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Healthy You Archives |
Eating Healthy
That Java JoltCaffeine gets you going, but is there a downside? It perks you up mentally and physically, but too much can make you anxious and depressed. Besides keeping you awake when you should be sleeping, it may cause headaches and heart palpitations. Should you give up caffeine? Not necessarily. “Moderation is the key,” says Robert Stull, D.O., family physician at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Healthy adults can safely consume 300 milligrams a day, children 45 milligrams. Caffeine affects people differently, so adjust that if you’re extra-sensitive. You’ll find caffeine not just in coffee and tea but also in energy drinks, chocolate, and many sodas and over-the-counter pain relievers (see chart below). Few product labels include caffeine, because unless it’s an added ingredient, manufacturers don’t have to list it. How caffeine works in your bodyWhen you’re physically active, a chemical called adenosine builds up in your bloodstream. Eventually it makes you sleepy—your body’s way of signaling you need rest. Caffeine interferes with adenosine, so your cells speed up instead of slowing down. Adrenalin widens your airway, revs up your heartbeat and blood pressure, and stimulates a release of sugar for energy. “You’re ready to go again, even though your body still needs rest,” Stull says.In most adults, caffeine’s effects last four to six hours, although in smokers (who have a higher tolerance), the caffeine kick is only half as long. Caffeine affects the same areas of the brain as heroin and cocaine, to a lesser degree. That’s why it lifts your mood and is habit-forming. “You may have read studies about caffeine preventing colon cancer, liver disease or Parkinson’s disease,” Stull says, “but the research is still preliminary. I don’t advise anyone to consume more caffeine based on those studies.” Do you need to cut back?Most people limit caffeine on their own if they start feeling jittery or can’t sleep. There are conditions when you should make sure you’re not consuming too much:
Caffeine Content - a Sampling
Want to Know More? Click here for an expanded list of the caffeine content of some drugs, foods and drinks. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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 September October 2005 Eating Healthy
Staying Fit
Caring for Mind and Body
Just for Women
Just for Men
Raising a Family
Heart of Healthy You
Protecting Your Health
Coping with Illness
Aging Well
Keeping Up to Date
Weight Control
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