Some Facts about Caffeine

Up to 90% of adult Americans consume caffeine every day. Most commonly, the caffeine is in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate. A health benefit of caffeine is that it can ease a headache. The stimulant of caffeine interacts with the headaches and slowly gets rid of the symptoms. Try coffee, tea, hot or cold, the more caffeine the better, soda like Coke or Pepsi and cocoa. You will notice your headache start to disappear in no time.

Research indicates that coffee provides protective effects for the following conditions:

Asthma – Drinking coffee can help to control asthma, and in some cases can even be used to treat an asthma attack when conventional medication is not available.
Colon cancer – 2 or more cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25%.
Gallstones – The likelihood of developing gallstones is decreased nearly 50% by drinking at least 2 cups of coffee per day.
Headache – Coffee cures or diminishes some types of headaches.
Liver cirrhosis – The risk for this condition is reduced by 80% with the ingestion of 2 or more cups of coffee each day.
Parkinson’s disease – 6 studies have found that regular (caffeinated) coffee drinkers reduce their risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by as much as 80%.
Type 2 Diabetes – A Harvard study of 126,000 people found that 1 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day can reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Drinking coffee provides a number of health benefits, including reduced risk for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, colon cancer and even suicide. However, on the negative side, coffee can cause a number of problems for some people, particularly in large doses:

Acid imbalance - Caffeine can cause indigestion, skin irritations and arthritis flare-ups.
Hypoglycemia - Caffeine causes a release of glycogen by the liver, which can generate wild swings in blood sugar, causing attacks of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypoglycemia has a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including weakness, nervousness, sweating and heart palpitations.
Increased cholesterol - In some individuals, coffee can raise cholesterol, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Infertility, miscarriages and low birth weights among babies - Women who are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant should avoid excess caffeine consumption, which may increase the risk for a variety of fertility problems.
Kidney stones and gout - These conditions can result from the strain that caffeine puts on the kidneys.
Nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and trembling - Excess caffeine can overstimulate the central nervous system. This not only causes anxiety, but can also exhaust the adrenal glands over time, decreasing resistance to stress and increasing vulnerability to disease.
Osteoporosis: Because coffee prevents the full absorption of necessary minerals, it increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Women who consume 300 mg (2-3 cups) or more of coffee per day suffer accelerated loss of spinal bone mass.
Possible addiction: People who quit coffee often experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headache, decreased energy and alertness, difficulty concentrating, and even irritability and depression. These symptoms usually begin within 12-24 hours of quitting caffeine and hit a peak within 20-51 hours. Overall, symptoms tend to last anywhere from 2-9 days.
Stretch marks – Caffeine consumption increases the risk of developing stretch marks.
Weight gain – Caffeine increases the risk of long-term weight gain by increasing stress hormones and creating a greater risk for hypoglycemia, which stimulates appetite. Although caffeine can assist with short-term weight loss, in the longer term, heavy consumption is more likely to lead to weight gain.

Most people who drink decaffeinated coffee do so because it doesn't make them jittery or keep them awake. But some believe it's better for them than regular coffee. A recent study of women in Iowa found that those drinking four or more cups a day of decaf had an elevated risk of rheumatoid arthritis.Decaf can, however, have some of the same effects on the body as regular coffee. It too can cause heartburn or irritate stomach ulcers in susceptible people. And oddly enough, even without the caffeine, it too can stimulate the nervous system and briefly boost blood pressure in those unaccustomed to coffee, according to Swiss researchers. But coffee, decaf or regular, does not cause hypertension. In sodas, caffeine is both a natural and an added ingredient. Only about 5 percent of the caffeine in colas and pepper-flavored soft drinks is obtained naturally from cola nuts; the remaining 95 percent is added. Caffeine-free drinks contain virtually no caffeine. Many prescription and nonprescription drugs also contain caffeine. Caffeine increases the ability of aspirin and other painkillers to do their job, and it is often used in headache and pain-relief remedies as well as in cold products and alertness or stay-awake tablets.

Because children have developing nervous systems, it is important to moderate their caffeine consumption. For children, major sources of caffeine include soft drinks and chocolate. Remember, I'm not a doctor. I just sound like one.

Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible! Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended, nor implied, to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Glenn Ellis, author of Which Doctor?, is a health columnist and radio commentator who lectures, and is an active media contributor nationally and internationally on health related topics