The Caffeine Kick

Caffeine-enhanced products are popping up everywhere – from drinks and gum to slimming body wear and eye cream. But, how safe are these products for consumption and use? Here’s what you need to know to keep your family healthy and safe.

How safe is caffeine overall?

According to reports, adults who consume caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and hot cocoa can actually experience mental benefits such as short-term focus and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Green tea offers added benefits by affecting areas in the brain responsible for motivation, focus, and pleasure.  Moderate amounts of caffeine are typically safe for women to consume during pregnancy, but caffeinated drinks are not advised for children.

What are the risks of consuming too much caffeine?

• Poor quality of sleep.
• Cardiovascular symptoms.
• Anxiety.
• Seizures.
• In large amounts, caffeine may stop absorption of calcium, leading to thinning bones (osteoporosis).
• Consumption may lead to fibrocystic disease, painful, lumpy breasts.

How much caffeine is in foods?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Coffee – 100 mg per cup
• Tea – 14 - 60 mg per cup
• Cola drinks – 45 mg per 12 oz. drink
• Chocolate – 45 mg per 1.5 oz.
• Candy, snacks, and gum – 40 – 100 mg per serving

What products can contain caffeine without consumers knowing?

• Non-cola sodas
• Ice cream
• Pain relievers
• Cold medicines

How much caffeine can you consume per day?

The American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs suggests:

**Consume no more than 200 -300 mg of caffeine per day, which is two to three 8 oz. cups of coffee or five servings of caffeinated soft drinks or tea**

How do you calculate caffeine content of products?

This is where part of the difficulty with caffeine consumption comes in. Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require manufacturers to list caffeine content on labels, consumers are often unaware they’re consuming additional caffeine. In the case of caffeine-enhanced products, such as eye cream or body wear, there is no clear-cut answer regarding how much caffeine is absorbed into the body with use. As a result, you might be taking in more caffeine than you’ve accounted for.

The solution? Be aware of products, such as those mentioned above, that may contain small amount of caffeine. If using caffeine-enhanced products where it’s unclear how much caffeine you might be exposed to, make allowances for that additional caffeine, as insignificant as it may seem, as part of your daily intake. Check out this site for more info regarding caffeine-infused products.

What about caffeine-enhanced energy drinks?

These drinks provide temporary benefits such as increased alertness and enhanced energy levels, which explains why students often rely on these drinks to stay awake while studying. However, energy drinks can be dangerous to your health, and especially that of your children, due to their high caffeine levels, according to recent findings from the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University, published in Preventive Medicine. According to this site, caffeine contents of energy drinks may range from 50 - 500 mg, clearly exceeding the AMA’s recommendations for daily caffeine consumption. When you couple the high caffeine content with being high in sugar, these drinks are linked to serious health risks.

Keep your family members safe and healthy with greater awareness as well as moderate consumption and use of caffeine-enhanced products.

Be Wize & Be Healthy
-FamilyWize