Coffee, tea, soda, chocolate…how do you get your caffeine? This substance is found or added to many foods and beverages that people consume to feel alert and awake as well as help them concentrate and focus. For most people, consuming caffeine is okay in moderation, but there are people who may be sensitive to it and need to avoid it altogether. Read on to learn more about caffeine!
Caffeine facts
- If you’re one of the millions of people who enjoy and depend on caffeine to get through the day, it’s important to make sure you’re not overdoing it.
- The general caffeine guideline for healthy individuals per the American Medical Council on Scientific Affairs is no more than four 8-ounce cups of coffee or 5 servings of caffeinated sodas or tea.
- The Mayo Clinic defines heavy caffeine use as more than 500 to 600 mg per day.
- If you’re interested in learning about the caffeine content in your drinks, click here.
- Caffeine is not a nutritional requirement; in fact, there are reasons why people may want to avoid it (for example, pregnancy). Certain medications can also negatively interact with caffeine. Children and adolescents should avoid caffeine.
- Signs you may have had too much caffeine include jitters or shakes, difficulty falling asleep, headaches, dehydration, dizziness and an increase in heart rate.
- Caffeine is actually considered to be a drug, specifically a stimulant. You can become addicted to caffeine and experience withdrawal symptoms if you’ve been dependent on it and try to stop completely.
- Energy drinks should be consumed with great caution due to their extremely high caffeine and sugar content as well as stimulating additives. You can learn more about energy drinks here.
- While there are many stories out there claiming the health benefits of caffeine, it is important that you make educated decisions about your caffeine use. It is not advisable to start drinking or increase your caffeine consumption based on supposed benefits. While there have been studies that have found benefits to caffeine, remember that they are observational and not necessarily conclusive.
For Health Advocate Members
If you’re a Health Advocate member with access to the wellness coaching component of our Wellness Program, contact a Wellness Coach today to learn more nutrition tips.
