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Caffeine Research Paper

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When we wake up in the morning, many of us reach for a cup of coffee to kick-start our day. When we hit that afternoon slump, again, many of us turn to coffee as a pick me up. While coffee beans and coffee are the most common sources, caffeine is found naturally in several other leaves, seeds and fruits including tea leaves, cacao seeds and kola nuts. It can also occur as a food additive in processed foods such as instant coffee, tea, chocolate, most colas, candies, energy drinks, bars, chocolate, and chewing gum. To add, caffeine is an ingredient in many over-the-counter medications, such as pain relievers, diet pills and cold remedies. The amount of caffeine in foods and drinks depends on the brand, the type of beans or leaves used, how it is prepared and how long it steeps. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American drinks between two and four 8 oz. cups of coffee per day (~300mg …show more content…

Due to this ability, it is now widely considered an "ergogenic aid", or something that enhances performance. The NCAA is the only organization that restricts the amount of caffeine in an athlete's system by limiting urine concentrations to 15 ug/mL, which equates to ~500mg caffeine or ~6 to 8 cups of coffee 2 to 3 hours before an event. Low doses of caffeine (≤3mg/kg of body weight or ~200mg) have been shown to be ergogenic for a number of sports, and also carry less risk of side effects. When using it to aid performance, caffeine intake should be done gradually and tested in training before used during competitions. Recommended timing and dosage strategies are to consume 1-3 mg/kg about 1 hour before starting training or competition. For example, recommendations for a 50 kg (110 lb.) female would be between 50 mg - 150

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