DEAR DR. GOTT: My questions are regarding caffeine. Is this something that can be watered down, such as pouring soda over ice? Is there the same amount of caffeine in a can of soda vs. soda from a fountain machine such as at a fast food place? Is there caffeine in baking cocoa? Chocolate syrup?
I don’t drink coffee but I do drink iced tea and soda. I’ve always heard to watch your caffeine intake as it can be linked to breast cancer.
DEAR READER: Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and a host of other products and is an added ingredient in some soft drinks and — surprisingly — some medications. Caffeine can stimulate the central nervous system by, for example, increasing blood pressure and causing a faster heart rate and more rapid respirations. It can lead to insomnia, increase the urge to urinate throughout the day and evening and cause the stomach to produce more acid. The impact of a caffeine-containing drink peaks approximately one hour after consumption and can last for two to three hours.
According to some sources, up to 200 milligrams of caffeine each day (the equivalent of one cup of brewed coffee or four cans of soda) appears harmless. Another source indicates that if a person has headaches, is anxious and restless and his or her caffeine intake is more than 600 milligrams each day, as reduction is in order.
Let’s review some per serving caffeine contents: Brewed coffee (8 ounces) has about 200 mg; tea is less with up to 120 mg; (herbal tea has zero caffeine); soft drinks (12 ounces) range between 25 and 50 mg; common sports drinks range between 75 and 280 mg; mint candy 100 mg; iced cream about 60 mg; and medications such as one NoDoz Maximum Strength is 200 mg. Keep in mind that some products contain more than one serving so to consume a soft drink, for example, may increase your intake without you even realizing it.
Some individuals appear to be able to consume massive amounts of caffeine without exhibiting any consequences, while others are extremely sensitive to small amounts. Rapid withdrawal following regular or excessive consumption can leave a person feeling both irritable and prone to headaches.
Let’s review some of the negative aspects of caffeine. Coffee may raise cholesterol levels if consumed in large amounts. This doesn’t result from the caffeine, but from the oils in the coffee. Older women with a calcium intake of less than 800 mg per day (the recommended daily allowance), who consume caffeine in amounts equal to or greater than that from up to three servings of brewed coffee every day have shown to have an increase in their rates of bone loss; however, as long as sufficient calcium intake occurs, there are no adverse effects.
On the positive side, there is no evidence to prove that caffeine causes birth defects and two large studies failed to demonstrate an association between caffeine consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer. There is a great deal of interest in determining if there is a link between caffeine intake and fibrocystic breast disease but recent studies have failed to substantiate the theory.
You can water down your soft drinks but if you consume the entire bottle or can, you are still ingesting the full amount indicated on the label of the product; you are simply watering down the flavor. You don’t indicate if you brew your tea or purchase pre-sweetened and/or flavored tea, so I cannot respond to that portion of your question. Check the label for the information you are seeking.
Because I mentioned elevated cholesterol levels that could result, readers can learn more by sending for my Health Report “Understanding Cholesterol”. Simply send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order payable to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039-0433. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.
