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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Caffeine in the Diet

Overview & Description

Caffeine is known in chemical terms as trimethylxanthine. It acts as a stimulant on the brain.

Information

Too much caffeine in the diet may cause the following symptoms:

anxiety

diarrhea

irritability

sleep disorders

Caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches. Someone who wants to stop drinking caffeine should start by mixing regular coffee with a decaffeinated version. It's helpful to gradually reduce the amount of caffeine ingested each day.

Caffeine is one of the most thoroughly studied food constituents. Here are some recent research findings.

Caffeine may cause miscarriage or may decrease the growth of a developing fetus if a pregnant woman has more than 300 mg a day. This amount is equal to 3 cups of coffee. Pregnant women should consume less than 300 mg of caffeine per day.

High caffeine intake was associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis and bone fracture in postmenopausal women.

Men diagnosed with high blood pressure had even higher blood pressure readings after drinking caffeine.

Caffeine intake was not associated with an increased risk for coronary artery disease.

While more research is needed, there are clear reasons for limiting caffeine in some situations. Individuals should discuss their risk factors and caffeine intake with the healthcare provider.

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