Caffeine: Friend or Foe? (Part 1) :: Diabetes Self-Management

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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?

POST A COMMENT E-MAIL A FRIEND

I have been caffeine intolerant for about
15 years. I try not to drink or eat anything
with caffeine as it gives me severe vertigo.
I have not found a doctor who completely
understands my problem.

Posted by: Dorothy | Apr 02, 2008 02:45 PM

Have you seen an Ear,Nose,Throat specialist? I had terrible vertigo that was aggravated by caffiene. I was finally diagnosed with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. I had this for years before it was ever diagnosed. I also had migraines, but those have stopped since I quit drinking milk. Who would believe that???

Posted by: Kathy | Apr 02, 2008 05:01 PM

Soda companies claim they add caffeine to improve the flavor of their products. So my son decided to test this as a science experiment.

We had a "booth" during his school's Fall Festival with a blind taste test between Pepsi and Caffeine-free Pepsi. People of all ages picked soda A is better, soda B is better, or They are the Same.

The results? Soda A received 56 votes, Soda B received 57 votes and They are the Same received 92 votes. If you know anything about statistical probabilities, this created an almost perfect Bell-curve - which is the result you get for any random event. Our conclusion was that caffeine did not truly effect the flavor.

So when is the lawsuit for the soda companies adding addictive properties to sell their products? (tongue-in-cheek reference to the cigarette lawsuits)

Posted by: Ephrenia | Apr 03, 2008 12:37 AM

STARTLING BUT TRUE.
As a type 1 diabetic(insulin dependent) I found that drinking coffee elevated my blood sugars dramatically. Example: In the morning my fasting blood could be 100, I would take 20 units of Lantus (24 hour insulin) and after 2 cups of coffee it would go up to 250. I only use non dairy coffee creamer. My doctor didn't believe me. About 2 years later he tells me that coffee can stimulate my liver to secrete stored glucose and this makes my blood sugars rise. My doctor thought I was creating false reasons for irregular blood sugars. Now I switch back and forth between black tea one day and a weaker coffee the next (with a pinch of cardomom in the grounds). Caffine in sodas didn't seem to affect me.

Posted by: Sharon | Apr 04, 2008 10:33 AM

I am one of the 90% for sure. 2 cups every morning. I'm looking forward to part 2.

Posted by: Chris | Apr 05, 2008 12:19 PM

This is in reference to the vertigo post. I eliminated all caffeine at age 29 when I was also diagnosed with positional vertigo. I previously loved coffee and had it daily. I had no caffeine from that time to age 50. I then started a regimen of nightly Benadryl (only 1 to 2 tsps) to treat my vertigo. Antihistamines are used to treat vertigo as they dry out the inner ear. Fluid can be a vertigo trigger.

That was two years ago and not only do I not have vertigo but I also enjoy my daily coffee again. : )

Posted by: J. Turner | Apr 13, 2008 02:40 PM

Thanks, Kathy. I am scheduled for a exam
tomorrow with an Otolaryngologist's testing
center.
Dorothy

Posted by: Dorothy | Apr 27, 2008 01:20 PM

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