The longer you brew coffee, the higher the caffeine content, but on the other hand, strong coffee doesn't necessarily equate to lots of caffeine. Also, arabica bean coffee has less caffeine than robusta bean coffee. (My thanks to a 1995 Better Homes and Gardens article by Ed Blonz for these two items.)
You will also find caffeine in many over-the-counter medications including pain relievers, appetite suppressants, and cold medicine. If you're avoiding caffeine, don't forget to read those labels.
The FDA says it's safe, and we all know a little of it can be a good thing. It wakes us up, improves our mood, increases our reaction time, is somewhat of an appetite suppressant, and makes us work better. It does not, however, counteract the effects of alcohol.
On the down side, caffeine is a diuretic and as it increases urine output it may make us lose too much calcium and magnesium, thus contributing to bone loss. It also increases the heart rate and the output of stomach acid, which can be a problem. It can interact with medication and you should find out whether the drugs you take are affected by it. Read the patient information sheet that comes with your prescription - always - and if you aren't certain, ask your pharmacist or your doctor. Also remember that it takes between 10 and 14 hours for the caffeine to leave your body, and that it goes throughout your body, everywhere there is water.
Of course, you know that a pregnant woman absolutely should not drink coffee.
Caffeine has been linked to fibrocystic breast disease, birth defects, and heart disease. There are also doubtful links with ulcers, heartburn, cancer, and other diseases. However, studies are not conclusive about a connection between any of these and caffeine.
So how much is safe? For a healthy person, approximately 3 cups (8 oz. each) of coffee per day shouldn't cause any health problems. Those 3 cups add up to 250 mg of caffeine.
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