added to consumer products such as soft drinks, weight loss pills, painkillers, and anesthetics. It can also be used pharmacologically as a respiratory and cardiac stimulant and as a device that stimulates kidney diuresis. A remedial dose of caffeine is approximately the same amount found in an average cup of coffee.

All About Decaf
Since coffee is a major factor in the over consumption of caffeine, people are often advised to avoid this drug because of certain medical conditions like hypertension. These people should be aware that even decaffeinated beverages could still have some trace caffeine in them. Decaffeinated coffee is made through withdrawal with a solvent, water extraction, or steam extraction. In an effort to withdraw from caffeine, many people turn to decaffeinated coffee, but researchers say they should be aware that these decaf beverages also contain caffeine.

What Happens Inside Your Body
Caffeine emerges into the bloodstream around ten minutes after it is consumed and will stay in the body for up to twelve hours. Like other drugs, caffeine has dominant physiological effects on animals and humans. It will stimulate heart muscles and relax those structures that contain smooth muscle, including the coronary arteries and the bronchi in the lungs. Also, caffeine is a diuretic1.

Theophylline and theobromine, two other plant alkaloid derivatives of xanthine, have physiological effects similar to those of caffeine.

Caffeine performs as a stimulating drug in the central nervous system in a few different ways. The most important way is its interference with the capability of the neurotransmitter adenosine to attach to its nerve cell receptor. Caffeine also restrains the enzyme know as cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. This enzyme breaks down cyclic adenosine monophosphate inside the cell, and is also another messenger involved in the transmission of nerve signals that come from hormones like glucagon and epinephrine that initiate the “fight or flight” response in animals. These hormones are outside of the central nervous system. Caffeine will also have effects on the central nervous system’s calcium ion concentrations and it can deteriorate important vitamins and minerals in the human body.

Good or Bad effects?
There are some positive effects that come with consuming caffeine, however there are also negative effects to think about. The positive effects include lower risk of cardiovascular disease, lower risk of diabetes, increased metabolic rate, increased attention and alertness and decreased fatigue. However the negative side effects seem to outweigh the positive. By consuming caffeine, one can develop anxiety and addiction, drowsiness, intense changes in appetite, irritability, insomnia, hyperglycemia, nausea, diarrhea, trouble breathing, cold-sweat, dizziness, blurred vision, reduced control of small motor movements, and stimulation of urination. Caffeine is moderately habit-forming, but due to the fact caffeine consumers can typically monitor and control their intake and daily use, the American Psychiatric Association does not list it as an addicting or harmful drug. Caffeine is not considered to be dangerous to the average healthy adult. In fact there are some favorable effects that come from moderate caffeine intake, which is considered about three cups of coffee per day.
Caffeine will relieve tiredness; increase alertness, advance thought processes, and boost physical performance. It may be used to treat respiratory depression and, due to the fact that it constricts blood vessels in the brain, it is often an ingredient in headache medications. There is some evidence that caffeine may help in soothing symptoms of migraine headaches and also lowering the risk of gallstones. Some studies show that caffeine might help prevent the weakening of the neurotransmitter dopamine in brain cells, which would help protect against Parkinson's disease,
Some unfavorable effects that come with an extreme caffeine intake are insomnia, heartburn, restlessness, and headaches. Some people could also have a poisonous reaction to it.
Consumption by pregnant women and nursing mothers could possible result in negative effects on fetuses and babies. This is due to the fact that caffeine can cross the placenta and enter into breast milk. However, caffeine has a broad boundary of safety. The lethal dosage differs from person to person according to weight and height. In massive doses, caffeine can become deadly. A deadly dose of caffeine has been determined to be more than 10 grams, which is the equivalent of 80 to 100 cups of coffee in rapid succession.

Caffeine’s Role Being one of the most used drugs in the world, it is evident that caffeine plays a common role in millions of people’s lives. As long as caffeine intake is monitored and stays at a healthy level, there is nothing harmful about this substance. Drinking a cup or two of coffee in the morning before starting your day should be something enjoyable.

Works Cited:
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph. D. "Caffeine Chemistry." About.com Chemistry. About.com, n.d. Web. 02 June 2013.
Smith, Sharron W. "Chemistry Explained." Caffeine. Advameg Inc., n.d. Web. 02 June 2013.