Member-only story
Caffeine? Think twice before grabbing that friendly cup of joe.
There’s no denying it — as a society, we all love coffee and tea. It’s part of our morning ritual. There’s also nothing like a hot cup of coffee or tea, on a cold winter’s day.
How many of us run errands with a coffee, in hand? How many of us meet our friends at the local coffee shop? Caffeine is a deeply rooted part of our lifestyles. In fact, 80% of Americans drink coffee and 90% of adults and 85% of children in the US, consume a good amount of caffeine daily.
Did I say, children? Yes.
Has your child ever had a Sunkist? It has more caffeine than most sodas, 41mg to be exact. What about chocolate, frozen yogurt, ice cream, pudding, breakfast cereals and headache medicines? They all contain caffeine.
What is this elusive caffeine?
Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of caffeine.
THE GOOD
Caffeine has some benefits. It can give us more energy, focus and it can even be effective for hangovers. Coffee specifically acts as a diuretic and may suppress appetite. It also can increase our basal metabolic rate, meaning it’ll help us burn fat.
