Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea and soda pop. Side effects of excessive caffeine consumption include nervousness, irritability and an upset stomach, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some people even get shakes or tics from consuming too much caffeine. Those experiencing unpleasant side effects of caffeine will be happy to hear there is a remedy.
How Much Is Too Much?
Most adults can drink moderate amounts of coffee with little ill effect, according to the Mayo Clinic. "Moderate" is defined as between 200 and 300 mg of caffeine every day, or about three or four cups of coffee. Some people find themselves more sensitive to caffeine and get jitters, shakes and tics even from a single cup of coffee. If you experience negative side effects of small amounts of caffeine, you might consider switching to decaf.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine appears in a number of popular drinks, but how much caffeine does each have? According to the Mayo Clinic, Dunkin Donuts coffee has between 143 and 206 mg, compared to 150 in a vanilla latte from Starbucks. Your drip coffee can have anywhere between 95 and 200 mg. Tea, on the other hand ranges from 7 mg in a cup of Lipton Brisk to between 40 and 120 for a standard cup of black tea. Cola generally has around 35 mg, while Mountain Dew, renowned for its caffeine, has 54 mg, according to the Mayo Clinic. That makes it quite strong for a soda, but far less caffeinated than coffee and most teas.
Combatting the Caffeine Jitters
The easiest way to deal with caffeine jitters is to stop drinking caffeine or reducing your overall consumption. Coffee drinkers can switch to tea and tea drinkers can switch to teas with less caffeine. Most soda pops come in a caffeine-free version, allowing you to enjoy your favorite soft drink without the tics and shakes.
Coffee Alternatives
If you need something in the morning to get you going, consider some alternatives to coffee. Siberian ginseng will give you energy and also increases mental alertness and aids memory, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Chai offers lower amounts of caffeine than coffee, as well as antioxidants, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Yerba mate, a drink popular in Argentina, is not caffeine-free and might contribute to certain forms of cancer, according to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, but is used as a coffee alternative by some.
References
- WAHM.com: 4 Coffee Alternatives for Overcoming Caffeine Jitters
- Teens Health: Caffeine
- Mother Nature: Coffee Nerves: Soothe the Caffeine Jitters
- Mayo Clinic: Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More
- Mayo Clinic: Caffeine: How Much Is Too Much?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Siberian Ginseng
- Mayo Clinic; Yerba Mate: Is It Safe to Drink?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.;
- University; Enlist These Foods to Help Prevent Cancer
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