Are You a Java Junkie? Health Article

Coffee is more than just a beverage-it also contains the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. The caffeine in coffee provides its buzz by blocking a sleep-promoting biochemical called adenosine. Over time, regular coffee drinkers can become habituated to the effects of caffeine, so it produces less of a buzz. Stopping abruptly may cause sleepiness and headaches—along with a strong urge to grab the nearest double espresso. One reason java junkies line up for a cup first thing in the morning, in fact, is to get the caffeine surge.

Does that make coffee addictive? "Not in any strict sense," says coffee researcher Alan Leviton. For starters, caffeine doesn’t create a sense of intense pleasure, like cocaine or heroin. It simply makes people feel more awake and alert. Most people don’t experience withdrawal. And for those who do, the symptoms are mild and typically last only a short time. What’s more, most people are surprisingly good at controlling their caffeine intake. "Consuming too much caffeine creates an unpleasant feeling of jitteriness. People are very good at stopping before that happens," says Leviton. The half-life of caffeine is about four hours—the time it takes for half the substance to be eliminated from the body. Most people instinctively limit their coffee consumption to the morning and early afternoon, so the caffeine won’t interfere with sleep.

If you don’t like the idea of caffeine dependence at all, you can always choose decaf—although the latest findings suggest you may not get all the benefits of strong brews. And taste may suffer, since decaffeinating typically removes some flavor elements. But that could change. In June, Brazilian researchers announced the discovery of a plant in Africa that produces naturally decaffeinated beans.

Resources