Caffeine is the most widely consumed “drug” in America and Northern Europe. Usually, when we think of caffeine, coffee comes to mind. But caffeine is present in tea, cola, other sodas, over-the-counter medications, and chocolate. It’s also present in guarana, a herb touted as a “natural” energizer.
It is estimated that the average American consumes roughly six cups of caffeine-bearing liquids per day. This rate includes the amount found in sodas, coffee, tea, and other foods.
A cup of coffee contains between 50 to 150 milligrams of caffeine depending on how much it is diluted. Tea is almost equivalent to coffee, and hot cocoa contains well over 10 milligrams per cup. The longer it’s brewed, the more caffeine the coffee contains. This goes for tea as well.
Most of us rely on coffee to get us up and off in the morning. That first cup in the morning can act as an eye-opener and seems to get your whole body percolating. Coffee has not only become a big part of the American breakfast, but it is usually served as a quick “pick-me-up” social beverage throughout the day.
Remember that caffeine is a drug. As with all drugs, it should be used in moderation, and it can become addictive. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare lists caffeine as an addictant, in the same category as nicotine and heroin. Caffeine is also implicated in high blood pressure, diabetes, and birth defects.
Recent studies have shown that large amounts of coffee could increase your chances of heart disease. In some cases, caffeine has been directly attributed to heart attacks. This is probably because frequent coffee drinkers tend to have higher cholesterol levels. An in-depth study conducted in Norway linked heavy coffee drinking to increased cholesterol levels. Two-thirds of the people in the study drank more than five cups of coffee a day. When they abstained from coffee, their cholesterol levels dropped approximately 13 percent.
There also is the issue of vitamin depletion. People who drink a lot of coffee generally do not get enough calcium in their diet. The more caffeine you consume the more calcium you lose. For every 300 mg of caffeine consumed (two to three cups of coffee), about 30 mg of calcium is excreted, according to one study. If you’re a coffee drinker, be sure to get plenty of calcium from low-fat diary products and green leafy vegetables to compensate for the calcium that caffeine steals from your body.
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