It's almost midnight and Aaron has already had a full day of school, work,
and after-school activities. He's tired and knows he could use some sleep. But he
still hasn't finished his homework. So he reaches for his headphones — and some caffeine.
What Is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a drug that is naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants.
It's also produced artificially and added to certain foods. Caffeine is defined as
a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system, causing increased alertness.
Caffeine gives most people a temporary energy boost and elevates mood.
Caffeine is in tea, coffee, chocolate, many soft drinks, and pain relievers and
other over-the-counter medications. In its natural form, caffeine tastes very bitter.
But most caffeinated drinks have gone through enough processing to camouflage the
bitter taste.
Teens usually get most of their caffeine from soft drinks and energy drinks. (In
addition to caffeine, these also can have added sugar and artificial flavors.) Caffeine
is not stored in the body, but you may feel its effects for up to 6 hours.
Got the Jitters?
Many people feel that caffeine increases their mental alertness. Higher doses of
caffeine can cause anxiety, dizziness, headaches, and the jitters. Caffeine can also
interfere with normal sleep.
Caffeine sensitivity (the amount of caffeine that will produce
an effect in someone) varies from person to person. On average, the smaller the person,
the less caffeine needed to produce side effects. Caffeine sensitivity is most affected
by the amount of caffeine a person has daily. People who regularly take in a lot of
caffeine soon develop less sensitivity to it. This means they may need more caffeine
to achieve the same effects.
Caffeine is a mild diuretic, meaning it causes a person to urinate (pee) more.
Drinking a moderate amount of caffeine isn't likely to cause dehydration, but
it's probably a good idea to stay away from too much caffeine in hot weather, during
long workouts, or in other situations where you might sweat a lot.
Caffeine also may cause the body to lose calcium, and that can lead to bone loss
over time. Drinking caffeine-containing soft drinks and coffee instead of milk can
have an even greater impact on bone density and the risk of developing
.
Caffeine can aggravate certain heart problems. It also may interact with some medicines
or supplements. If you are stressed or anxious, caffeine can make these feelings worse.
Although caffeine is sometimes used to treat migraine headaches, it can make headaches
worse for some people.
Moderation Is the Key
Caffeine is usually thought to be safe in moderate amounts. Experts consider 200–300
mg of caffeine a day to be a moderate amount for adults. But consuming as little as
100 mg of caffeine a day can lead a person to become "dependent" on caffeine.
This means that someone may develop withdrawal symptoms (like tiredness, irritability,
and headaches) if he or she quits caffeine suddenly.
Teens should try to limit caffeine consumption to no more than 100 mg of caffeine
daily, and kids should get even less. The following chart includes common caffeinated
products and the amounts of caffeine they contain:
Drink/Food/ Supplement
Amt. of Drink/Food
Amt. of Caffeine
SoBe No Fear
8 ounces
83 mg
Monster energy drink
16 ounces
160 mg
Rockstar energy drink
8 ounces
80 mg
Red Bull energy drink
8.3 ounces
80 mg
Jolt cola
12 ounces
72 mg
Mountain Dew
12 ounces
55 mg
Coca-Cola
12 ounces
34 mg
Diet Coke
12 ounces
45 mg
Pepsi
12 ounces
38 mg
7-Up
12 ounces
0 mg
Brewed coffee (drip method)
5 ounces
115 mg*
Iced tea
12 ounces
70 mg*
Cocoa beverage
5 ounces
4 mg*
Chocolate milk beverage
8 ounces
5 mg*
Dark chocolate
1 ounce
20 mg*
Milk chocolate
1 ounce
6 mg*
Jolt gum
1 stick
33 mg
Cold relief medication
1 tablet
30 mg*
Vivarin
1 tablet
200 mg
Excedrin extra strength
2 tablets
130 mg
*denotes average amount
of caffeine
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Soft Drink Association, Center
for Science in the Public Interest.
Cutting Back
If you're taking in too much caffeine, you may want to cut back. The best way is
to cut back slowly. Otherwise, you could get headaches and feel tired, irritable,
or just plain lousy.
Try cutting your intake by replacing caffeinated sodas and coffee with noncaffeinated
drinks, like water, decaffeinated coffee, caffeine-free sodas, and caffeine-free teas.
Start by keeping track of how many caffeinated drinks you have each day, then substitute
one of these daily drinks with a caffeine-free alternative. Continue this for a week.
Then, if you are still drinking too much caffeine, substitute another of your daily
drinks, again, keeping it up for a week. Do this for as many weeks as it takes to
bring your daily caffeine intake below the 100-milligram mark. Taking a gradual approach
like this can help you wean yourself from caffeine without unwanted side effects like
headaches.
As you cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume, you may find yourself feeling
tired. Be sure you're getting enough sleep and boost your energy by exercising. As
your body adjusts to less caffeine, your energy levels should return to normal in
a few days.