FOR A COUNTRY SO historically fixated on regulating drugs, there’s one that’s so
central to the daily diet of adults that not only is its production unregulated, but so
is its consumption. Its effects on our bodies aren’t yet fully understood, and the call
to minimize our intake only newly considered. The drug is, of course, caffeine, and
an impressive 90 percent of Americans consume it multiple times a day. Most of
these jittering adults get over 280 milligrams in one day; a daily intake of over 400
milligrams is determined unsafe. This would be the equivalent of two energy drinks,
four cups of coffee, or 10 cans of soda. On a long drive or when meeting a deadline,
we’ve probably all teetered close to, if not right past, this limit. Starbucks alone offers
four coffee drinks that exceed 400 milligrams. There, at the country’s most ubiquitous
café, a venti (20-ounce) Medium Roast contains 410 milligrams, while a venti Blonde
Roast contains 475.16 motherearthliving.com
HEALTH SOLUTIONS
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Beginning in the early 2000s, the
caffeine craze was hitting new and
dangerous heights in America; the nation
was universally afflicted by the “Great
Starbucks Expansion,” which meant
citizens didn’t even have to cross the street
to get a cup of corporate joe. This was a
new era full of 5-hour ENERGY drinks,
Red Bulls, and caffeinated alcohol.
The fifth (and most recent) edition
of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (commonly
referred to as the DSM-5) was released
in 2013, coinciding with skyrocketing
consumption of caffeinated drinks. To
much shock, the DSM-5 added a disorder
known as Caffeine Withdrawal. This was
defined as the symptoms experienced
by a person following sudden caffeine
cessation: headaches, flu-like symptoms,
fatigue, difficulty focusing, irritability,
and even depression. For anyone whose
first cup of coffee in the morning has
been delayed for some cruel reason, these
symptoms can sound all too familiar.
Signs of withdrawal begin to present
themselves as early as 12 hours after
cessation. Fifty percent of adults will
experience headaches at this time, while
13 percent will experience “clinically
significant distress or functional
impairment,” according to several studies.
The authors of DSM-5 suggested
in their 2013 bombshell that Caffeine
Use Disorder be considered for further
study. Researchers are now discovering
that many caffeine users are unable
to reduce consumption even when
they know it is — in excess — bad for
their health. They’ve found that those
exceeding 400 milligrams a day can be
at risk for cardiovascular and perinatal
complications. Where there are withdrawal
symptoms, there’s an addiction, and while
an addiction to caffeine doesn’t often ruin
lives, it’s worth addressing in order to
better understand your personal health.Decaf or Detox?
Examine what your caffeine intake means for your long-term
health, and consider cutting it from your daily routine.