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A recent study shows that consuming more than 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine leads to increased spontaneous miscarriage in pregnant women. The study is raising concerns of caffeine’s effect on the health of the general population.

This article that you are currently reading, of course, focuses on healthy aging.

A quick review of the study of pregnant women doesn’t pose concern for older adults. Hundreds of scientific papers generally show that coffee and other caffeine products are not harmful to older adults’ health. Evidence indicates that coffee can even help with some diseases.  
    
What Are Health Benefits of Coffee and Other Caffeine Drinks?
The health benefits of responsible amounts of coffee and other caffeine drinks include significant reduction (as much as 50 percent) of type 2 diabetes (adult onset). Reducing type 2 diabetes risk also reduces risk of stroke and heart disease. Responsible coffee drinking  can be an easy preventive, therapeutic approach. 

Coffee also seems to have a positive impact on Parkinson’s disease, which can be a real threat to older people. Studies have shown that people who drink moderate amounts of coffee are protected by as much as 80 percent from developing the progressive neurological disorder. 

Other diseases that seem to benefit from coffee consumption include colon cancer, gall bladder stones, liver cirrhosis, depression, some headaches and even dental cavities. 

How Much Caffeine is Safe?
Most literature doesn’t address the amount of caffeine that can be safely consumed. Generally, 200 to 300 milligrams throughout the day is a prudent amount of caffeine.  Of course, the amount of caffeine varies among beverages, foods and medicines.

Unfortunately, many products do not offer information about the amount of caffeine that they contain. Below is a table that lists the amount of caffeine in some of the most common foods and drinks. Also, please note that some coffee is more potent than others. For example, Starbucks is relatively high in caffeine compared to coffee prepared at home. Coffee contains the highest amount of caffeine. Tea and soft drinks come in next. Although chocolate contains caffeine, it is a trivial amount.

A good rule of thumb is to limit consumption to three to five cups of home brewed coffee per day, ending well before bed time. Four to six cups of caffeinated soft drink or tea are acceptable as a coffee substitute.

Contraindications to Caffeine
As with anything, too much caffeine can be unhealthy. Caffeine is comparable to drugs and medicines. Like all medicines, caffeine can have side effects, including tremulousness, restlessness, insomnia and higher cholesterol levels. Therefore, some people should avoid caffeine.

It has been shown that caffeine should be avoided in pregnancy, in people having heart arrhythmias, and should be monitored in people who have hypertension. In women, caffeine may contribute to breast cancer and osteoporosis. People with these conditions should consult their doctor before tanking up on java.

Finally, coffee and caffeine can give a mild mental pick me up and can be addictive.  People who drink more than the recommended amount may suffer from a medical addiction that should be discussed with a doctor. 

The Good News
Healthy aging can be promoted by a favorite drinks — coffee. Coffee and other caffeinated drinks are good in reasonable amounts. So, scoop it up and brew it!

Additional Online Resources outside MUSCHealth.com:
(MedlinePlus, is an excellent source of health information from the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Health professionals and consumers alike can depend on it for information that is authoritative and up to date. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 650 diseases and conditions.)

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