Caffeine is the most popular drug in the world but many people don’t think of caffeine as being a drug.

Most people know two types of drugs. The first type includes drugs such as painkillers and antibiotics, which are used to treat illnesses. And the second type includes drugs such as heroin, cocaine, nicotine and alcohol.

Technically, a drug is a chemical used to prevent or treat disease or Increase a person’s physical or mental welfare. In fact, people use Caffeine for all these purposes and caffeine can do all these things, allthough usually in a very small way. Unlike other drugs caffeine is Unregulated (not controlled), easy to get hold of and a normal part of Life.

Although caffeine is a chemical which is sometimes used in Medicines it is most often used for non-medical reasons. It is found In coffee, tea, cola (the three most popular drinks in the world) and Some other soft drinks, as well as chocolate and certain medicines.

Caffeine is a substance that is usually taken from plants but with
today’s technology it can also be made.

Caffeine has become so popular because it serves as a stimulant
(makes the bodywork faster). It increases metabolism,
raises blood pressure and heart rate, and increases breathing rate.
It can also help to stop the feelings of tiredness in other words it 'wakes you up'.

Drinking caffeine shortly before bedtime increases tossing and turning, reduces deep sleep, increases the time it takes to fall asleep, decreases total sleep time, and increases the number of times you wake up during the night.

Caffeine is useful to wake you up in emergency situations but the best way to feel alert and rested is to cut back on coffee and get more sleep.

Some studies have shown that caffeine can be very addictive and the withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant. One way to tell if someone “needs” that cup of coffee or bottle of coke is to take it away from them and then see if they have any withdrawal symptoms. If you are used to drinking several cups of coffee per day then you quit, you may get a powerful headache. This is one of the best-known withdrawal symptoms. The most common form of withdrawal symptoms is headaches, tiredness and muscle pain.

For more info on caffeine click on
www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/caffeine/caffeine.htm
www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm
www.cosic.org/caffeine/whatisit/

Legend has it that coffee was “discovered around 850AD in Upper Egypt by a goat herded named Khaldi. One night Khaldi’s goat did not return home. When he found his goat, Khaldi saw them dancing around a shrub with red berries (coffee beans). After Khaldi tried some of the berries, he started to dance too. Khaldi spoke with some monks who used the berries to make a drink and….coffee was born.