All About Caffeine

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Introduction

 Decades of scientific research on

all aspects of caffeine and health
yet….
 Caffeine confusion persists
History of Caffeine
 2737 B.C.-- Chinese made tea using tea
leaves
 575 A.D. -- Coffee originated in Africa
 11th century -- Arabians consumed coffee
beverages
 1519 -- Aztecs introduced chocolate to
Spanish explorers
 1880s -- First caffeinated soft drinks
Caffeine Quick Facts
 Naturally found in leaves, seeds,
and fruits of plants

 Coffee, tea, chocolate and some

soft drinks

 Used as a flavoring agent

Caffeine Consumption
 Experts agree: moderation and
common sense are key

 Moderation = 300 mg; or about 3

cups of coffee

 Adult per capita consumption

approximately 200 mg daily (Food &
Chemical Toxicology, 1996)
Caffeine Metabolism
 Mild central nervous system
stimulant
 Caffeine effects vary greatly
 Caffeine excreted within several
hours of consumption
Dependence/Withdrawal
 Moderate caffeine consumption is
safe and should not be classified
with addictive drugs of abuse

 When regular caffeine

consumption is abruptly
discontinued, some people may
experience temporary withdrawal
symptoms
Caffeine & Performance
 May increase alertness and
enhance performance
 Improved physical endurance
 Enhanced mental abilities
Women’s Health

 Women wonder about safety of

caffeine-containing foods and
beverages

 Research supports moderate

consumption of caffeine for
consumers, including pregnant,
nursing, and post-menopausal
women
Caffeine & Reproductive
Health
 Fertility: No association between
total caffeine consumption and
reduced fertility
 Miscarriage: Ongoing research and
numerous existing studies find no
evidence that moderate caffeine
intake has adverse effects on
pregnancy or pregnancy outcome
Breastfeeding
 1-3 cups of coffee a day OK

 3+ can lead to increased

wakefulness and poor feeding for
the baby
Breast Changes
 No association between caffeine
and breast changes, tumors, or
tenderness
Caffeine and Kids
• Except for infants, children
metabolize caffeine more rapidly
than adults
• However, pound for pound,
children are no more sensitive to
caffeine than adults
Questions About Caffeine
& Health Issues

 Osteoporosis: Adequate calcium

consumption, such as a small
amount of milk, offsets potential
effect of caffeine on bone density
Questions About Caffeine
& Health

 Heart Disease: Some people may

experience temporary and minor
rise in blood pressure, similar to
climbing a flight of stairs
Questions About Caffeine
& Health Issues
Hydration:
 Anecdotal reports that caffeine “causes

dehydration” exaggerate the facts

 Caffeine consumption does stimulate

mild diuresis, but this is usually offset by

the liquid with which it is typically
consumed
 Tolerance to caffeine reduces the

chance of fluid imbalance

What Products Contain
Caffeine—and How Much?
Milligrams Caffeine
Item Typical Range
 Coffee (8 oz) 100 60 – 180
 Tea (8 oz) 40 20 – 90
 Some soft drinks (8 oz) 24 20 – 40
 Cocoa beverage (8 oz) 6 3 – 32
 Chocolate milk (8 oz) 5 2– 7
 Milk chocolate (1 oz) 6 1 – 15
 Baker’s chocolate (1 oz) 26 26
What This Means to You
 Researchers continue to study
caffeine and health issues

 Overwhelming scientific evidence

shows caffeine consumption is
safe

 Moderation is key
Where to Find Scientifically-
Based Information on
Caffeine
 Health Canada Fact Sheet on Caffeine:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/dg/e_caffeine.html
 US Food & Drug Administration:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html
 American Dietetic Association: http://www.eatright
.com/healthy/caffeine.html and http://www.eatright
.com/adap0699.html
 Duyff, R., American Dietetic Association Complete
Food and Nutrition Guide, 2nd Edition
 International Food Information Council Foundation:
http://ific.org
More Sources of Reliable
Information on Caffeine
 National Soft Drink Association: http://www.nsda
.org/WhatsIn/caffeinecontent.html

 National Coffee Association: www.ncausa.org

 Tea Council of the USA: www.teausa.com