Up until the 17th century coffee was looked upon as a medicine rather then a foodstuff. Some praised its value to the digestion; others maintained that it made men sterile. Now, however, medical and scientific research has set the record straight

- Philippe Boe: Coffee

The Benefits of Caffeine

• Caffeine's bronchodilatatory action may help to relieve mild asthma in some people.
• It may help soothe some migraines by acting on the cerebral circulation.
• It is a mild diuretic.
• It is a mild laxative.
• It increases the secretion of hormones by the pancreas.
• Caffeine stimulates the formation of acid in the stomach.
• It prevents the formation of kidney stones and gallstones.
• A growing body of laboratory research supports caffeine as an effective ergogenic aid. (An ergogenic aid is a substance that improves athletic performance.)
• Caffeine is also reported to benefit short-term intense exercise lasting about five minutes at maximal output.
• Caffeine can kick start the body, increase alertness, reduce fatigue and stimulate the senses.
• Helps increase stamina and burn fat.
• Adds antioxidants to your diet.
• Reduces the risk of Type II Diabetes.
• Reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease.

The Drawbacks of Caffeine

• Caffeine causes the blood vessels to dilate.
• Boiled (but not filtered) coffee has been shown to increase blood cholesterol.
• Excessive intake can cause shaking, irritability, and anxiety.
• Caffeine lowers blood sugar, increasing hunger.
• It can cause palpitations (racing heart rate).
• Caffeine withdrawal can lead to headaches, fatigue and other symptoms.
• Caffeine can delay the onset of sleep. It can also interfere with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage when people dream.

Caffeine During Pregnancy

In pregnancy the body takes twice as long to eliminate caffeine. Pregnant women are advised to keep to a maximum of two cups daily to avoid complications for the child, such as breathing difficulties at birth and retarded neuromuscular development. Half of the caffeine from a cup of coffee is eliminated from the adult system after 2.5 to 4.5 hours; in a fetus or newborn child this takes 140 hours.

Caffeine Myths

• Caffeine is not safe - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully reviewed and deemed caffeine as safe and effective.
• Caffeine is an addictive drug - Caffeine is a pharmacologically active substance; it can work as a mild stimulant, and therefore is considered a drug. Caffeine is not addictive and is not listed in the category of addicting stimulants.
• Caffeine causes heart disease - The Framingham Heart Study examined potential links between caffeine intake and cardiovascular disease. This study showed that there is no significant relationship between caffeine consumption and development of stroke or cardiovascular disease.
• Caffeine causes cancer - Many studies have looked at the relationship between caffeine intake and increased risk of certain cancers, but no associations have been discovered or supported by this research.
• Caffeine causes osteoporosis - There is no evidence that caffeine has any harmful effect on the bones or on the amount of calcium in the body in individuals who ingest the currently recommended daily allowances of calcium.
• Caffeine can affect fertility - The data available on the effects of caffeine on fertility are conflicting, but most studies found that moderate caffeine intake does not affect fertility or increase the chance of having a miscarriage or birth defects.

CAFFEINE CONTENT OF SELECT COMMON FOOD AND DRUGS
PRODUCT	SERVING SIZE	CAFFEINE PER SERVING (MG)
Caffeine Tablet	1 Tablet	200
Coffee, Brewed	240 ml	135*
Coffee, Decaffeinated	240 ml	5*
Coffee, Espresso	57 ml	100*
Dark Chocolate	1 bar	31
Milk Chocolate	1 bar	10
Red Bull	240 ml	80
Soft Drink, Coca-Cola	340 ml	34
Tea, Green	240 ml	15
Tea, Leaf or Bag	240 ml	50
*Estimated average caffeine content per serving. Actual content varies according to preparation. Source: Wikipedia