A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Hemera Photo-Objects

Every day millions of people are taking a mind-altering, addictive drug. This drug has been implicated in degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. In case you havent guessed, were talking about caffeine - in beverages and over-the-counter drugs. There are very few people who are not affected by caffeine.

Hemera Photo Objects

Whether its in the form of Coffee Tea Chocolate Pain relievers (or your favorite) Soft drink most people are getting caffeine one way or another.

Stockbyte

In North America, 9 out of 10 people drink caffeinated drinks daily.1 Worldwide

the annual consumption exceeds 4 million tons.2

4
John Foxx

Why is caffeine so popular? People enjoy the exhilaration it brings to mind and body. But these apparently pleasant effects dont last for long. Caffeines effects run in a cycle.

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Photodisc

It draws from the bodys emergency energy reserves to produce instant energy.

6
Corbis Corbis Stock Market

Unfortunately, caffeines stimulating influence is short-lived, resulting in a letdown.3

7
Photodisc

This triggers the yo-yo syndromereaching for another caffeinated drink to get more energy, and then another.4

8
Corbis Loma Linda/Hardinge Series; Rainbow Technologies

Caffeine is a close cousin to cocaine and nicotine. It is part of a larger group of drugs related to amphetamines.

9
Photodisc BU000833; Corel

Just 2-3 cups of coffee daily is enough caffeine to alter the mood and the behavior of the consumer.5

10
Corbis MED0081

Caffeines effects upon the brain and nervous system are farreaching.

11

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Stockbyte

Most people drink caffeinated drinks because they feel they need a lift or want to be more efficient. While it increases alertness and masks fatigue, it does so with a price.

12
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

Loma Linda University conducted an interesting study on spiders, demonstrating the effects of caffeine upon the nervous system.

13
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

For their experiments they chose the orb-building spider, known for its large, symmetrical webs.

14
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

Very cleverly, the researchers were able to measure an infinitely small dose of caffeine, which they injected into the spiders bodies with a super-fine needle.

15
Corel

Each spider was given a dose equivalent to two cups of coffee in an adult human. Then the spiders webs were carefully studied.

16
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

All of the webs made after receiving caffeine were completely distorted. They were small, had few strands, and were very misshapen in appearance. Before the caffeine dose, the webs were beautiful and had 30 to 35 circular rings of silk thread.

17

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

But 48 hours after a single dose of caffeine, the webs were still distorted and contained only 12 to 13 rings. This distortion continued, with the spiders webs returning to normal

18
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

only after 96 hours or 4 days!

19
Eyewire

The incredibly quick energy caffeine imparts isnt free. It comes with a definite price tag, taxing the nervous system and decreasing mental performance.

20
Brand X

Maybe the most acknowledged effect of caffeine consumption is insomnia. Caffeine keeps one awake. Even if a person has slept enough hours, the quality of sleep is usually not as good as it should be.

21
Stockbyte

Caffeine users are also more likely to experience hostility, depression and fatigue. Do any of us need more of these things? 6

22
Photodisc

And what about the impact of caffeine on our physical health?

23

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Life Art

Caffeine relaxes the muscles at the upper end of the stomach. As a result, partially digested food may leak from the stomach back into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

24
Curran & Jones, Gross Pathology: Oxford University Press, p. 29

Caffeinated drinks also stimulate the stomach to produce more acid.7 This can contribute to the development of painful ulcers.

25
Brand X

Most people are unaware that caffeine increases a persons risk of cancer and heart disease.

26
Corel

Just 1 cup of coffee a day:

27

Increases the risk of stomach, kidney, lung, rectal, and esophageal cancer.

28

Doubles bladder cancer risk in women8

29

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

2 cups a day:

30

Raises colon cancer risk by 250%9 10

31

Doubles the risk of fatal bladder cancer11

32

and increases the risk of ovarian12 and pancreatic cancer.

33
Comstock

Coffee is known to elevate blood pressure, and to increase the chances of a stroke or heart attack.

34
Life Art Corel

Five cups per day may increase coronary artery disease by 300%!13

35

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Life Art

Caffeine may also:

36

Increase the heart rate

37

Cause irregular beats

38

Raise cholesterol, and

39

Accelerate blood clotting, leading to a heart attack.

40
Photodisc

While caffeine presents significant health concerns for everyone, pregnant women may be at greatest risk. Why?

41

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Corbis Corel

Pregnant women drinking three or more cups of coffee or tea a day were found to more than double their risk of having a miscarriage.14

42
ADM

Caffeine consumption during pregnancy can result in

43

a lower birth weight, bone problems, and slower fetal growth.15

44
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

Even after birth a mothers caffeine consumption can pose a serious risk to her baby. Few mothers are aware that caffeine levels in breast-milk are 50% higher than in their own blood. To make matters worse, this caffeine stays in the babies bloodstream for more than 80 hours, compared to only 5-6 hours in the mothers.16

45

46
John Foxx

Did you know that caffeine use can cause a deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals? Caffeinated beverages have been associated with deficiencies of:

47

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Calcium, B vitamins, and Iron
48
Corbis

Caffeine is also associated with calcium loss from the bones, an important factor in Osteoporosis.

49
Corbis

In one study, calcium loss doubled in almost everyone who used caffeine.17

50
Corbis Corbis Stock Market

Imagine caffeines effects on the bones of a young, growing body. A child drinking a 12-ounce caffeinated soda has a caffeine intake

51
Corel

equivalent to four cups of instant coffee for an adult.18

52
Private

In a recent study of 460 teenage girls who drank soft drinks, especially dark colas,

53

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Comstock

they had a 5 times higher risk of breaking a bone than other girls who didnt drink colas.19

54
Art Today

Caffeine is an addictive drug and regular use of even small amounts usually leads to dependency. Choosing to stop drinking coffee, tea, or soft drinks is a wise choice, but for many it is not easy.

55
Digital Vision

Within 12-24 hours of stopping all caffeine, withdrawal symptoms may appear.

56

These can include headache, fatigue, apathy, and some anxiety or nervousness.

57
Corbis

Dont let the initial symptoms intimidate you because most symptoms peak after 36 hours and should be gone entirely in the first week.

58
JohnFoxx

Following these 7 simple steps will make stopping the use of caffeine much easier.

59

10

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Photodisc

1. Start your day with a hot shower, finish with a blast of cold water and towel off briskly.

60
Panorama Productions

2. Eat a good breakfast to ensure against mid morning energy slumps. Have several servings of fruit and a whole grain cereal or bread.

61
Wildwood Lifestyle Center

3. Avoid all tobacco products.

62
Photodisc

4. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Water helps to flush caffeine out of the body.

63
Artville DRP040M

5. Try keeping a supply of relaxing herb teas nearby to take the place of coffee.

64
Photodisc

6. Get plenty of exercise.

65

11

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

7. Trust in Divine power. Remember, God loves you and wants you to be freed from this debilitating addiction. He is ready and willing to give you victory over every bad habit.

66

He promises, I am the...God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

67
Photospin

The evidence is overwhelming. Caffeine is not the harmless, innocent pick-me-up we have thought it to be. With caffeine there is no amount that can be considered safe; not even at the low dose of just one or two cups per day!20 Choose today to avoid all caffeineyoull be glad you did. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)

68
Wildwood Lifestyle Center

69

Health Power-Health By Choice Not Chance, Aileen Ludington, MD, Hans Diehl, DrHSc, MPH, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 2000, p. 76. 2 Griffin, PhD Vicki, The Guilt-free Gourmet, Remnant Publications, 1999. p. 339 3 White, E.G.; Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 424.2 4 Ibid., Health Power, p. 77. 5 American Medical News 23:October, 1994; taken from Calamity in a Cup, p.8; Eight ounces of brewed coffee contains 135 mg of caffeine. Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Washington, DC 20009-5728 http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm citing National Coffee Association, National Soft Drink Assoc., Tea Council of the USA, and information by food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies and J.J. Barone, H.R. Roberts (1996) Caffeine Consumption. Food Chemistry and Toxicology, vol. 34, pp. 119-129. 6 Griffin, PhD Vicki, The Guilt-free Gourmet, Remnant Publications, 1999. p. 340 7 Health Power-Health By Choice Not Chance, Aileen Ludington, MD, Hans Diehl, DrHSc, MPH, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 2000, p. 77. 8 Medical World News 63-73, Jan.26, 1976;Coffee, Tea, Mate, methylxanthines and Methygloyoxal, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, vol. 51, 1991, http://www.who.int/dsa/cat98/chemtox8.htm#Coffee 9 Family Practice News 116(18), 1986; Adventist Health Study: School of Health, Loma Linda Univ., Loma Linda, CA 92350; Winston Craig, Nutrition and Wellness, 1999, Golden Harvest Books, p. 330. 10 Griffin, PhD Vicki, The Guilt-free Gourmet, Remnant Publications, 1999. p. 341

12

A Legal Drug that Hurts (Caffeine)

American Journal of Public Health 748 820-823, 1984; The Adventist Health Study shows that Adventist men have only 28% of the expected bladder cancer mortality. Non-smoking reduces the risk by half, something else may be occurring to reduce it by almost half again. Coffee is the most likely suspect. Statistical analysis did show twice the risk of bladder cancer among Adventists men and women who use coffee compared to those who do not. See Adventist Health Study: School of Health, Loma Linda Univ., Loma Linda, CA 92350; Winston Craig, Nutrition and Wellness, 1999, Golden Harvest Books, p. 330; Coffee, Tea, Mate, methylxanthines and Methygloyoxal, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, vol. 51, 1991, http://www.who.int/dsa/cat98/chemtox8.htm#Coffee 12 International Journal of Cancer 28(6)691-693, 1981. 13 Primary Cardiology 10/84,104-110; Am J of Epidemiology 128:124-136, 1988; Biochemical Journal 109(5)841-849; NEJM 315(6)977-982,1986 14 Medical Tribune, April 15, 1996, Java Lover Alert: Coffee Linked to Miscarriage. 15 Journal of American Dietetic Assoc. 87:1048-1053, 1987; New England Journal of Medicine, Dec. 21, 2000 found similar results of spontaneous abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy with 500 mg of caffeine daily (about 3.5-4 cups of coffee), http://www.nejm.org/content/2000/0343/0025/1839.asp; Nutrition Action Heathletter, December 1996, p.4. 16 The Female Patient 13:52, 1988. 17 Modern Medicine 13-14, 8/1986 18 Abundant Health,4/91,p.3 19 Wyshak, Grace, PhD, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, June 2000 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine; Arch. Pediat. Adolesc. Med. 154: 542,610, 2000, reported in Nutrition Action Healthletter, Sept. 2000, p.11. 20 Griffin, PhD, Vickie; Calamity in a Cup, Lets Eat, Hot Springs, NC, 1995, p. 25
11

13