Caffeine is a stimulant found in many beverages, including coffee and diet Pepsi. While you may enjoy the burst of energy caffeine provides, excessive caffeine consumption can cause unpleasant side effects. It is wise to monitor your overall caffeine consumption to avoid getting too much.
Amount in Diet Pepsi
The amount of caffeine in a diet Pepsi depends on the flavor. Regular diet Pepsi has 24 mg of caffeine in each 8 oz. serving of diet Pepsi Lime, diet Pepsi Vanilla and diet Pepsi Wild Cherry. Keep in mind that many cans and bottles contain more than 8 ounces. Drinking an entire bottle significantly increases the amount of caffeine you consume. Diet Pepsi also offers a caffeine-free version of its product.
Amount in Coffee
The amount of caffeine in coffee is significantly more than the amount found in diet Pepsi. The average 8 oz. cup of instant coffee has about 93 mg of caffeine, while the average 8 oz. cup of brewed coffee has about 133 mg of caffeine, according to the Centers of Science in the Public Interest. These amounts are estimates; the specific amount of caffeine depends on several factors. The brewing time, temperature of the water and amount of coffee material used can all affect caffeine content. Decaffeinated coffee, unlike caffeine-free diet Pepsi, contains caffeine -- up to 5 mg per serving.
Benefits
The caffeine found in coffee and diet Pepsi products confer benefits. Caffeine prevents you from feeling tired by blocking the adenosine receptors in your body. It also speeds up your central nervous system, which results in increased energy. Your mood, reaction times and mental performance may also temporarily improve, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Drawbacks
Caffeine can cause negative side effects, especially when consumed in amounts over 600 mg a day, according to MayoClinic.com. These negative side effects include difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety, headaches, stomach upset and muscle tremors. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine notes that these effects may last up to 14 hours.
Caffeine Withdrawal
Regularly consuming large amounts of coffee or diet Pepsi may result in a physical dependency on caffeine. If this occurs, you may experience headaches, fatigue or irritability when you stop consuming the coffee or diet Pepsi. Slowly reducing the amount of caffeine you consume instead of stopping suddenly may prevent caffeine withdrawal symptoms from occurring
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