Mar 31, 2008

Caffeine: Friend or Foe? (Part 1)

Amy Campbell

How many of you make a morning pilgrimage to Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts? How many of you grab an icy can of diet cola to jump-start your day? How many of you reach for a caffeinated beverage to "perk" you up when the midafternoon slump hits you like a ton of bricks?

If you mentally raised your hand in the affirmative to any of the above questions, chances are you're a caffeine-craver. About 90% of Americans consume caffeine in some form every day, and more than half of us consume 300 milligrams (mg), which is equivalent to about three cups of coffee, or more every day. In fact, caffeine has been dubbed the most popular drug of choice in our country.

Caffeine, in its pure form, is a white, bitter-tasting powder that has addictive properties. It works pretty much like heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines on the brain (albeit in a milder manner). And, just like many other drugs, caffeine "users" quickly feel the effects of withdrawal when they cut back on their intake: headache, fatigue, and decreased alertness.

Coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa nuts are natural sources of caffeine, but caffeine is added to many other beverages and foods, including colas and "energy" drinks (e.g., Red Bull). Because it isn't strictly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), caffeine has now found its way into innocuous-sounding foods, such as jelly beans, candy bars, gum, oatmeal, and even beer!

The amount of caffeine in a food or beverage can vary widely. Here's a quick look at the caffeine content of some of the more popular foods and drinks that Americans consume every day (some information obtained from Nutrition Action Healthletter, March 2008):

• Starbucks coffee, 16 ounces: 330 mg caffeine


• Jolt, 23.5 ounces: 280 mg caffeine


• Dunkin' Donuts Turbo Hot, 14 ounces: 255 mg caffeine


• Black/green tea, 16 ounces: 60–100 mg caffeine


• Sugar Free Red Bull, 8.3 ounces: 80 mg caffeine


• Snickers Charged, 1.83 ounces: 60 mg caffeine


• Bud Extra beer, 10 ounces: 55 mg caffeine


• Diet Mountain Dew, 12 ounces: 54 mg caffeine


• Diet Coke, 12 ounces: 47 mg caffeine

Even coffee-flavored ice cream contains caffeine, anywhere from about 15 to 50 mg per 1/2 cup. Don't be fooled into thinking that "decaf" versions of tea and coffee are caffeine-free, either. While decaf teas and coffees contains much less caffeine than their regular counterparts, they do have some. For example, one cup of decaf tea or coffee contains about 2 mg caffeine. That's not a lot, but depending on how much you drink, it could possibly add up.

By the way, caffeine is added to some medicines, too. Excedrin and Anacin, popular over-the-counter painkillers, have it. (Caffeine helps the body better absorb medication). In fact, two Extra Strength Excedrin tablets contain 130 mg caffeine. Some prescriptions painkillers that contain caffeine include Darvon, Fiorinal, and Norgesic.

Taking in more than 500 mg per day of caffeine (about 6 or 7 cups of coffee) may cause restlessness, disturbed sleep, headaches, anxiety, heart palpitations, and gastrointestinal distress. Some people should probably not consume caffeine, or only take in small amounts, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Next week: Caffeine's effect on diabetes—good or bad?

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