Biology and YouYou and Your Body |
How does caffeine affect humans? |
Caffeine is probably the most common drug ingested by people worldwide. Caffeine affects cells by stimulating lipid metabolism and slowing the use of glycogen as an energy source. As a whole, the body responds to caffeine by extending endurance, allowing you to stay awake for longer periods of time or perform extra activities. Adverse effects of excess caffeine intake include stomach upset, headaches, irritability, and diarrhea. The following lists caffeine sources and the average dose of caffeine in each:
Source |
Average Dose (milligrams) |
Coffee (12 oz) brewed |
300 |
Coffee (12 oz) decaffeinated |
7 |
Tea (12 oz) |
100 |
Tea (12 oz) iced |
70 |
Soft drinks (12 oz) |
30–46 |
Jolting soft drinks (8–20 oz) |
50–208 |
Dark chocolate (1 oz) |
20 |
Milk chocolate (1 oz) |
6 |
Cold remedies |
0–30 |
Pain relievers |
0 (aspirin)–130 (Excedrin) |
Diet pills |
200–280 |