With liberty and caffeine for all

• Caffeine nation

College kids subsist on energy drinks; in fact, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds who consume coffee every day has doubled, according to U.S. News & World Report. Photo illustration by Troy Becker / The Forum

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• Best way to cut down on caffeine is with a gradual ‘fade’
• Energy drinks compared

We are a caffeine nation.

Soccer moms fuel their days with double-shot skinny cafe mochas. College kids subsist on energy drinks; in fact, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds who consume coffee every day has doubled, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Even younger children are consuming more caffeine. Children’s consumption of soft drinks has doubled in the past 35 years, with sodas supplanting calcium-rich milk. And a 2003 study of Ohio middle schoolers found some taking in 800 milligrams of caffeine a day – more than twice the recommended maximum for adults, according to Michael Breus, a sleep-disorder expert and author of The Insomnia Blog.

We are so caffeine-conscious that entire Web sites and blogs are dedicated to this stimulant. One of the most comprehensive is Energyfiend.com, which lists the caffeine content of everything from Coca-Cola to chocolate milk, as well as a standing feature called “News for the caffeine-obsessed.”

Experts generally agree that moderate doses of caffeine – 200 to 300 milligrams, or about two to four cups of brewed coffee a day – aren’t harmful. In fact, caffeine actually boasts some health benefits. Besides the energy spike it gives us, caffeine has been linked with everything from enhancing athletic performance to reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

But like anything else, too much caffeine can cause problems. Consuming more than 500 to 600 milligrams a day (about four to seven cups of java) can lead to insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, gastrointestinal problems, irregular heartbeat, muscle tremors, headaches and anxiety, according to www.mayoclinic.com.

Excessive caffeine use may also indirectly cause breast cysts and breast pain, by triggering fluctuations in hormone levels.

To help gauge how much caffeine you’re consuming, check out "Energy drinks compared." There’s some surprising information in here, such as the fact Sunkist orange soda contains more caffeine than a can of Coke. Or that caffeine juggernaut Fixx-Extreme contains as much caffeine as seven Mountain Dews.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Tammy Swift at (701) 241-5525 or tswift@forumcomm.com

Tags: energy drinks, caffeine, food, health, life