Caffeine

12/22/10 9:16 AM

Caffeine

It's 11 PM 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 diuretic, meaning it causes a person to urinate (pee) more. It's not clear whether this causes dehydration or not. To be safe, 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 may also 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 osteoporosis. http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&cat_id=20140&article_set=20474#cat20140

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Caffeine

12/22/10 9:16 AM

Caffeine can aggravate certain heart problems. It may also interact with some medications 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

Amt. of

Drink/Food

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

54 mg

Diet Coke

12 ounces

45 mg

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Caffeine

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Pepsi

12 ounces

38 mg

7-Up

12 ounces

0 mg

Brewed coffee (drip

5 ounces

115 mg*

method)

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

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Caffeine

12/22/10 9:16 AM

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. Examples include water, caffeine-free sodas, and caffeine-free teas. Keep track of how many caffeinated drinks you have each day, and substitute one drink per week with a caffeine-free alternative until you've gotten below the 100-milligram mark. As you cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume, you may find yourself feeling tired. Your best bet is to hit the sack, not the sodas: It's just your body's way of telling you it needs more rest. Your energy levels will return to normal in a few days. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Date reviewed: January 2008

Originally reviewed by: Jessica Donze Black, RD, CDE, MPH

Note: All information on TeensHealth® is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

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