You probably hear a lot of adults, including your mom and dad, say that they need their caffeine in the morning.

Why is that? It's due to the fact that caffeine, a natural chemical found in plants, makes you feel more awake and alert. Caffeine is found in common foods and beverages, such as coffee, pop and chocolate.

Caffeine is an addictive chemical, which means if you consume too much you can become dependent on it. Even though it's not as harmful as other addictive agents, like nicotine or cocaine, it does cause your heart to pump faster. Those who don't get their normal intake of caffeine on a regular basis develop headaches, stomach aches or they feel tired or grumpy. And too much of it can make you feel nervous or jumpy.

Beverages containing caffeine, like soda pop, makes it harder on your body to conserve enough water. If you drink a lot of pop, you are not getting the necessary amount of water that your body needs.

A 12-ounce can of Mountain Dew has the highest amount of caffeine with 55 milligrams, while Diet Coke has 45 and Pepsi has 38.