Caffeine is all around us. It is in sodas, coffee, teas, and even chocolates. It is hard to go through the day without even drinking a small amount of caffeine in something.
Then, there are the energy drinks, which contain large doses of caffeine in single shots. This can leave you wondering how safe is caffeine? It is not regulated very strictly and that can make you wonder even more.
The Problem of Caffeine
Since caffeine is not regulated very much, this can leave you wondering if it is really even a problem. Here are a few things to note:
- A study by the Food Standards Organization of Australia and New Zealand indicated that children who drink caffeine have increased anxiety levels.
- Caffeine has been linked to migraine headaches.
- Caffeine drinking in the evening can cause insomnia.
- Caffeine has been related to headaches related to jaw tension.
- Long-Term drinking of caffeine can cause stomach ulcers.
Understanding Caffeine Content
Many people drink beverages through the day with the idea that they are not really consuming that much caffeine. However, you may be a little surprised when you find out the caffeine content of your own favourite beverages:
- Coffee – 60 to 120 mg per cup
- Tea – 10 to 50 mg per cup
- Sodas (Coca-Cola specifically) – 48.75 mg per cup
- Chocolate candy bar – 20 mg per bar
- Energy Drinks – 80 mg per can
As you can see, coffee is the number one culprit for high amounts of caffeine. There are restrictions put in place on sodas and energy drinks by the Australia New Zealand food standards code. However, coffee is not really regulated in the same way.
Is caffeine dangerous? This is a bit of a grey area for many people. It is not considered an illicit drug, but it is addicting and it can have side effects harmful to your health.
