Many people consume caffeine daily through their morning coffee, tea, energy drinks, and other products that provide them with energy throughout the day. However, behind this stimulant that we consume thoughtlessly, there are shocking facts about safe and risky doses that many people are unaware of.
اضافة اعلان
Biologist Dr. Anke Ehlers explains, "In moderate amounts, caffeine has a stimulating and positive effect." However, in high doses, caffeine can cause sweating, anxiety, heart rhythm disturbances, and may affect fetal growth in pregnant women. In extreme cases, excessive doses from caffeine-containing supplements can be fatal.
According to general guidelines, an adult can consume a 200 mg dose of caffeine without harm to health. This amount is roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee, two energy drinks, four cups of tea, or five cans of cola.
When distributed throughout the day, it is safe to consume double this amount (400 mg daily) without problems. However, the appearance of side effects varies from person to person. Those who are used to drinking a lot of coffee develop a higher tolerance and therefore need more coffee to feel the positive effects.
It is advised to be very cautious when consuming caffeine-containing supplements that are sometimes used to enhance athletic performance. In this case, it is essential to stick to the recommended doses to avoid the risk of overdose.
Dr. Ehlers, an expert at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, warns, "Pure caffeine powder is especially dangerous. Its concentration is so high that a regular household scale cannot measure it accurately." The safe amount of 200 mg (or 0.2 grams) is equivalent to just a small pinch, while a teaspoon or two could be fatal.
For children and teenagers, the safe amount of caffeine is determined based on body weight: 3 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight per day is considered acceptable.
Caffeine mainly enters children's bodies through chocolate. However, to consume a dangerous amount of caffeine from sweets, a child would need to consume a large amount in a very short period.
Dr. Ehlers explains, "Let's take an example of a 4-year-old child weighing 17 kg; they can safely consume about 50 mg of caffeine." This amount is roughly equivalent to the caffeine content in two and a half milk chocolate bars or half a liter of cola. He warns, "Of course, this is not a recommendation, especially due to the high sugar content, but it is simply a statement of the safe amount regarding caffeine concentration."
Energy drinks contain a similar amount of caffeine to coffee. A 250 ml can contains an average of about 80 mg of caffeine. Therefore, teenagers can consume up to three cans to exceed the safe amount.
Dr. Ehlers warns, "Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could double the risks. Both caffeine and alcohol affect the heart and blood vessels and may cause arrhythmias. When combined, these effects may become even worse."
