Caffeine is a stimulant most often found in tea, coffee, soft drinks and in both drinkable and solid forms of chocolate. Caffeine can keep you awake, increase your need to urinate and cause you to feel jittery. Recommendations for the amount of caffeine you should consume depend on your age, gender and medical condition.
Average Adult
The average adult with no underlying medical conditions should consume no more than 250 mg of caffeine daily, according to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus information service. This amount of caffeine is roughly equal to three 8-oz. cups of instant coffee, two 8-oz. cups of brewed coffee, six 12-oz. servings of soda or six 8-oz. cups of tea.
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women should limit their daily consumption of caffeine more strictly than the average adult. Caffeine can decrease the blood flow through the placenta, which may create problems for the developing child. The stimulant properties of caffeine can also increase maternal blood pressure, which is dangerous for both mother and child. The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women consume a maximum of 200 mg of caffeine daily; cutting out the substance completely is ideal.
Children
Children should not drink caffeinated beverages due to the lack of nutrition in the substance. Caffeine not only does not provide essential vitamins and minerals, but it can also suppress the appetite, making children less likely to eat foods that offer a range of required nutrients. An article in the March 2011 issue of the "Journal of Pediatrics" reported on the results of a survey that found three-quarters of juvenile participants consumed an average of 109 mg of caffeine daily, primarily from soft drinks. The caffeine levels often led to less sleep, which can be detrimental to a child's overall health. The National Institutes of Health urges parents to closely monitor and restrict the caffeine intake of children but does not offer a numeric recommendation for consumption.
Considerations
Medications may interact negatively with caffeine, and it may exacerbate some medical conditions. A range of gastrointestinal conditions, including ulcers and diarrhea, or conditions such as an enlarged prostate or interstitial cystitis, can worsen with the consumption of caffeine. Speak to your doctor about any health concerns you have, and get specific caffeine intake recommendations for your individual state of health. If your doctor instructs you to cut down on your caffeine intake, do it gradually to avoid headaches and irritability, two symptoms of withdrawal.
References
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Caffeine in the Diet
- Ask the Dietitian; Caffeine, Coffee, Tea, Cola & Energy Drinks; Joanne Larsen, M.S., R.D., L.D.
- March of Dimes; Caffeine in Pregnancy; May 2010
- ScienceDaily; Caffeine Negatively Affects Children: Most Consume Caffeine Daily; December 2010
- Elsevier; Study Shows Caffeine Negatively Affects Children: A Majority Consume Caffeine Daily ; December 2010
- "The Journal of Pediatrics"; Caffeine Consumption in Young Children; W.J. Warzak, Ph.D., et al.; March 2011
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