Pop has caffeine?

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by Matt

I drank pop a lot as a child - I'm not sure I know any kid that doesn't do that. I drank it because it tasted good - I didn't think about sugar, caffeine, or anything like that.

In fact, as a kid, I never realized pop had caffeine. At least, I didn't know that caffeine could help you stay awake, or even liven your mood.

Growing older (and wiser), I learned that too much sugar is not a good thing. Without knowing the full extent of caffeine's influence on pop drinkers, I quit drinking pop in high school one day. There was no "profound moment" where I decided to make the plunge. In fact, it wasn't a "plunge" at all - since I hadn't known about caffeine's true effects, I had quit drinking pop for sugar-reasons alone. And that it contributed to tooth decay.

So I wasn't quitting an addiction, like how someone quits smoking, or alcohol, or... pop (for caffeine reasons). When I quit, I didn't feel any withdrawal symptoms, nor did I miss the substance. It was a decision based solely on the fact that I wasn't aware of any real reasons to be drinking pop. I asked myself one day, "Why do I even drink this?" It seemed like I was drinking it just because it was there.

Growing even more older (and wiser), I've learned the true effects of caffeine. It really can liven your mood, and help keep you awake. But there's a downside. Too much of it can effect your sleep schedule, or cause you to rely on it to gain wakefulness in the morning. I don't like the sound of either of these things, and having experienced them from time-to-time, I know the importance of limiting my caffeine intake.

I still drink an occasional pop (and coffee) these days, but now when I do it, I'm aware of the fact that I'm consuming caffeine, and that it will effect me. Most times, that's OK. I enjoy the slight elevation of mood due to the energy caffeine provides. I consider it a "treat" - something to reward myself with for a good week of work, or something like that.

But I also retain the same discipline I had when I decided to quit, in high school. And that is, "If there's no real reason to drink it, just don't drink it."

It's that simple.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this post.