All you ever wanted to know about 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, and more besides

Caffeine mimics adenosine, which slows down nerve impulses and is a cause of the “drowsy” sensation. Caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors in the brain preventing the real adenosine from having an effect and thus making you feel more alert.

By boosting the levels of dopamine in the brain, caffeine stimulates your sense of well being and improves your mood. This is where the “addictive” effect of caffeine comes from and why you feel a dopamine “down” when you stop consuming it.

Top Caffeine Hits (mg/354.84 ml)

1. Red Bull (115.5mg)
2. Afri-Cola (100mg)
3. Bawls (80mg)
4. Jolt Cola (72mg)
5. Water Joe (46.2mg)

10g of caffeine is considered a lethal dose (that’s forty Afri-Colas by my reckoning!) Anyone done it?

BTW – If you’re lucky(!?!) enough to live in the US Midwest you can treat your self to a SnoBawls – a “slush puppy” style frozen beverage with a 120mg caffeine kick.