Caffeine, with its long history via coffee, is amazingly the “drug” of choice for 9 out of 10 Americans. Over the years, researchers, consumers, and the general public have had a love-hate relationship with caffeine’s health hazards and benefits.

Until ten years ago, the only foods with added caffeine were soft drinks—with the Food and Drug Administration limiting the amount to 48mg per 8oz serving.

Then, in 1997, Red Bull changed everything, with a whopping 80mg of caffeine per 8oz serving.

“For whatever reasons, the FDA decided not to challenge Red Bull,” says caffeine expert Roland Griffiths of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “And that started the aggressive marketing of caffeine-containing food products.”

I wonder why?

With Red Bull’s success, copycats hit the market like Adrenaline Rush, No Fear, and Rockstar, which started increasing the amount of caffeine to 240 mg per 16 oz. can. Because of the FDA’s lackadaisical approach vis-à-vis caffeine amounts, food and beverage manufacturers started to aggressively add more caffeine to other food products, such as candy bars, hot cereal, chewing gum, chips, jelly beans, mints, beer, and more.

“Caffeine increases the probability that the product will be bought and consumed. And it induces dependence and builds customer loyalty. That’s probably the reason that 70% of soft drinks have added caffeine,” says Griffiths.

With the increasing popularity of caffeine enhanced products, the Center for Science in the Public Interest recently published a comprehensive appraisal of numerous scientific reports about caffeine.

Here is a quick summary of their findings regarding Caffeine and Health:

Caffeine may be good for:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Gallstones
• Mental Performance
• Mood
• Physical Performance
• Headaches

However, the jury is still out on these:

• Sleep
• Fertility
• Miscarriage
• Birth Defects
• Counteracting Alcohol
• Migraines

With regard to caffeine, you don’t have to worry about these:

• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• High Blood Pressure
• Dehydration
• PMS
• Weight Loss
• Growth

What’s your caffeine verdict?

Do you drink coffee? How about the popular energy drinks?

With 31% of teens reporting they drink energy drinks, how do you handle caffeine in your house?

Let’s hear your ruling, because

After all, it’s about a healthy lifestyle!

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