| People joke about "coffee nerves" but they're no laughing
matter. Caffeine, an alkaloid that exists naturally in tea, kola nuts
and chocolate as well as in coffee, is clearly toxic in high doses. It
can cause heart palpitations, high blood pressure, vomiting,
convulsions. It also saps the body's supply of CALCIUM. Used in
moderation, caffeine is a mild stimulant. And, according to a recent
study conducted at Montreal University and its affiliate, Sainte-Justine
Hospital, pregnant women who drink 1 1/2 cups of coffee a day (or 5 cups
of tea or 4 colas) may double their risk of miscarriage, and those
downing 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day may triple it (even women drinking 3
to 4 cups of coffee a day the month before they conceive are twice as
likely to lose their babies). Although further study is needed, the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees that pregnant
or about-to-be-pregnant women should cut back on coffee. Average caffeine content of some popular beverages: 1 cup (5 fl oz) standard-brewed coffee = 80 mg (perk), 130 (drip) 1 cup (5 fl oz) instant coffee = 60 mg 1 cup (5 fl oz) decaf = 3 mg 1 cup (5 fl oz) tea (brewed 1 minute) = 28 mg 1 cup (5 fl oz) tea (brewed 5 minutes) = 46 mg 1 glass (12 fl oz) iced tea = 70 mg 1 cup (5 fl oz) instant tea = 30 mg 1 cup (5 fl oz) hot cocoa = 5 mg 1 glass (8 fl oz) chocolate milk = 5 mg 1 can (12 fl oz) cola = 38 mg Go here for detailed information regarding caffeine. |
