Let’s investigate how caffeine acts in the body, what different schools of thought have to say about caffeine’s possible health attributes, and some ideas about including caffeine in a healthy diet.
Some people feel that caffeine helps with their exercise routines. As a result of its blocking ability,
caffeine may decrease feelings of fatigue and increase mental alertness. Caffeine may increase the force at which the heart beats, as well as relaxing the body’s airways, which can lead to increased oxygen consumption. We can see how this might encourage us during exercise.
“We’ve always known that caffeine has cognitive-enhancing effects, but its particular effects on strengthening memories and making them resistant to forgetting has never been examined in detail in humans,” said senior author Michael Yassa, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
It’s not advised, or pleasurable, to take caffeine as a supplement. Caffeine can be found naturally in tea, coffee, or chocolate. Foods flavored with chocolate, coffee or tea, such as hot cocoa, chocolate pudding, coffee-flavored yogurt, green tea ice cream, and many types of soda
can be sources of caffeine. Some over-the-counter medications are buffered with caffeine. If you would like to check on the amount of caffeine in your foods and beverages, you can search on the USDA database
nal.usda.gov/sites/www.nal.usda.gov/files/caffeine.pdf or the Centers for Science in the Public Interest caffeine chart
cspinet.org/eating-healthy/ingredients-of-concern/caffeine-chart.
If you enjoy coffee as your caffeine of choice,
drinking moderate amounts of coffee has been linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Coffee contains caffeine and polyphenols, which can act as antioxidants. Although researchers have yet to determine the exact mechanisms of polyphenols, these compounds may assist in decreasing the severity of heart and respiratory diseases. If you add dairy or enriched plant milks to your coffee, you may increase your calcium and vitamin D intake.
Preparation methods affect the quantity of caffeine in brewed coffee.
Different methods have different levels of extraction, explains Bob Arnot, M.D., an internal medicine doctor and author of “
The Coffee Lover’s Bible.” Per Arnot, brewing methods with higher levels of extraction and higher water temperatures yield more caffeine and polyphenols. Immersion brewing techniques, such as a French press or
siphon systems, where the coffee particles are completely enveloped by water, yield higher caffeine amounts than pour-over techniques, such as Mr. Coffee or coffee-pod style. Using more coffee and less water per cup of coffee provides more caffeine.
All tea naturally contains caffeine; tea brewed from black or green tea leaves contains polyphenols (about half the amount of polyphenols found in coffee) as well as natural substances that may decrease
the incidences of some types of cancer. To brew the perfect black tea, bring the amount of water you need to a rolling boil. While the water is boiling, measure the amount of tea you’re going to use into a clean glass or China container. You’ll need different amounts of tea for different tea types, so read the package directions. Plastic and metal tend to pick up extra flavors.
Pour a small amount of boiling water over your tea and let it steep for a minute. Add the remainder of the boiling water and allow to steep to the desired strength. The longer tea is steeped, the more caffeine is extracted but if you leave it for too long, it will develop an acid taste. As an alternative to drinking tea, brewed tea can be used as a marinade, sauce or salad dressing ingredient, cooking liquid, or tenderizer.
There are many types of chocolate preparations, and the caffeine amount varies depending on the
type and amount of chocolate used. A small cup of hot chocolate, made with a packet of standard hot chocolate mix contains about 5 mg of caffeine; a larger coffee shop-style hot chocolate might contain more than 70 mg of caffeine. Milk chocolate can contain 3–6 mg of caffeine per ounce and dark chocolate can contain 5–20 mg an ounce. Good quality chocolate can contain theobromine, a substance that regulates serotonin levels. Serotonin is the body’s natural mood elevator, helping to provide a feeling of calmness and happiness.
According to scientists at the FDA, caffeine can be part of a healthy diet for most people, but too much caffeine may be a health danger. Depending on health status, including body weight, medications are taken, and individual sensitivity, “too much” can vary from person to person. As a guideline, per the FDA, up to 400 mg of caffeine, a day is considered safe for adults who are able to tolerate caffeine. If you think
your caffeine intake is related to restlessness, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, a fast heart rate, or headaches, you’ll want to assess your daily intake. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to limit their caffeine intake, as directed by their health care professionals. Caffeine is not recommended for children or teenagers.
As a reference, a small cup of hot cocoa may contain 5–20 mg of caffeine, a 12 ounce can of caffeinated soda may contain 30–40 mg of caffeine, an 8-ounce cup of green or black tea 30–50 mg, and an 8-ounce cup of coffee 80–100 mg. Caffeine in energy drinks can range from 40–250 mg per 8 fluid ounces.
People all over the world have enjoyed caffeine-containing beverages and foods for many years. Caffeine isn’t an essential nutrient but may provide some health benefits. Consider the amount of caffeine in the beverages and foods you select and enjoy!
Dr. Nancy Berkoff is a registered dietitian, food technologist, and culinary professional. She divides her time between health care and culinary consulting, food writing, and healthy living.
