Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

We probably don’t think of caffeine as a drug, but it is…

It gives us the get-up-and-go by increasing the heart rate and raising blood pressure. And it has other, less obvious effects on our bodies as well:

Dehydration
Caffeine can actually dehydrate us. That’s because it works as a diuretic, increasing fluid loss through the urine. If you drink colas or coffee to quench your thirst, you’ll just make the problem worse. And dehydration can make you more susceptible to a higher heart rate and blood pressure, as the body tries to compensate for the loss of fluid.
Irritant
Caffeine can irritate the stomach and the heart. It can make the heart beat irregularly. People with heart disease or a history of irregular heartbeat are most at risk.
Infertility and Miscarriage
There has been an ongoing debate about caffeine’s effect on fertility and pregnancy. In one study, women who had the equivalent amount of caffeine found in one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to conceive than women who drank less. Consuming more than five cups of coffee a day appears to double the risk of miscarriage; smaller amounts may also contribute to miscarriage, but study results are inconclusive.

Caffeine can also contribute to osteoporosis, especially if coffee, tea or cola is a substitute for milk. Children who drink more colas than milk are at risk of osteoporosis, because they are depriving their growing bones of calcium. If this habit continues, the risk increases as the body ages and calcium absorption is reduced.

How much caffeine do you drink a day? A cup of coffee has about 100 or more milligrams per cup. Tea has about 40, and a 12-ounce can of cola has anywhere from 30 to 65. Even some non-cola drinks like Mountain Dew carry significant amounts of caffeine.

You may want to cut back your caffeine intake if it’s more than 300 milligrams a day. Don’t go cold turkey—you might trigger withdrawal headaches. Mix decaf with regular coffee or substitute a glass of juice for a can of cola. Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine every 3 days until you’re at your goal.

April 10
Caffeine
	We probably don’t think of caffeine as a drug, but it is… It gives us the get-up-and-go by increasing the heart rate and raising blood pressure. And it has other, less obvious effects on our bodies as well: Dehydration Caffeine can actually dehydrate us. That’s because it works as a diuretic, increasing fluid loss through the urine. If you drink colas or coffee to quench your thirst, you’ll just make the problem worse. And dehydration can make you more susceptible to a higher heart rate and blood pressure, as the body tries to compensate for the loss of fluid. Irritant Caffeine can irritate the stomach and the heart. It can make the heart beat irregularly. People with heart disease or a history of irregular heartbeat are most at risk. Infertility and Miscarriage There has been an ongoing debate about caffeine’s effect on fertility and pregnancy. In one study, women who had the equivalent amount of caffeine found in one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to conceive than women who drank less. Consuming more than five cups of coffee a day appears to double the risk of miscarriage; smaller amounts may also contribute to miscarriage, but study results are inconclusive. Caffeine can also contribute to osteoporosis, especially if coffee, tea or cola is a substitute for milk. Children who drink more colas than milk are at risk of osteoporosis, because they are depriving their growing bones of calcium. If this habit continues, the risk increases as the body ages and calcium absorption is reduced. How much caffeine do you drink a day? A cup of coffee has about 100 or more milligrams per cup. Tea has about 40, and a 12-ounce can of cola has anywhere from 30 to 65. Even some non-cola drinks like Mountain Dew carry significant amounts of caffeine. You may want to cut back your caffeine intake if it’s more than 300 milligrams a day. Don’t go cold turkey—you might trigger withdrawal headaches. Mix decaf with regular coffee or substitute a glass of juice for a can of cola. Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine every 3 days until you’re at your goal.

	Resources: American Dietetic Association www.eatright.org