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Caffeine Fact Sheet

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola and energy drinks. The caffeine content varies by plant variety and brewing method, with coffee generally containing more caffeine than tea. Most health organizations recommend daily caffeine intake of less than 600 mg, or 200 mg for those experiencing anxiety or stress or who are pregnant. Common beverages and foods contain varying amounts of caffeine, with a typical cup of coffee containing 100-150 mg and an energy drink containing around 80 mg. Worldwide daily caffeine intake averages 70 mg, while Americans average 200 mg and Australians 240 mg. Short term effects of caffeine include increased alertness and temperature, while long term high doses can cause restlessness, nervousness and insomnia

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317 views2 pages

Caffeine Fact Sheet

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola and energy drinks. The caffeine content varies by plant variety and brewing method, with coffee generally containing more caffeine than tea. Most health organizations recommend daily caffeine intake of less than 600 mg, or 200 mg for those experiencing anxiety or stress or who are pregnant. Common beverages and foods contain varying amounts of caffeine, with a typical cup of coffee containing 100-150 mg and an energy drink containing around 80 mg. Worldwide daily caffeine intake averages 70 mg, while Americans average 200 mg and Australians 240 mg. Short term effects of caffeine include increased alertness and temperature, while long term high doses can cause restlessness, nervousness and insomnia

Uploaded by

Melinda Anggita Setiyadi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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caffeine fact sheet 11/14/01 12:58 PM Page 1

CAFFEINE
What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola and energy drinks – making it one
[ CAFFEINE]

of the most widely used drugs in the world.

Caffeine concentration varies according to the plant variety, the growing conditions and the strength
of the given brew. Coffee beans of the arabica strain, grown primarily in Central and South America
contain approximately 1% caffeine. Robusta coffee beans, grown in Africa and Indonesia, contain
about 2%. The caffeine content of tea leaves can be as high as 5%.

Although tea leaves generally contain more caffeine by weight than coffee beans, there is usually
more caffeine in a cup of coffee than in a cup of tea because more coffee beans than tea leaves are
used to make each regular cup. Also tea is infused, not boiled.

Most researchers now agree that there is little risk of harm when a person consumes less than 600
mg of caffeine a day. At times of anxiety or stress, or during pregnancy, many doctors now
recommend consumption of less than 200 mg a day.

Beverage/Item Container/Size Typical caffeine content


Coffee Instant 150 ml cup 60-100 mg
NDARC FACT SHEET

Percolated/Drip 150 ml cup 100-150 mg


Espresso 150 ml cup 90mg
Decaffeinated 150 ml cup 2-4 mg
Tea 150 ml cup 30-100 mg
Cocoa 150 ml cup 30-60 mg
Cola Soft Drink 250 ml 35 mg
Energy Drink 250 ml 80 mg
Chocolate Bar 30 gm bar 20-60 mg
Prescription/over-the-counter medicines tablet 20-100 mg

There has been a great deal of media interest in the range of energy drinks recently introduced into
the market which contain caffeine. In general, the concentration of caffeine per ml in soft drinks or
energy drinks is considerably lower than in coffee. A single serving of one of the many energy
drinks available is equivalent to a cup of coffee.

How many people use caffeine?

Worldwide per capita caffeine consumption (including that of children) is estimated to be 70 mg per
day, or approximately equivalent to one cup of coffee. Average intake for Americans is believed to
be about 200 mg per day. Most Australians consume caffeine in one way or another. A survey
conducted in Sydney in the mid 1980s found that the average daily intake of caffeine was about
240 mg – the equivalent of about four cups of instant coffee.

What are the short-term effects of caffeine?

The short-term effects of using caffeine may include:

• increased body temperature


• increased urination
• increased alertness
• irritability and restlessness
caffeine fact sheet 11/14/01 12:58 PM Page 2

The use of coffee to sober up a person after drinking alcohol is not effective. It does not improve
impaired motor coordination but may make the person more alert. It simply makes the intoxicated
person more awake.

What are the long-term effects of caffeine?

Daily use of caffeine in low to moderate doses in most healthy adults does not appear to produce
any harmful effects. Substantial daily doses – and in some people even as little as 250 mg per day
– can lead to unpleasant effects such as:
[ CAFFEINE]

• restlessness
• nervousness
• insomnia
• flushed face
• increased urination
• stomach upsets
• muscle twitching

Fatal overdose with caffeine is extremely rare, but it is possible. The lethal dose in humans appears
to be 5 to 10 grams, although toxic symptoms may appear with lower doses. Some symptoms of
caffeine poisoning include tremors (involuntary shaking), nausea, vomiting, irregular or rapid heart
rate and confusion. In extreme cases, individuals may become delirious or have seizures. In these
cases, death may be caused by seizures that results in an inability to breathe. In less severe cases,
high doses have been associated with panic attacks.

In small children toxic effects may be observed with much smaller doses, i.e. drinking about seven
cups of strong coffee.
NDARC FACT SHEET

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