Article:  7 Reasons You’re So Sensitive to Caffeine

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/20/varying-effects-of-caffeine_n_6671788.html

Video:  What Caffeine Does To Your Brain

Link: https://youtu.be/xq0scBg5XF4

Video:  How Does Caffeine Keep Us Awake?

            Link: https://youtu.be/foLf5Bi9qXs

During this last week’s lecture, we discussed how coffee keeps us awake by competing with adenosine for the adenosine receptor.  Read the article and watch the videos above.  The article discusses other reasons why individuals respond differently to caffeine, all of which involve biochemistry.  Discuss your thoughts about this article, including your personal experiences with caffeine.  Were you surprised by any of the factors discussed in this article?  Do you disagree with any of these factors?  Which of these factors do you believe explains your response to caffeine?  Are there any other common food-related chemicals that we commonly consume that act as a competitive inhibitor of a normal biological process in our body?

You should contribute one (1) comment (at least 300 words) to this week’s discussion. In your post, you should provide a detailed explanation to support your views (include references, if needed).  You may use the questions I asked above or discuss another aspect of the article and videos that caught your attention.  Please DO NOT copy any of your classmate’s comments or plagiarize (you will not receive credit for doing this).

As someone who does not drink coffee regularly, I agree with the article claiming that the negative side effects of caffeine are felt more by people like me. No wonder I always experience a fast heartbeat, tremors, irritability, and frequent urination every time I drink even just one cup. I only drink coffee when I am in desperate need to keep myself awake to cram for a school project or an exam the next day.