Gotta Be Biology
Caffeine interacts with these bodily structures.
- Points for naming 2, half points for 1 correct answer.
What are (brain, heart, lungs, muscles, liver, stomach)?
"caffeine causes relaxation of smooth muscle (especially bronchial smooth muscle) and stimulation of cardiac muscle"
"Caffeine initially stimulates the CNS at the level of the cerebral cortex and medulla and only later stimulates the spinal cord (at higher doses). Its effects begin within 1 h and last for 3–4 h. Caffeine is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and then metabolised by demethylation and oxidation in the liver."
- (Winston, Hardwick, Jaberi 2005)
Caffeine falls into this class of substances.
- Points for correct answers only. Half points for winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is a stimulant?
Other stimulants include nicotine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine.
Caffeine was first made popular in this drink from China in 2700 BC.
What is tea?
8oz of brewed coffee
What is 135mg?
These are some of the benefits of caffeine at the recommended daily consumption of less than 400mg.
- Points for naming at least 1 benefit
Increasing muscle speed, increasing alertness, improving focus, increasing mood, headache relief.
Recommended "safe" amount of caffeine per day, according to the FDA.
- Points for answers within 50mgs
What is 400mg?
*The FDA states that "Depending on factors such as body weight, medications you may take, certain medical conditions, and individual sensitivity, “too much” can vary from person to person."
Caffeine can interact with these substances when consumed simultaneously.
- Full points to two answers. Half points for one answer.
What are Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, or Cannabis?
Coffee originated from this country in northeast Africa.
Legends say a goat herder named Kaldi discovered coffee after noticing his goats had increased energy after eating coffee cherries.
What is Ethiopia?
8oz of tea
What is 43mg?
At this dose, caffeine is associated with more positive effects such as elation, peacefulness, and pleasantness than the negative effects found at 500mg (tension, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, nausea, palpitations, restlessness).
- Points for being within 50 mgs of recommended dosage or closest guess between teams.
What is 250mg of caffeine?
- Rodak, K., Kokot, I., & Kratz, E. M. (2021). Caffeine as a Factor Influencing the Functioning of the Human Body-Friend or Foe?. Nutrients, 13(9), 3088. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093088
The "sleepy chemical".
- if no correct answers, name at least three other brain chemicals for half points.
What is adenosine?
Adenosine is a byproduct of energy (ATP) being used. It builds up throughout the day as energy is used. Adenosine increases sleepiness and decreases arousal as levels build up in the brain. The "caffeine crash" is due to adenosine flood to receptors blocked by caffeine.
Other brain chemicals include Glutamate, GABA, Dopamine, Serotonin, Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Histamine, Glycine
Consist of symptoms such as restlessness, agitation, excitement, rambling thought and speech, insomnia, flushed face, diuresis, gastrointestinal disturbance, tachycardia, nervousness, psychomotor agitation, and inexhaustibility.
- Full points for correct answers only. Half points to the winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is Caffeine Intoxication?
Pre-workout supplements including caffeine were created in this year. Bodybuilders claimed to gain muscle mass, increase athletic performance, and lose more body fat.
- Full points if answer is within 20 years. Half points to winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is 1982?
12oz of Coca-Cola (or other caffeinated soft drink)
What is 36mg-50mg?
This popular migraine medication contains caffeine.
- Full points for correct answers only. Half points to the winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is Excedrin?
The neurotransmitter most affected by caffeine.
- Points for correct answer OR half points for another chemical affected by caffeine.
What is adenosine?
"Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors, which in turn block the binding of adenosine to its receptor. The blockage of adenosine receptors indirectly affects the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)."
- Fiani, B., Zhu, L., Musch, B. L., Briceno, S., Andel, R., Sadeq, N., & Ansari, A. Z. (2021). The Neurophysiology of Caffeine as a Central Nervous System Stimulant and the Resultant Effects on Cognitive Function. Cureus, 13(5), e15032. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.15032
Consists of symptoms such as headache, irritability, sleeplessness, confusion, nausea, anxiety, restlessness and tremor, palpitations, increased blood pressure. Starts slowly, worst symptoms within 1-2 days, and recedes within a few days. Rapidly relieved by intake of caffeine.
- Full points for correct answers only. Half points to the winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is Caffeine Withdrawal?
A German chemist named Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge first isolated caffeine from it's derivative during this year, allowing it to be made into supplements and added to various foods/drinks.
What is 1819?
8oz of average energy drink
What is 80mg?
This energy drink dominates over 43% of energy drink sales globally.
- Full points for correct answers only. Half points to the winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is Red Bull?
Caffeine can effect this mineral needed for for your bones.
- Full points for correct answers only. Half points to the winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is calcium?
Can occur with consumption of more than 1,200mgs of caffeine. Potential for seizures, rapid heart rate, severe anxiety, vomiting, and in extreme cases, death.
- Full points for correct answers only. Half points to the winner of rock, paper, scissors.
What is caffeine toxicity?
Coffee and Caffeine are both derived from this Arabic word.
What is qahweh (pronounced kahveh)?
28g of dark chocolate
What is 19mg?
Name 1 of the 3 top selling drinks at Starbucks in the year 2024-2025.
What is Pink Drink, Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, and Caramel Machiatto