It seems the minute we become conscious about our health we ask ourselves an endless list of questions. Is this good for me? How much should I have? Is it safe for my children? The effect caffeine has on us is one of them. We often hear that caffeine is something we should avoid. How true are these sayings or are they just that -- sayings?
"Caffeine is a mehtylated xanthine, and as such, has chemical properties similar to Thophylline -- a common asthma medication," says Dr David L. Fay MD, Family Physician at Christie Clinic Association in Champaign, IL "It is a central nervous system stimulant. It causes increased heart activity, and relaxes the bronchial smooth muscles."
The most common source of caffeine is found in coffee. A cup of coffee (6 ounces) will contain 115 milligrams of caffeine whereas most sodas will have half that amount in a 12-ounce serving. Chocolate has relatively little comparatively at 6-20 milligrams per ounce. Hot cocoa has less than 10milligrams per 10 ounce cup.
"The per capita consumption of caffeine in the U.S. is about 200 milligrams daily. " says Dr Fay. According to Health and Welfare Canada's report 'Caffeine and You. It's Your Health Fact Sheet', 1993, it recommends that adults should limit their total caffeine amount to 400-450 milligrams of caffeine a day. Children should limit their dose to more than half that amount. This is not a limit strictly from coffee but all caffeine from sodas and chocolate, too.
"Side effects [from caffeine] include restlessness, insomnia, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia and other dysrhythmias." says Dr Fay. "It can worsen a number of conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux, fibrocystic breast disease, and cardiac problems.
In many studies, caffeine has been eliminated as the cause of fibrocystic breast disease, cancer and heart disease yet it can aggravate the situation.
When withdrawing from caffeine, you may experience severe headaches. Should you want or need to cut your caffeine consumption, to avoid nasty side-effects it is best to gradually reduce your intake.
In terms of its effect on children, a meta-analysis revealed little evidence that theophylline and caffeine were associated with significant adverse effects on cognition or behavior. Your child will need to have a cup of coffee or two soda cans a day to go over the recommended amount.
Even if your child reaches these amounts or more, in a short period of time there's no documented proof of the severity or the harm done from the caffeine. Should this concern you then be safer in the soda category, and give your children clear sodas contain no caffeine. That would be a better alternative.
"Caffeine is a mehtylated xanthine, and as such, has chemical properties similar to Thophylline -- a common asthma medication," says Dr David L. Fay MD, Family Physician at Christie Clinic Association in Champaign, IL "It is a central nervous system stimulant. It causes increased heart activity, and relaxes the bronchial smooth muscles."
The most common source of caffeine is found in coffee. A cup of coffee (6 ounces) will contain 115 milligrams of caffeine whereas most sodas will have half that amount in a 12-ounce serving. Chocolate has relatively little comparatively at 6-20 milligrams per ounce. Hot cocoa has less than 10milligrams per 10 ounce cup.
"The per capita consumption of caffeine in the U.S. is about 200 milligrams daily. " says Dr Fay. According to Health and Welfare Canada's report 'Caffeine and You. It's Your Health Fact Sheet', 1993, it recommends that adults should limit their total caffeine amount to 400-450 milligrams of caffeine a day. Children should limit their dose to more than half that amount. This is not a limit strictly from coffee but all caffeine from sodas and chocolate, too.
"Side effects [from caffeine] include restlessness, insomnia, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia and other dysrhythmias." says Dr Fay. "It can worsen a number of conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux, fibrocystic breast disease, and cardiac problems.
In many studies, caffeine has been eliminated as the cause of fibrocystic breast disease, cancer and heart disease yet it can aggravate the situation.
When withdrawing from caffeine, you may experience severe headaches. Should you want or need to cut your caffeine consumption, to avoid nasty side-effects it is best to gradually reduce your intake.
In terms of its effect on children, a meta-analysis revealed little evidence that theophylline and caffeine were associated with significant adverse effects on cognition or behavior. Your child will need to have a cup of coffee or two soda cans a day to go over the recommended amount.
Even if your child reaches these amounts or more, in a short period of time there's no documented proof of the severity or the harm done from the caffeine. Should this concern you then be safer in the soda category, and give your children clear sodas contain no caffeine. That would be a better alternative.
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