Caffeine Sources

"Caffeine is a chemical called xanthine found in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of many plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide. It is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance and is such an important part of many people’s lives that they might not even think of it as a drug. Up to 90 percent of adults around the world use it on a daily basis. According to both the FDA and the American Medical Association the moderate use of caffeine is “generally recognized as safe.” It is considered a legal psychoactive drug and, for the most part, is completely unregulated.\n\nCaffeine intakes are described in the following manner: low–moderate intake is 130–300 milligrams per day, moderate intake is 200–300 milligrams per day, and high intake is 400 or more milligrams per day. The average caffeine consumption for American adults is considered moderate at 280 milligrams per day, although it is not uncommon for people to consume up to 600 milligrams per day. This works out to almost 4 ½ cups of coffee per day. Coffee accounts for 70 percent of daily caffeine consumption, soft drinks deliver 16 percent, and tea accounts for 12 percent. The caffeine content of an average cup of coffee can range from 102 to 200 milligrams, and the range for tea is 40 to 120 milligrams. When estimating total caffeine consumption, remember it is found not only in beverages, but also in some foods and medicine.\n\nCaffeine amounts in common beverages and foods include Starbucks Grande coffee, 380 milligrams; plain brewed coffee, 102–200 milligrams; espresso, 30–90 milligrams; plain decaffeinated coffee, 3–12 milligrams; brewed tea, 40–120 milligrams; green tea, 25–40 milligrams; Coca-Cola Classic, 35 milligrams; Dr. Pepper, 44 milligrams; Jolt Cola, 72 milligrams; Mountain Dew, 54 milligrams; Mountain Dew MDX, 71 milligrams; Pepsi-Cola, 38 milligrams; Red Bull, 80 milligrams; Full Throttle, 144 milligrams; Monster Energy, 160 milligrams; and Spike Shooter, 300 milligrams."