Although further research is needed, caffeine intake is linked to breast lesions and breast pain. Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in plants such as coffee, cocoa and tea leaves. Synthetically manufactured caffeine is added to certain foods and beverages, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Understanding the link between caffeine and breast conditions helps doctors diagnose and treat patients.
Breast Pain
Breast pain affects 50 to 70 percent of women, the California Pacific Medical Center reports. Breast pain ranges from mild tenderness to severe pain, which is described as either a general ache or sharp sensation in the breast. Causes of breast pain include hormonal imbalances or fibrocystic changes within your breast.
Reducing your caffeine intake or completely avoiding caffeine is one of the best ways to reduce pain in the breast. Avoid caffeine for at least three to four months and see if the pain disappears during that interval. If the pain lessens, talk to your doctor about the best way to incorporate caffeine back into your diet. Your doctor may recommend avoiding caffeine altogether.
Breast Lesions
Although caffeine consumption is not related to the development of benign cysts in the breast, high caffeine intake is possibly associated with an increased risk of precancerous lesions, MayoClinic.com warns. A study in the October 2008 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine" suggests that if you are already suffering from benign breast disease or large breast tumors, caffeine intake increases your chances of developing breast cancer.
Breastfeeding
Caffeine is quickly builds up in breast milk after you ingest it. If you drink 10 or more cups of coffee per day and then breastfeed, your baby is exposed to the increased caffeine, Drugs.com says. When caffeine enters an infant's body, it increased fussiness, jitteriness and poor sleep episodes. Furthermore, drinking more than 450 ml of caffeine-containing coffee reduces the iron content of breast milk, which causes a mild iron deficiency or anemia in some babies.
Normal Caffeine Intake
You should only take in about 250 mg of caffeine per day, MedlinePlus states. This is equal to three 8 oz. cups of coffee, which is considered an average or moderate intake. Ten or more cups of coffee is considered "excessive." Pregnant woman should limit or, ideally, avoid caffeine intake. Eliminate caffeine from your diet if you suffer from peptic ulcer disease or heart disease.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Breast Cysts: What Role Does Caffeine Play?; Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.; November 2010
- MedlinePlus; Caffeine in the Diet; David C. Dugdale, III, M.D.; May 2009
- California Pacfic Medical Center: Breast Pain
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Caffeine Consumption and the Risk of Breast Cancer in a Large Prospective Cohort of Women; Ken Ishitani M.D., et al.; October 2008
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