Do you spend more on Starbucks drinks in an average year than food for your children? Can’t go more than an hour without tossing down 16 to 32 ounces of some sort of soda? We hate to be the bearer of bad news but you no longer simply make terrible dietary choices – you have a disorder!
Caffeine junkies were recently labeled as suffering from Caffeine Use Disorder by an American University study which “discovered” that more than 50 percent of regular caffeine consumers claim they have difficulty quitting or reducing caffeine use. The culprit is withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, and a lack of focus..
* Memo from the Holistic Survival brain trust – That’s because caffeine is ADDICTIVE.
A press release statement from study coauthor, professor Laura Juliano, noted that caffeine abusers who were unable to quit the stuff on their own would be interested in a formal treatment, much the same if one were trying to kick tobacco or heroine. Juliano said, “The negative effects of caffeine are often not recognized as such because it is a socially acceptable and widely consumed drug that is well integrated into our customs and routines. While many people can consume caffeine without harm, for some it produces negative effects, physical dependence, interferes with daily functioning, and can be difficult to give up, which are signs of problematic use.”
How best to define a caffeine addict? Juliano suggests a person limit themselves to 400 mg daily, which is the equivalent of two or three eight ounce cups of coffee. Contributing to the rampant use of caffeine is the fact that manufacturers are not required to include on the label how much caffeine is in a product.
Interested in exactly how much caffeine you’re slamming down with your favorite drink? It’s probably no surprise to discover that an energy drink contains anywhere from 100 – 200 mg of caffeine. Perhaps surprisingly, regular sodas like Coke or Mountain Dew contain much less, usually around 50 mg.
So far in this article, we’ve been bludgeoning caffeine pretty hard, but as with most things in life, it’s not ALL bad. In moderate doses, it does provide energy and makes some people more clearheaded, especially first thing in the morning. Believe it or not, a French study confirmed the idea that women who consumed coffee showed a slower decline in cognitive ability as they aged. And VERY limited evidence suggests it might slow the development of Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. No hard proof on those final claims yet.
In conclusion, they key is moderation! (Image: Flickr | emdot)
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The Holistic Survival Team
