Special Report: Too Much Jolt In Your Java?
POSTED: 11:10 am CDT May 19, 2004
NEW ORLEANS -- It's one of the most popular beverages in the world -- but do you really know how much caffeine you're getting in your favorite cup of coffee?
There's a big difference among brands, and if you're not careful, you could get a bigger jolt than you may want.
Studies show the average cup of coffee has between 250 and 300 milligrams of caffeine. Side effects usually start when you've consumed more than 600 milligrams.
Dr. James Diaz, of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, said people have different sensitivities to caffeine, but everyone can suffer unwanted side effects if they've had too much.
"(Symptoms include) high heart rate, palpitations, a feeling of restlessness, a feeling of agitation and nervousness at these very high doses," Diaz said.
WDSU NewsChannel 6 tested five different coffees to find out, taking a an 8-ounce sample of medium roast from PJ's, McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbuck's and CC's to two independent labs.
CC's came in with the lowest amount at 180 milligrams of caffeine.
Dunkin' Donuts had 280 milligrams of caffeine.
PJ's had 288 milligrams of caffeine.
McDonald's had 350 milligrams of caffeine.
Starbuck's had 355 milligrams of caffeine.
Why the wild variation in samples?
The National Coffee Association said individual coffee beans contain widely varying amounts of caffeine, and factors such as water temperature and brewing time make caffeine content unique to each cup.
"Caffeine is a chemical that has been used for centuries as a stimulant and a drug, and as with anything, moderate consumption is what's best," Diaz said.
Finally, you may think that you are avoiding caffeine by drinking decaffeinated coffee, but decaffeinated isn't void of caffeine. It has about half the amount of caffeine of regular coffee.
Copyright 2004 by TheNewOrleansChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Morning Java May Not Be Best Idea
Researchers Offer Ways To Get Most Out Of Caffeine
POSTED: 5:29 p.m. EDT May 11, 2004
A new study may give some grounds for changing coffee-drinking habits.
The study, commissioned by the Air Force to help pilots on long flights, found that drinking java is a science.
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People tend to drink coffee in the morning to help them wake up, but that might be backward.
"If I go to Starbucks or something, then I get, like, a Frappuccino with two extra shots of espresso to really kick it up," coffee drinker Katie Huestis said.
Researchers from Boston and Chicago said people can get the most out of caffeine when its levels in the blood stream are rising when they need it, instead of having them be highest in the morning when they've just slept.
SURVEY
Do you drink coffee?
Yes, first thing in the morning.
Yes, throughout the day.
Yes, in the afternoon or evening.
No, but I have other caffeine sources.
No, I stay away from caffeinated beverages.
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"I hate to say it, but most of the population is using caffeine the wrong way by drinking a few mugs of coffee or tea in the morning, or three cups from their Starbuck's grande on the way to work. This means that caffeine levels in the brain will be falling as the day goes on," said lead researcher James Wyatt, a sleep researcher at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
In their study, researchers scheduled 16 men to live on a 42.85–hour day -- instead of keeping to a 24-hour day -- for 29 days, in an effort to simulate the schedules of some medical and military personnel. Those who took a caffeine pill -- equivalent to 2 ounces of regular coffee -- every hour performed better on cognitive tests.
The study, published in the May issue of the journal Sleep, found another perk.
"The subjects didn't fall asleep as often when they were trying to stay awake," said Dr. Charles Czeisler, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
It's a critical advantage if you're driving long distances. Czeisler isn't recommending you drink coffee; he'd prefer you get more sleep, which caffeine can interrupt. But if you must indulge, he said to think ounces over time and not cups.
The researchers stressed that there is no good substitute for regular sleep, but small doses of caffeine throughout the day could help perk up those who need it most -- keeping them productive on extra-long days.
If you drink Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts or Honey Dew coffee, the 2 ounces per hour drops to just half an ounce because of the higher caffeine levels.
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