All About Caffeine

1
All About Caffeine

• .

2
Introduction

• Decades of scientific research on all aspects of
  caffeine and health
• yet.
• Caffeine confusion persists

3
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

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Caffeine Quick Facts

• Naturally found in leaves, seeds, and fruits of
  plants
• Coffee, tea, chocolate and some soft drinks
• Used as a flavoring agent

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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)

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Caffeine Metabolism

• Mild central nervous system stimulant
• Caffeine effects vary greatly
• Caffeine excreted within several hours of
  consumption

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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

8
Caffeine Performance

• May increase alertness and enhance performance
• Improved physical endurance
• Enhanced mental abilities

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Womens 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

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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

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Breastfeeding

• 1-3 cups of coffee a day OK
• 3 can lead to increased wakefulness and poor
  feeding for the baby

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Breast Changes

• No association between caffeine and breast
  changes, tumors, or tenderness

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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

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Questions About Caffeine Health Issues

• Osteoporosis Adequate calcium consumption, such
  as a small amount of milk, offsets potential
  effect of caffeine on bone density

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Questions About Caffeine Health

• Heart Disease Some people may experience
  temporary and minor rise in blood pressure,
  similar to climbing a flight of stairs

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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

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What Products Contain Caffeineand 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
• Bakers chocolate (1 oz) 26 26

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What This Means to You

• Researchers continue to study caffeine and health
  issues
• Overwhelming scientific evidence shows caffeine
  consumption is safe
• Moderation is key

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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

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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