To Brew Or Not To Brew

Q: In a recent article, I saw the words "drugs" and "caffeine" together. I drink two to three cups of coffee a day I often "need" the coffee to start my day. Besides the fuel factor, coffee acts a diuretic and keeps me regular. I don't want this caffeine thing to haunt me in ten years. I've heard rumors that caffeine affects every single cell in the body. Is that true? Is the effect permanent? How dangerous is this drug?

S.T.
Sands Point, N.Y.

Q: Recently a doctor told me that if I drink coffee my fat cells will get hard. Is this true? What effect will this have on my body?

E.T.
Lima, Peru

A: Caffeine is definitely a drug, and it affects the body in many ways, primarily as a stimulant. In beverages such as coffee and tea, it is the most commonly used drug in the world. The average American drinks 800 cups of coffee a year. The main effects occur in the stomach, central nervous system, muscles, heart and kidneys.

Small amounts of caffeine (25 to 200 mg) can have benefits: increased alertness, quicker reaction times, a mask over fatigue and an overall sense of well-being. Too much caffeine can make you feel jittery and strung out, disrupt your sleep, increase your blood pressure and heart rate, give you skipped heart beats, heartburn or even stomach ulcers and cause dehydration and seizures. Excess caffeine consumption can result in anxiety, restlessness, dry mouth, muscle pain or twitches, ringing in the ears and minor vision problems.

Because of the tolerance that develops, chronic users may not experience these effects, even if they consume amounts that would make a nonuser twitch. People vary greatly in their reactions to caffeine.

Substituting noncaffeinated beverages or lowering your intake of caffeine within the bounds of your own tolerance can eliminate some of the adverse symptoms if caffeine is the cause. However, all forms of coffee, including decaf, cause an increase in stomach acid production.

Is caffeine the kind of driug that can cause withdrawal symptoms?

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