National Caffeine Awareness Month

March is National Caffeine Awareness Month and we were tingling with anticipation at the thought of a whole month dedicated to our favorite stimulant. Unfortunately, after a cup of joe and a quick visit to the organizers' website, we quickly lost our buzz. Apparently, the awareness part is all about caffeine being bad for you.

Some statistics claim that at least 90% of all Americans consume caffeine in some form, which would make it America's most popular drug by far. The Caffeine Awareness Alliance believe this is a deplorable condition and dedicated the entire month to educating America about the harmful effects of caffeine. It may come as a surprise to some people just how much caffeine they are consuming daily without their knowledge -- a potentially fatal situation as only 5 grams can be enough to kill an adult.

For most people, 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day may not have any ill effects, but those experiencing frequent anxiety, dizziness and headaches should probably think about cutting back. The CAA says that caffeine is an addictive drug and just like any other addictive drugs it can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly. They suggest that if you have decided to quit, consider cutting back your daily intake slowly.

The association also suggests that if you are not used to maintaining energy levels without artificial aid, consider eating low-glycemic index foods in small amounts before bed. Eating multiple small meals a day and keeping a water bottle handy to rehydrate can also do wonders for your energy levels. For the early morning crew, turning on the lights and listening to music that gets your blood pumping can speed up the waking process considerably.