Coffee. Chocolate. A
can of soda. A cup of tea. What do all of these have in common? Aside from
being largely consumed products worldwide on a daily basis, they all contain a
compound known as caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant found primarily in coffee
beans, the seeds of the plant Coffea arabica,
as well as tea leaves, in which its bitterness serves the purpose of
discouraging consumption by pests. It is consumed orally via the products in
which it is present, in which it acts as the primary psychoactive ingredient.
Caffeine use is legal,
and it is an easy to obtain and socially acceptable to consume substance, which
makes it one of the most used drugs in the world. It is estimated that in the
United States almost 75% of children under 18 years of age consume caffeine on any given
day, and coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world after water.
Approximately 90% of adults report regular caffeine use (Temple, 2009). The
morning coffee to start the day is a tradition followed by many around.
However, are there any risks accompanying this chronic consumption? Can
caffeine be considered an addictive substance? Does it present other benefits
aside from this extra burst of energy to get us through the day? These are all
questions we seek to answer.
Products that contain caffeine eaten on a daily basis:
Chocolate:
|
Average:
|
Cocoa beverage (6 oz)
|
4 mg
|
Chocolate flavored syrup (2 tbs)
|
5 mg
|
Chocolate
milk (8 oz)
|
8 mg
|
Milk
chocolate (1 oz)
|
7 mg
|
Semi-sweet
chocolate (1 oz)
|
18 mg
|
Unsweetened
chocolate (1 oz)
|
25 mg
|
Coffee:*
|
|
Brewed
(6 oz)
|
100 mg
|
Instant
(1 rounded tsp)
|
57 mg
|
Brewed
decaffeinated (6 oz cup)
|
3 mg
|
Instant
decaffeinated (1 rounded tsp)
|
2 mg
|
Cappuccino
(4 oz)
|
100 mg
|
Espresso
(2 oz)
|
100 mg
|
Latte
(single)
|
50 mg
|
Mocha
(single)
|
55 mg
|
Other
Beverages (12-oz servings):
|
|
Coca-Cola,
Diet Coke
|
46 mg
|
Dr. Pepper (regular & sugar-free)
|
40 mg
|
Mello
Yello
|
52 mg
|
Mountain
Dew
|
54 mg
|
Pepsi-Cola,
Diet Pepsi
|
38 mg
|
Red
Bull (8.2 oz)
|
80 mg
|
5-Hour
Energy
|
138 mg
|
Monster
Energy
|
160 mg
|
Tea
(5-oz cup):
|
|
Brewed, green or black, U.S. brands (3 minutes)
|
40 mg
|
Brewed,
imported brands
|
60 mg
|
Instant
(1 tsp)
|
30 mg
|
Iced (8
oz)
|
25 mg
|
Decaffeinated
|
5 mg
|
Non-Prescription
Drugs:**
|
|
Caffeine
Tablets:
|
|
No-Doz
|
100 mg
|
Vivarin
|
200 mg
|
Pain
Relievers (per tablet):
|
|
Anacin
|
32 mg
|
Excedrin
|
65 mg
|
Midol
(maximum strength)
|
60 mg
|
*Caffeine content of
coffee varies depending on type of bean, quantity used, how finely beans are
ground and brewing time