Where’s the Caffeine? Not Just in Coffee, Dietician Says

Besides pointing out some healthful benefits of coffee, plus a few cautions, dietician Kathy Warwick has listed other common foods and beverages which provide caffeine. You may be getting more caffeine than you realized if you drink colas and eat chocolate, for example. It’s estimated that in the US, the average daily dose of caffeine is about 200 milligrams. It’s about twice that in Scandinavia and South America. Yet women in the US would need to drink two to three times this average to lower their risk of basal cell skin cancer by 20%.





Of the beverages on the list, brewed coffee provides the greatest amount of caffeine, but a 5-hour energy drink provides a bit more. Espresso is lower in caffeine, but packs in more than brewed tea. Even a little Hershey’s kiss provides one milligram of caffeine. Two to three cups of coffee daily may fight depression as a study showed that women who drink that amount show a lower incidence of depression symptoms. It helps with pain relief and that’s why Excedrin and Midol contain 100-130 milligrams per dose.





Though it’s a mild diuretic, it will not cause dehydration with average levels of caffeine consumption. Caffeine may cause a temporary increase in blood pressure, right after taking in a large amount, but blood pressure returns to normal. Warwick says different people experience the jitters differently than others. Also, we might add that the body adjusts to the caffeine from regular coffee drinking and the body may need increased amounts to reach the jittery stage after awhile. This article is helpful for its list of caffeine amounts. Some vary and only a range can be provided, but it still helps to show the best and most usual sources of caffeine.



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