When it comes to the amount of caffeine in drinks, don’t try to guess how much by the size of your beverage. The amount of caffeine in coffee and tea depends on how they are brewed. Different brands can have different caffeine levels. One small energy drink could have the same amount of caffeine as a huge cup of coffee. You need to read labels.
You can get the complete list of caffeine amounts in food, drinks, and drugs at the website for the Center for Science in the Public Interest: http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm.
How Much Caffeine Is Safe for You?
Most people do not have to worry about cutting back on caffeine as long as they are staying under about 500 milligrams. That’s about four cups of coffee a day. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American consumes about 300 milligrams of caffeine per day.
Most experts agree that getting more than 600 milligrams of caffeine per day is too much. But if you are sensitive to caffeine, even one or two cups of coffee could cause side effects. Children may be very sensitive to the effects of caffeine. For pregnant women, the safe limit is only 200 milligrams.
You may need to be extra careful about caffeine if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, or acid reflux disease. At high enough doses, caffeine can be deadly for anyone. A lethal dose is about 10 grams, which would be about 100 cups of coffee.
It’s all about moderation. If you don’t overdo it, caffeine can have some benefits. But I wouldn’t recommend that you start a caffeine habit for the benefits. Remember that most of the health benefits from drinking coffee will also come from drinking decaf.
The Right Amount Of Caffeine Is… was originally published on blackdoctor.org
