Caffeine and safety concerns

I too am concerned about people who could have some condition of which could be exaggerated by caffeine.
Even though I literally live off of 5hr energy stuff..

If you are concerned about Caffine being in everything, you should see how much sugar is in any given food item. You're head may explode.

Koodauw said:

If you are concerned about Caffine being in everything, you should see how much sugar is in any given food item. You're head may explode.

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Yes, but the amount of sugar is listed in nearly every food/drink item. (In the U.S.A at least)

The only plus for me regarding caffeine, is the ability to dialate the blood vessels and promotes blood flow in the brain.

Anonymouslives said:

Doesn't it bother you that they are not required to tell you how much caffeine their product contains?

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Not at all. I usually buy high end brands.
It keeps me awake. My current work / play eithic is outrageous. Spending 12 hours a day at my desk. That amount of time could be cut down if I had more displays, however. (Can never have enough caffeine or displays).

PhilMcCracken said:

Yes, but the amount of sugar is listed in nearly every food/drink item. (In the U.S.A at least)

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I guess I dont really pay attention, but isnt listed on most drinks? Either way, if your worried about it, just avoid it. Seems like a simple solution to me.

Koodauw said:

I guess I dont really pay attention, but it isnt listed on most drinks as well. Either way, if you're worried about it, just avoid it. Seems like a simple solution to me.

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I am not worried about it, I don't drink much coffee, I do drink some Arizona Iced Teas. I do know people that drink several energy drinks a day though. They might want to watch their intake. Personally I don't know how anyone can afford drinking 2 or 3 a day between that and cigarettes, I am surprised they can fill their gas tank.

Just dont drink Red Bull all day and youll be fine.

Youd have to eat and drink in an extremely abnormal fashion to overdose on caffeine.

Kissaragi said:

Just dont drink Red Bull all day and youll be fine.

Youd have to eat and drink in an extremely abnormal fashion to overdose on caffeine.

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Like the way I drink caffeine. Literally living off of Coca Cola and Coffee at the moment.

It seems to me that there are two distinct and separate issues being discussed by the OP. One is the topic of caffeine, and the other seems to be a legitimate concern that caffeine, (along with other products, such as sugar and salt, not to mention the weird chemical compounds sometimes found in the strangest of foods) is added unknowingly, sometimes in large quantities, to food and drink.

Re caffeine itself, yes, it is addictive and yes, I love it. Actually, as I value quality of life as much - if not more - than quantity, this means that while I love coffee, and caffeine (indeed, caffeine free coffee is a bizarre contradiction in terms, and seems to me, to miss the point entirely), I drink only very good coffee, preferably espresso, and thus, I have no intention of reducing my intake of caffeine any time soon.

Myself, I have no problem with caffeine, as long as it goes into my body through a cup (or pot) of excellent coffee that I have made myself. In any case, I don't drink energy drinks, or eat energy bars - only fresh juices that I have squeezed myself, water, or caffeine (in coffee). (And, of course, alcohol has been known to pass my lips....)


Re the second issue, again, in a world where one heeds what one buys, and notes what one eats, where one values and enjoys food (and indeed cooking), why then, paying heed to labels is clearly a worthwhile activity. So, yes, of course one should read the details of what is written (or intimated) on food labels.

In any case, almost all of the food I buy comes from farmers' markets and is sold to me by the people who grow it, or who can stand over its provenance. So, when I cook, I usually cook from scratch, which means that most of what I cook is completely homemade. Store cupboard staples, I buy from good (often ethnic) delicatessens and specialist food shops. I rarely buy food of any description from a supermarket chain, which means that additives and weird chemical compounds don't form much of my diet.

I think I'm more troubled by the incessant marketing than the moderate use of caffeine. If you have no energy eat better, get some sleep or exercise for once in your life.

Incidentally, energy drinks are on the verge of being marketed now as beverages instead of nutritional supplements. This means you will be able to see how much caffine is in each one. On the other hand, this now means that Monster, Rockstar et al. will no longer be required to report to the FDA studies linking their product's consumption to health problems.

The amount of caffeine in coffee typically puts most different brands of pop to shame, to include energy drinks. Its difficult to regulate a natural substance, such as coffee beans.

If caffeine bothers you, cut back. Otherwise, enjoy.

High fructose corn syrup is worse, unfortunately. It is literally in almost everything. DNA is being coated with the stuff due to all the intake. Granted, caffeine wise, mainly all I have with caffeine in it is Coke. Maybe those NY governors were onto something.....

I mostly drink water, always grown up preferring it over anything else, people KNOW me enough that they don't even give me a choice of drink anymore, they just serve me water. Like senseless said, a lot of people use caffeine as the easy way out. I go to bed at a decent time, have a normal sleeping pattern, and usually have some fruit, toast, or a bowl of cereal for breakfast. I take a short walk around the neighborhood everyday too.

I can actually feel the energy flowing in my body during the afternoon sometimes, and it scares me. I have too much of it without the use of caffeine.

My future job at the Weather Service might involve lots of caffeine (at least I notice a ton of coffee at the Seattle office here). Every weather forecaster is required to take on different shifts. Some morning, some swing, and some graveyard. Everybody rotates on a weekly basis. So I see why it might be necessary for some of the guys there. haha

I've never had any problems with caffeine. If anything, I buy an energy drink as a celebratory beverage to stay up late and hang out with friends. Those are the best.

*Gets up to get another espresso*

Are you sure? All the highly caffeinated products I've had mention the amount of caffeine on the can. Red Bull, Monster etc.

I may be wrong but I think drinks containing caffeine must have the amount of caffeine listed unless its marketed as an energy drink. ie Mountain Dew and Pepsi must list caffeine content because its a soda, whereas 5 hour energy or monster which are marketed as energy drinks do not.

If I don't have caffeine, usually Pepsi I get massive headaches. I've tried to quit and made it 2 months without any, but the headaches never went away.

I have never noticed any effect whatsoever from any amount of caffeine, regardless of the source - and I used to pop Vivarins like they were Tic-Tacs.

Guarana and Taurine, however, worked a number on me, and not in a good way. I've sworn off of those.

What about all the cooked dead food you eat that accelerates in decomposure in your moist 37 degree body? Isn't that a cause for concern too?

OP, I gather you are in the USA? I'd be more worried about the crap that is served every day to your school-kids at lunch time. Deep fried and/or dripping with fat, with no nutritional value what so ever.

ijohn.8.80 said:

OP, I gather you are in the USA? I'd be more worried about the crap that is served every day to your school-kids at lunch time. Deep fried and/or dripping with fat, with no nutritional value what so ever.

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They don't serve fried food in the schools; they aren't allowed to, and the schools don't have fryers.

Even when I was a kid all those years ago and they WERE allowed to serve things like "fried" chicken, it was actually baked. Hence the general distaste for cafeteria food.