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| Food Name | Caffeine | Calories | |
| Tea, powdered instant, unsweetened, dry | 3680 | 315 | |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, NS as to regular or decaffeinated | 3142 | 241 | |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, regular | 3142 | 241 | |
| Coffee, dry, acid neutralized | 3142 | 241 | |
| Coffee and chicory, dry instant powder | 3142 | 241 | |
| Espresso coffee beans, chocolate-covered | 800 | 513 | |
| Coffee, liquid concentrate | 628 | 48 | |
| Tea, powdered instant, sweetened, dry | 529 | 377 | |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, with whitener and sugar | 274 | 445 | |
| Cocoa powder, not reconstituted (no dry milk) | 230 | 229 | |
| Coffee and cocoa (mocha) mix, dry instant powder with whitener and low calorie sweetener | 218 | 257 | |
| Coffee, espresso | 212 | 2 | |
| Coffee and cocoa (mocha) mix, dry instant powder with whitener, presweetened | 191 | 460 | |
| Coffee, decaffeinated, and chicory, dry instant powder | 122 | 224 | |
|
Usage Notes
- Caffeine (measured in milligrams) and calories are calculated per 100g of food.
- This caffeine content of foods database contains approximately 7,000 most common
food items.
- Click on column header to sort foods by name or by caffeine or calories.
- Pie chart shows relative contributions to total calories from carbohydrate, protein
and fat (and alcohol, if exists).
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter substance found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, kola
nuts, and certain medicines. It has many effects on the body's metabolism, including
stimulating the central nervous system. This can make you more alert and give you
a boost of energy.
For most people, the amount of caffeine in two to four cups of coffee a day is not
harmful. However, too much caffeine can make you restless, anxious, and irritable.
It may also keep you from sleeping well and cause headaches, abnormal heart rhythms,
or other problems. If you stop using caffeine, you could get withdrawal symptoms.
Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others. They should
limit their use of caffeine. So should pregnant and nursing women. Certain drugs
and supplements may interact with caffeine.
Caffeine and Your Body
Caffeine occurs naturally in more than 60 plants including coffee beans, tea leaves,
kola nuts used to flavor soft drink colas, and cacao pods used to make chocolate
products. Man-made caffeine is sometimes added to foods, drinks, and medicines.
Ninety percent of people in the world use caffeine in one form or another. In the
U.S., 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day – the average adult has an
intake of 200 mg per day, the amount in two 5-ounce cups of coffee or four sodas.
A study of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students in Ohio found that students took in
an average of 53 mg of caffeine per day, but almost one in five students took in
more than 100mg of caffeine each day.
Whether caffeine is consumed in food or as a medicine, it changes the way your brain
and body work and changes how you behave and feel. Caffeine is a central nervous
system stimulant. Your central nervous system includes your brain, spinal cord,
and the other nerves in your body. Caffeine’s main effect on your body is to make
you feel more awake and alert for a while, but it can also cause problems.
The FDA says that caffeine is both a drug and a food additive. Caffeine is used
in both prescription and over-the-counter medicines to treat tiredness or drowsiness
and to improve the effect of some pain relievers. People with heart problems shouldn’t
use caffeine because it makes their hearts work too hard, and people with anxiety
problems or panic attacks may find that caffeine makes them feel worse.
Caffeine Addiction
When people use caffeine every day, their bodies get used to it, and they don’t
get the “good effects” of feeling more awake and able to concentrate unless they
use more of it. This is called “tolerance.” Some studies show that caffeine causes
a physical dependence or addiction. If a person gets withdrawal symptoms when they
suddenly stop using caffeine, then the person has a physical dependence on caffeine.
Withdrawal symptoms don’t feel good and can include: severe headaches, muscle aches,
temporary feelings of depression, and irritability. When people experience these
symptoms, they often just take in more caffeine to make them go away. This cycle
is hard to break.
Studies suggest that moderate amounts of caffeine are not harmful. How much is moderate?
One hundred to 200 mg (one to two 5-ounce cups of coffee) each day is the limit
that some doctors suggest, but each person is a little different. How caffeine affects
people varies with their size, their sex, and how sensitive they are to caffeine’s
effects. Experts agree that 600 mg (four to seven cups of coffee) of caffeine or
more each day is too much.
Caffeine overdose is dangerous and can kill you. FDA knows of a 19 year old college
student who died after taking an overdose of caffeine tablets to stay awake. A caffeine
tablet contains as much caffeine as one to three 5-ounce cups of coffee.
Coffee Substitutes
Coffee substitutes are non-coffee products, usually without caffeine, that are used
to imitate coffee. Coffee substitutes can be used for medical, economic and religious
reasons, or simply because coffee is not readily available. Roasted grain beverages
are common substitutes for coffee.
Caffeine and Pregnancy
New research suggests that drinking caffeinated drinks during pregnancy raises the risk of having a low birth weight baby.
Caffeine has long been linked to adverse effects in pregnant women, prompting many expectant mothers to give up coffee and tea. But for those who cannot do without their morning coffee, health officials over the years have offered conflicting guidelines on safe amounts during pregnancy.
The World Health Organization recommends a limit of 300 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to about three eight-ounce cups of regular brewed coffee. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated in 2010 that pregnant women could consume up to 200 milligrams a day without increasing their risk of miscarriage or preterm birth.
Caffeine and Heart Diseases
Results from studies of direct links between caffeine, coffee drinking and coronary heart disease are conflicting. However, moderate coffee drinking (1–2 cups per day) doesn't seem to be harmful.
The metabolic effects of caffeine include:
- Stimulation of the central nervous system.
- Release of free fatty acids from fatty tissue.
- Increase urination, which can lead to dehydration.
Caffeine-habituated individuals can experience "caffeine withdrawal" 12–24 hours after the last dose of caffeine. It resolves within 24–48 hours. The most prominent symptom is headache. They can also feel anxiety, fatigue, drowsiness and depression.
Doctors Urge F.D.A. to Restrict Caffeine in Energy Drinks
A group of 18 doctors, researchers and public health experts jointly urged the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to take action on energy drinks to protect adolescents and children from the possible risks of consuming high amounts of caffeine.
The F.D.A. has said that it is safe for adults to consume about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, though many experts say that most adults can consume 600 milligrams or more of caffeine without ill effect. A 16-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee has about 330 milligrams of caffeine, an amount about twice that of some similarly sized energy drinks.
Read more ...
Caffeine May Boost Driver Safety
Long-haul truck drivers who drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks are significantly less likely to have an accident than their uncaffeinated peers. After adjusting for age, driver experience, distance driven, hours of sleep, naps, night driving and other factors, study found that drivers who consumed caffeine were 63 percent less likely to be involved in a crash.
Read more ...
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Foods and Drinks Highest in Caffeine
List of top 100 foods and drinks with highest caffeine content. Caffeine values are in milligrams and measured per 100 grams of food weight.
| Foods and Drinks Highest in Caffeine |
Caffeine |
| Tea, powdered instant, unsweetened, dry |
3680 |
| Coffee and chicory, dry instant powder |
3142 |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, NS as to regular or decaffeinated |
3142 |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, regular |
3142 |
| Coffee, dry, acid neutralized |
3142 |
| Espresso coffee beans, chocolate-covered |
800 |
| Coffee, liquid concentrate |
628 |
| Tea, powdered instant, sweetened, dry |
529 |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, with whitener and sugar |
274 |
| Cocoa powder, not reconstituted (no dry milk) |
230 |
| Coffee and cocoa (mocha) mix, dry instant powder with whitener and low calorie sweetener |
218 |
| Coffee and cocoa (mocha) mix, dry instant powder with whitener, presweetened |
191 |
| Coffee, decaffeinated, and chicory, dry instant powder |
122 |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, decaffeinated |
122 |
| Chocolate, sweet or dark |
66 |
| Chocolate, semi-sweet morsel |
62 |
| Instant breakfast, powder, sweetened with low calorie sweetener, not reconstituted |
52 |
| Topping, chocolate, hard coating |
51 |
| Crackers, graham, chocolate covered |
46 |
| Coffee, Mexican, regular, unsweetened (no milk; not cafe con leche) |
40 |
| Coffee, made from ground, regular, flavored |
40 |
| Coffee and chicory, made from ground |
40 |
| Coffee, made from ground, regular |
40 |
| Foods and Drinks Highest in Caffeine |
Caffeine |
| Milk, malted, dry mix, unfortified, not reconstituted, chocolate |
37 |
| Coffee, Mexican, regular, sweetened (no milk; not cafe con leche) |
37 |
| Cocoa, whey, and low calorie sweetener, fortified, dry mix, not reconstituted |
34 |
| Coffee and chicory, NS as to ground or instant |
29 |
| Coffee, regular, with cereal |
29 |
| Coffee and chicory, made from powdered instant |
29 |
| Coffee, made from powdered instant, regular |
29 |
| Cookie, chocolate, made with rice cereal |
29 |
| Coffee, acid neutralized, from powdered instant |
29 |
| Coffee, made from powdered instant mix, presweetened, no whitener |
28 |
| Coffee, pre-lightened, no sugar |
28 |
| Coffee, presweetened with sugar |
28 |
| Chocolate, instant, dry mix, fortified with vitamins and minerals, not reconstituted |
28 |
| Milk, malted, dry mix, fortified, not reconstituted, chocolate |
28 |
| Ice cream bar or stick, rich chocolate ice cream, thick chocolate covering |
27 |
| Coffee, presweetened with sugar, pre-lightened |
27 |
| Soft drink, cola-type, with higher caffeine |
27 |
| Cocoa (or chocolate) flavored beverage powder with sugar, dry mix, not reconstituted |
25 |
| Raisins, chocolate covered |
25 |
| Nutrient supplement, milk-based, high protein, powdered, not reconstituted |
25 |
| Instant breakfast, powder, not reconstituted |
25 |
| Milk chocolate candy, with fruit and nuts |
24 |
| Foods and Drinks High in Caffeine |
Caffeine |
| Milk chocolate candy, with cereal |
23 |
| Milk chocolate candy, with almonds |
22 |
| Peanuts, chocolate covered |
22 |
| Caramel with nuts and cereal, chocolate covered |
21 |
| Coffee, dry instant powder, with whitener and low calorie sweetener |
21 |
| Tea, leaf, presweetened with low calorie sweetener |
20 |
| Tea, leaf, unsweetened |
20 |
| Tea, made from frozen concentrate, unsweetened |
20 |
| Marshmallow, chocolate covered |
20 |
| Milk chocolate candy, plain |
20 |
| Coffee, made from ground, equal parts regular and decaffeinated |
20 |
| Cocoa powder with nonfat dry milk and low calorie sweetener, dry mix, not reconstituted |
19 |
| Tea, leaf, presweetened |
19 |
| Tea, leaf, presweetened with sugar |
19 |
| Cocoa, whey, and low-calorie sweetener mixture, not reconstituted |
19 |
| Caramel with nuts, chocolate covered |
19 |
| Coffee, made from liquid concentrate |
19 |
| Mate, sweetened beverage made from dried green leaves |
19 |
| Coffee, made from powdered instant mix, with whitener and sugar, instant |
18 |
| Reese's Peanut Butter Cup |
18 |
| Coffee and cocoa (mocha) mix, dry instant powder, with whitener and low calorie sweetener, decaffeinated |
18 |
| Milk beverage, powder, with nonfat dry milk and low calorie sweetener, dry mix, not reconstituted, |
18 |
| Cafe con leche prepared with sugar |
18 |
| Chocolate, milk, with peanuts |
18 |
| Cocoa (or chocolate) with dry milk and sugar, dry mix, not reconstituted |
18 |
| Cookie, brownie, fat free, without icing |
17 |
| Toblerone, milk chocolate with honey and almond nougat |
17 |
| Foods and Drinks High in Caffeine |
Caffeine |
| Coconut candy, chocolate covered |
17 |
| Tea, presweetened with low calorie sweetener |
17 |
| Cookie, chocolate chip |
16 |
| Tea, presweetened with sugar |
16 |
| Topping, milk chocolate with cereal |
16 |
| Rice soup, made with tea |
16 |
| Chocolate, milk, with nuts, not almond or peanuts |
16 |
| Coffee, made from powdered instant mix, with whitener and low calorie sweetener |
15 |
| Soft drink, fruit flavored, caffeine containing, sugar-free |
15 |
| Soft drink, fruit flavored, caffeine containing |
15 |
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