The Buzz about Caffeine Additional Information

Recommended Web sites:

For further information about how caffeine affects kids and their health, and a chart showing how much caffeine is in popular beverages, see

www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/caffeine.html (KidsHealth).

To learn more about the history, chemistry, and health effects of caffeine, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine(Wikipedia).

For more information on the science of how caffeine affects the human body, go to home.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm(HowStuffWorks).

To find lots of other information and links about caffeine, visit www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caffeine.html(MedLine Plus).

Raloff, Janet. 2007. Measuring soft drinks’ jolt. Science News Online (Aug. 25). Available at http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070825/food.asp.

Sohn, Emily. 2006. Getting enough sleep. Science News for Kids (Sept. 13). Available at http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2006/09/getting-enough-sleep-3/.

______. 2003. Memories are made with sleep. Science News for Kids (Oct. 15). Available at http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2003/10/memories-are-made-with-sleep-2/.

Teachers can find instructions for a caffeine-related science experiment that they can do in the classroom at www.nsta.org/publications/interactive/nerves/teachers/caffeine_critters.html (National Science Teachers Association).


Books recommended by SearchIt!Science:

[book] The Brain and Nervous System (Our Bodies)— Steve Parker

Published by Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1997.

Scientists have estimated that the human brain can hold 1,000 times as much information as is contained in a 20-volume encyclopedia. The brain, a wrinkled organ that resembles an oversize walnut, is involved in everything we do—from turning a somersault to blinking an eye. Diagrams and magnified color photographs show how the different parts of the brain and nervous system function. Sleeping and dreaming, reflexes, mental illness, balance and coordination, and learning are among the topics discussed. A glossary and an index are included.

[book] Sleep and Dreams— Andrew T. McPhee

Published by Franklin Watts/Scholastic, 2001.

For such an everyday activity, sleep is still pretty puzzling to scientists. “Sleep is such a mystery that even scientists have trouble defining it clearly,” states this informative book on sleep. Despite the mystery of sleep, researchers have found out some things about it: the stages and rhythms of sleep, what causes sleep disorders, and what happens when you don’t sleep. Explore the latest scientific research on sleep, and learn how you can enjoy a more restful sleep. This book also includes a chapter on dreams—the history of dreaming, interpreting dreams, and tips on remembering your dreams.

[book] Focus On Nicotine And Caffeine (Drug Alert Series)— Robert Perry

Published by Twenty-First Century Books/Millbrook Press, 1990.

Both caffeine and nicotine are drugs, and kids use them more than you might think. Nearly one out of every five high school students smokes cigarettes, and half of them started smoking before they were in eighth grade. They know it’s bad for their health and against the law, but they do it anyway. And it’s not just the adults drinking coffee who take in caffeine. Many kids consume caffeine every day in soft drinks and chocolate candy. This book looks at these two drugs and considers the health problems they cause. Color illustrations show the drugs’ effects. An index and a glossary, plus tips on saying no, are included.

Return to article


Power Words

addiction A strong need to use a drug or other harmful substance, such as alcohol. People with addictions are often unable to stop using a substance on their own and need help from a doctor to stop.

caffeine A bitter chemical compound that is found in tea, coffee, and various plants. It is a mild stimulant. Caffeine makes the heart beat faster.

diabetes A disease in which a person has too much sugar in the blood. In diabetes, the body does not produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which helps the body take up sugar from the blood. If not treated, diabetes can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels.

Copyright © 2002, 2003 Houghton-Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Return to article