A Love Affair with Caffeine

Americans love caffeine. According to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation, 43% of Americans consume caffeine on a daily basis. For most people, consuming caffeine is a way to get a boost of energy that will help them get through their day. This energy boost may come in the form of coffee, tea, soda, an energy drink or capsules. When 7 to 8 hours of sleep is not a possibility – which it isn’t for most of us – caffeine consumption can be an excellent solution. But what happens when you can’t get your hands on the caffeine your body craves? How do you get through the day? Luckily, there are a few solutions.

When caffeine is not an option, the best thing to do is sleep for 10 to 15 minutes. These little power naps allow your body to recharge. However, not everyone has an opportunity to take a power nap during the day. If you fall into that category, consider drinking a lot of water. When your body is hydrated, you will have more energy. Gatorade and soda are also options. They both contain sugar, which might not provide as much of a boost as caffeine, but it will provide a boost, nonetheless. Also consider drinking orange juice. This won’t only give you energy, but there are several other health benefits as well, including a high volume of antioxidants and Vitamin C.

If you consume caffeine regularly and you go a day without it, you might suffer from a caffeine headache. These headaches are caused by the increased velocity of blood flow when caffeine is absent from your system. This means that regular headache medication won’t be very effective. Your best approach is to take Excedrin, which contains caffeine. If you can’t get your hands on Excedrin, try drinking peppermint tea or getting a massage. Both approaches are often effective when dealing with caffeine headaches.

Caffeine headaches are nothing to worry about. In other words, they aren’t going to have any long term effects. Caffeine is one of the few substances on the planet that offers instant gratification – it only takes minutes to feel a boost of energy after consumption. This boost of energy also lasts a long time. After six hours, half of the caffeine consumed is still in your system. Some people have also reported a happier mood after consuming caffeine. Overall, the benefits greatly outweigh the negatives.

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