Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, colas and softdrinks; it is also added to some painkillers, cold medications, and drugs used to promote mental alertness. Within a few minutes after caffeine is ingested, it is absorbed from the small intestine into the blood-stream and carried to all the organs in the body.

Caffeine in moderation (1 to 2 cups of coffee a day) is generally harmless; a fatal adult dose of caffeine would require rapidly consuming the amount found in 80 to 100 cups of coffee.

Positive Effects of Caffeine:

• Caffeine can temporarily enhance mental alertness and improve concentration.
• Caffeine may abort an asthma attack by relaxing tight bronchial muscles.
• Caffeine increases the flow of urine and the production of digestive acids, and relaxes smooth muscles, such as those that control the blood vessels.
• Caffeine can help improve athletic performance by temporarily increasing muscle strength and endurance. It is because the caffeine in two cups of strong coffee increases the body's ability to burn fat for fuel, but excessive pregame caffeine can also accelerate fluid loss through increased urination.

Negative Effects of Caffeine:

• Caffeine is mildly addictive and can result in withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, and other symptoms that vary in severity from one person to another.
• Caffeine when taken at night can cause insomnia.
• Caffeine when taken in excessive amounts can produce tremors, palpitations, and feelings of anxiety.
• Caffeine lowers the body's absorption of calcium by increasing the amount lost in urine and stools. To counteract the effect of caffeine heavy coffee drinkers is advised to either consume more milk, low fat yogurt, and other high-calcium foods or consider taking calcium supplements.
• Caffeine increases the production of stomach acid therefore ulcer patients should avoid or limit coffee (including decaffeinated) consumption to one cup after a meal.

• Caffeine can prompt a modest temporary rise in blood pressure; it also speeds up the heart rate, but there is no need for most heart patients to eliminate coffee or tea from their diets, but they should limit their consumption.
• Some studies have linked drinking more than six cups of coffee a day during pregnancy with a slightly increased risk of miscarriage or having a low-birth weight baby.
• Caffeine is also a common culprit in many tinnitus sufferers.
• Caffeine may cause breast tenderness.

Note:

• If you are starting a detox diet reduce caffeine consumption gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
• Nursing mothers should eliminate caffeinated beverages or time their consumption so that at least 3 hours elapse before breast-feeding because caffeine enters breast milk.