Caffeine Addiction

[Commando]

I went on a Monster binge studying for the bar a couple years ago. I don't think it helped at all, but it sure was fun. I guess I'm lucky I don't get headaches when I don't take caffeine for extended periods.

[SuperGabers]

My understanding is that the evidence in the medical literature of harmful effects of caffeine is not very impressive. Most of the studies that have been done are small and not very conclusive. For every small, poorly-executed study showing harm from coffee or caffeine, you can find a similar study suggesting no evidence of risk or possible benefits from coffee or caffeine.

What I have seen recently in studies of coffee drinkers is a suggestion of slightly lower risk of certain types of cancers (breast and uterine, I believe) as well as lower risk of diabetes for coffee drinkers. There was one study recently that suggested lower birth weight for babies born to mothers who used caffeine. It can be tough to tease this stuff out because most of the studies are of coffee drinkers rather than people who use caffeine in other forms. Intake of sugared sodas is associated with obesity, but this is obviously more likely to be due to increased caloric intake than caffeine intake.

In some patients, caffeine intake leads to sleep problems, anxiety or to atrial fibrillation. Some people are more sensitive than others to these effects, but they are mostly nuisance effects rather than serious health risks. They apply to individual patients, but not necessarily at the population-level.

As far as I'm aware, the link between caffeine and obesity is purely speculative and not supported by any decent study in the medical literature.

Snort. I probably had at least one Coke a day whilst prego with Little UD and he was 9lbs 2oz... I can't imagine how big he would really have been if I didn't drink that stuff.

(My real love is Dr. Pepper and Cherry Dr. Pepper... which I couldn't drink whilst prego because it tasted too sweet...)

[falafel]

Snort. I probably had at least one Coke a day whilst prego with Little UD and he was 9lbs 2oz... I can't imagine how big he would really have been if I didn't drink that stuff.

(My real love is Dr. Pepper and Cherry Dr. Pepper... which I couldn't drink whilst prego because it tasted too sweet...)

The baby's potential weight loss from the caffeine was probably counteracted by all the sugar you were consuming!

[Mrs. Funk]

I owe surviving the paper-writing marathon I had to perform the end of my second year of law school to the blessed effects of Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper. After the 13 days I devoted to writing five different papers, I counted no less than 40 12-oz cans, a panoply of 20-oz bottle, and various fountain sodas I acquired during the time.

Long live caffeine!

[wuapinmon]

After the 13 days I devoted to writing five different papers, I counted no less than 40 12-oz cans, a panoply of 20-oz bottle, and various fountain sodas I acquired during the time.

Long live caffeine!

Amateur!

[Viking]

I drink 12+ diet dr peppers a day.

[falafel]

I drink 12+ diet dr peppers a day.

Why don't you just drink coffee?

[Slim]

Coffee flavored rockstars are such a temptation for me. I really want to try one.

[Mrs. Funk]

Amateur!

Amateur paper-writer or amateur consumer of caffeine?

[Viking]

Why don't you just drink coffee?

tastes like shit

[SuperGabers]

The baby's potential weight loss from the caffeine was probably counteracted by all the sugar you were consuming!

Ha! Ha! But I counteracted the sugar intake by not eating food... Well... I'd eat it and then I'd barf it back up... It was a bulimic pregnancy...

tastes like shit

That's what SUGAR and CREAM are for...

[falafel]

tastes like shit

Mark Grace, can we get a ruling on this?

[Mrs. Funk]

Mark Grace, can we get a ruling on this?

MG has a working knowledge of the flavor profile of shit?

[falafel]

MG has a working knowledge of the flavor profile of shit?

Good point. Apparently Viking does though. Maybe I'll just take his word for it.

[woot]

Coffee is the greatest beverage ever created by humankind. Better than beer, even. I should probably switch to decaf though.