Learning to Read:

Labels, Ingredients, and Insight

  • Water
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Sugars
    • High Fructose Corn Syrup
    • Artificial Sweeteners
    • Aspartame
    • Saccharin
    • Neotame
    • Acesulfame-K
    • Sucralose
  • Flavors
    • Phosphoric Acid
    • Citric Acid
    • Carbonated Water
    • Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant, but as an ingredient it is categorized as a flavor. It works on the metabolic and central nervous systems. It is one of a few legal psychoactive substances, and it is the most widely consumed. Some other psychoactive substances include many prescription drugs, alcohol, and cocaine (to name a few).


Caffeine occurs as a natural chemical in plants. Plants make caffeine as an insecticide, to halt or kill bugs who might want to eat their leaves and fruit.


Caffeine is in many bottled drinks. Ingredients to look out for are green/black/white teas, coffee, guarana, yerba mate, kola nuts, and cocoa. Sounds like the label of a delicious and healthy "energy drink," doesn't it?


In 1912, the food and drug administration ruled that caffeine was 'habit forming' and had other negative side effects. Therefore, products containing caffeine must be labeled.


Caffeine makes you dehydrated.


Caffeine can go from your blood and into your brain, just like nicotine and alcohol.


Similar to cocaine, caffeine increases dopamine activity which results in stimulation. Caffeine also increases adrenaline and decreases serotonin, both impacting mood.


For those drink caffeine often, they will need more caffeine over time to get the same results. Tolerance to caffeine can begin in as little as seven consecutive days of use.


When someone stops using caffeine, they will have withdrawl symptoms. These can include nausea, fatigue, headache, anxiety, mood swings, focus problems, apathy, and mild depression.


The American Psychiatric Association associates four clinical disorders with caffeine use.

  • Glyceryl Abietate
  • Brominated Vegetable Oil
  • Preservatives
    • Sodium Citrate
    • Sodium Benzoate
    • Potassium Sorbate
    • Ascorbic Acid
  • Colors
    • Caramel Coloring
    • Red 40