Caffeine

We have good news for lovers of America’s two favorite mood-altering substances, caffeine and marijuana: Caffeine may enhance a pot smoker’s high.

The downside is that caffeine can also increase the chance of becoming addicted to cannabis.

Coffee was so important in wartime America during World War II that the government rationed it briefly so soldiers could get enough. Coffee was one of four staples for Civil War soldiers, along with beans, beef and hardtack. After Boston Tea Partiers dumped that tea in the harbor during the Revolution, coffee drinkers were considered patriotic.

Coffee can give a soldier the alertness he needs in times of prolonged sleep loss or during dangerous combat situations.

Sages and philosophers from various world traditions have counseled “Everything in moderation,” and, stated another way, “Nothing in excess.” These aphorisms apply to caffeine, too, because too much of this otherwise beneficial chemical can cause insomnia, nervousness, muscle tremors and stomach upset.

Caffeine can boost athletic stamina and speed so much that the International Olympic Committee once limited how much of it Olympic athletes could take. Caffeine was categorized as a performance-enhancing substance.

The regular athlete might not be able to run a marathon in 2:02.57 like Dennis Kimetto, but maybe after an invigorating jolt of java you can one run just a little bit quicker and burn some fat in the process. Caffeine can improve performance by 1.5 to 3 percent, recent studies show. And the amount needed to give the boost is no more than that in an 8-ounce cup of coffee or an energy drink or two.

As a medical student, going through residency can be a character-building experience. Night shifts – or floats – can mean long hours of staying awake and alert. And when we say long hours, we mean 20 to 40 hour shifts, sometimes nights in a row. Here are some tips to survive medical residency… alive and kicking.

When people talk about having “a cup of coffee,” they don’t necessarily mean 8 ounces (236 milliliters). For example, many people go for the large size of coffee at McDonald’s restaurants and Starbucks, at 20 ounces (591 milliliters). Or at home, they may have a 12- to 16-ounce mug.

So when you read guides online that say an 8-ounce cup of drip java has about 163 mg of caffeine, you can more than double the amount of the stimulating chemical for a 20-ounce size. Drip coffee is the kind that drips through a filter to produce that cup or mug of the elixir that so many people say they can’t start their day without.

The question is of great concern because in the United States, drowsy driving kills an estimated ~800 people a year in 90,000-some accidents, says the National Sleep Foundation in its article How To Stay Awake On The Road [3].

The AAA says the numbers are even more alarming than what the NSF announced:

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that an average of 328,000 annual crashes in the U.S. involve a drowsy driver, including 109,000 that result in injuries and 6,400 that involve a fatality. The National Transportation Safety Board also included “reduce fatigue-related accidents” on its 2017-2018 Most Wanted List of the 10 most critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents and save lives. [4]

Is getting a caffeine fix really bad for pregnant women?

We’re going to try to answer this million-dollar question by putting together the various research and studies we’ve found on the topic and try to help you ladies come up with not just an answer, but a solution.

As we've been writing on this blog lately, there are long-term [1] and short-term [2] practices to remain alert and avoid becoming drowsy on the road.

The long-term practices are to get a good, healthy diet; sleep on a regular schedule, at least 7 hours a night (or day, if you work the graveyard shift); and exercise regularly to stay physically fit.

The short-term practices are more detailed. And we can all take a hint from truck drivers, who are experts in driving long distances and staying awake. 

Underlying both the short-term and long-term practices is judicious use of caffeine. If you rely too much on caffeine, one study finds [3], you run the risk of crashing. For truckers who get a good, healthy amount of caffeine, another study found [4], they can avoid crashes and save lives.

For many truckers, the fight to stay awake is a daily (or nightly) one.

You should follow the long-term tips of getting a good diet, exercising plenty, and getting on a good sleep schedule that we at Viter Energy Mints outlined in this blog [1] to help truckers. Those three strategies, plus judicial use of caffeine, can save lives.

For some short-term tips on staying awake on the road, read on.

Truckers have a way to help save their lives and the lives of others: caffeine. A 2013 study found that truckers who consume caffeine are 63% less likely to crash [1]. The American Association for the Advancement of Science writes:

Long distance commercial drivers who consume caffeinated substances such as coffee or energy drinks, to stay awake while driving, are significantly less likely to crash than those who do not, even though they drive longer distances and sleep less, finds a study published today on bmj.com.

Do you find yourself heading to the coffee-maker straight from bed? Then you’re one of 62% Americans who drink coffee every single day. Call it a morning ritual or a habit that can’t be shaken, but it’s pure unadulterated java love. But are you addicted to it? Here's how you'll know if you are and how to dial it down.