Please do explain how taking 400mg of caffeine per day constitutes an addiction.
I also take a daily multivitamin that contains ginseng, and a 'super' vitamin B pill. The latter makes the biggest difference in energy levels. I guess I'm 'addicted' to vitamin B, as well.
Please do explain how taking 400mg of caffeine per day constitutes an addiction.
I also take a daily multivitamin that contains ginseng, and a 'super' vitamin B pill. The latter makes the biggest difference in energy levels. I guess I'm 'addicted' to vitamin B, as well.
I would say the difference between addiction and supplementation is not in what you take, but rather what happens if you do not take it.
I'm supplementing with Vitamin D but I often forget to take it, sometimes for days.
Now would you be able to forget your caffeine? If yes, I'd say there's no addiction. If you'd start feeling cravings in a few hours, that's a different story ...
Are you kidding? You're taking a stimulant to get through the day and when one form of it is taken away, you supplement with another form.
How is that different than a junkie getting their fix to stave off withdrawl? You don't need to get defensive about it, but if you're taking a concentrated form of a drug to get through your day... and you notice when you don't take it... that's the definition of an addiction.
when one form of it is taken away, you supplement with another form.
Again, what? I decided to try caffeine in a pill form and found that I mostly prefer it to the coffee form. Nothing was taken away.
How is that different than a junkie getting their fix to stave off withdrawl
For starters, because I don't experience any withdrawl.
You don't need to get defensive about it.
I'm not the least bit defensive about it. Rather, I find it bizarre that you make so many assumptions, and view taking a legal, safe stimulant as an inherent addiction.
if you're taking a concentrated form of a drug to get through your day
Again, where did I say anything about 'getting through the day'? Where did I imply that I 'need' caffeine? I should not benefit from a chemical, which seems to have no downside for my body, simply because it offends your arbitrary principles? How is it a "concentrated form of a drug" when a single cup of coffee contains 150mg of caffeine, in what seems to be a more rapidly absorbed liquid form? (Incidentally, a Starbucks Tall drip has 240mg, while a Grande has 320mg)
I hope you see that you're projecting a lot onto my statements.
and you notice when you don't take it... that's the definition of an addiction.
I can't get over the amount of defending people do here of DOSING caffeine. Your first comment was specifically talking about the psychological effects that you're getting from the chemical stimulant caffeine. You find that going to the pure, drug-only, form of it is better for you. You clearly consume it for the stimulant effects, or why else would you take it.
> someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance; abrupt deprivation of the substance produces withdrawal symptoms
If you can quit caffeine when you're taking 400mg and NOT experience any side effects, go see a doctor because you're a modern miracle. It's a stimulant, you take it regularly. If it's not an addiction... it's certainly a habit that you seem to be unwilling to give up.
Note that NO where did I say it was a bad thing. I mean, it costs money, but I'm sure it's not a lot. I was merely curious if you'd actually tried to stop consuming caffeine. The response taking offense at me calling it precisely what it is... is telling in my armchair-psychiatrist opinion.
I can't get over the amount of defending people do here of DOSING caffeine.
Since I don't want to keep going in circles, I'm just going to say this: replace, "dosing caffeine" with the less inflammatory, "drinking coffee." Now, consider what the difference is.
Regarding your claim that you didn't say it was a bad thing, I will remind you that you wrote, "How is that different than a junkie getting their fix to stave off withdrawl." If that's not passing judgment on someone, I don't know what is.
You're not drinking coffee though, you're, I'm laughing here because I keep having to reiterate this...
You're not consuming coffee because you like coffee. That's obvious. You like the buzz. You like the stimulant effect of the drug caffeine. I am comparing in the motions of a junkie... I know caffeine addicts that are bigger caffeine junkies than some hard drug users I know. It's neither here nor there, but I could care less if you shoot heroin, let alone drink coffee or take caffeine pills. If it helps you do your job and it doesn't ruin your life, fine. Lord knows I'm sick this week during a week that I simply can not be sick, I'm using Aleve and Mountain Dew like they're going out of style.
I just wanted to point out that plenty of people are very productive without caffeine. Seeing as caffeine doesn't give you abnormal abilities... it seems to be that it would be better to not be dependent on it, or not use it as a crutch, or whatever it is that you're using it for.
I also take a daily multivitamin that contains ginseng, and a 'super' vitamin B pill. The latter makes the biggest difference in energy levels. I guess I'm 'addicted' to vitamin B, as well.