For work more and play higher, people are relying more and more on caffeine to not just start their day but to keep them going through it. Caffeine is the only drug that is added to foods and drinks. Its effects include heightened awareness and alertness, but too much caffeine can make individuals irritable and increase susceptibility to headaches. It's also addictive, creating symptoms of withdrawal in individuals who consume caffeine on a regular basis and suddenly stop their intake.
Although it is well-known that caffeine is dangerous, many people are trying to limit their caffeine intake by cutting back on their cups of coffee. But there are other, not so obvious sources of caffeine that may be surprising to those trying to cut back.
Caffeine is found in many common foods.
Coffee
Coffee is the most popular and most potent form of caffeine, and it's much more complicated than regular versus decaf. A large Starbucks brewed coffee contains about 320 mg, and even a small 1-oz. Starbucks espresso packs a punch with 75 mg. A single 16-oz. cup of standard home-brewed coffee contains about 266 mg of caffeine, while your potential intake increases if you spring for a more expensive cup from a coffee shop. That's in comparison to generic instant coffee, which contains about 180 mg for a full 16-oz. serving. If you're just craving the coffee taste--or trying to cut back-- generic instant decaf only contains about 10 mg per 16-oz. serving.
Chocolate
Chocolate, a high energy dessert, is highly contains caffeine, and it goes without saying that chocolate-covered coffee beans are one of the worst offenders. While it's not easy to forget that a chocolate bar has caffeine in every smooth, milky bite, it's easier to overlook the fact that chocolate chip cookies, brownies, chocolate cake and chocolate puddings are all sources of caffeine--not to mention chocolate milk.
Tea
Tea leaves are one of the many plants that contain natural caffeine. Tea is often viewed as a healthy alternative to soft drinks because of the lower sugar content, but most people don't realize that the caffeine is still there. So even when you're grabbing a can of iced tea from the store, you're looking at a caffeinated drink. It also includes sweetened and unsweetened iced teas that are both brewed and made from powdered mixes.
Soft Drinks
Soft drink manufacturers have been accused of putting caffeine. The FDA has set a legal limit of 71 mg per a 12-oz. soft drink, so when comparing that to some Starbucks espresso, it doesn't seem nearly so bad.
Although it is well-known that caffeine is dangerous, many people are trying to limit their caffeine intake by cutting back on their cups of coffee. But there are other, not so obvious sources of caffeine that may be surprising to those trying to cut back.
Caffeine is found in many common foods.
Coffee
Coffee is the most popular and most potent form of caffeine, and it's much more complicated than regular versus decaf. A large Starbucks brewed coffee contains about 320 mg, and even a small 1-oz. Starbucks espresso packs a punch with 75 mg. A single 16-oz. cup of standard home-brewed coffee contains about 266 mg of caffeine, while your potential intake increases if you spring for a more expensive cup from a coffee shop. That's in comparison to generic instant coffee, which contains about 180 mg for a full 16-oz. serving. If you're just craving the coffee taste--or trying to cut back-- generic instant decaf only contains about 10 mg per 16-oz. serving.
Chocolate
Chocolate, a high energy dessert, is highly contains caffeine, and it goes without saying that chocolate-covered coffee beans are one of the worst offenders. While it's not easy to forget that a chocolate bar has caffeine in every smooth, milky bite, it's easier to overlook the fact that chocolate chip cookies, brownies, chocolate cake and chocolate puddings are all sources of caffeine--not to mention chocolate milk.
Tea
Tea leaves are one of the many plants that contain natural caffeine. Tea is often viewed as a healthy alternative to soft drinks because of the lower sugar content, but most people don't realize that the caffeine is still there. So even when you're grabbing a can of iced tea from the store, you're looking at a caffeinated drink. It also includes sweetened and unsweetened iced teas that are both brewed and made from powdered mixes.
Soft Drinks
Soft drink manufacturers have been accused of putting caffeine. The FDA has set a legal limit of 71 mg per a 12-oz. soft drink, so when comparing that to some Starbucks espresso, it doesn't seem nearly so bad.
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