Caffeine: The good, the bad and the healthy

[TexasStooge]

By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA ABC 8

Nine out of ten Americans consume it every day. It's in soda, soap, mints, hot sauce, mochas and hot chocolate. Caffeine is the most popular drug in the world.

For weight loss, Clay Studtman drinks a super coffee called Javafit—with double the caffeine. "In the last 4 weeks, I've lost about 17 pounds."

So what does caffeine do?

Research shows it increases blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. It can worsen seizures and strokes.

UT Southwestern's Dr. Robert Greene has been studying caffeine's effects on the body for 20 years, and he's still drinking it.

"I don't have seizures. I'm not expecting a stroke. My heart's in good shape. I know that if I have a cup of coffee which I enjoy very much, that I'm going to be much more alert," he says.

In fact, Dr. Greene says caffeine can be quite medicinal - research even links it to Parkinson's prevention.

Chris Weber has been told to avoid caffeine because it can trigger migraines.

"But when I get a migraine, I'm supposed to have caffeine. So it's a little crazy."

Caffeine is found in many headache remedies.

And while Clay Studtman thinks his Javafit coffee helps him stay trim, Dr. Greene says caffeine actually shifts metabolism from fat burning to fat storing.

So is caffeine good or bad?

Absolutely.

[george_r_1961]

After years of drinking 15-20 cups of coffee a day Ive cut back to one large cup before work.

[southerngale]

Usually just one large mug of coffee per day, sometimes more. But I drink Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke throughout the day.

[arkess7]

I am a soda freak.........preferably Pepsi or Mountain Dew.....and I know Dew has the most caffeine than any soda....but i try to limit myself to 1 or 2 a day.......I go through my phases.......It's about that time to start slamming the water again and only allow myself one soda a day!!!! But I do drink alot of water too......but I need to drink more of it than soda and tea.

[Scorpion]

I am not much into caffeine, only drink it very occasionally maybe once a week at most.

[breeze]

I drink one 8 oz. mug of coffee, in the morning, then, drink
at least two 20 oz. Diet Pepsi colas, during the day. That's
48 oz. of caffeine per day, average. But, I also drink at
least a liter of water a day, as well.

[gtalum]

It's milligrams.

8 ounces of different products might have different amounts of caffeine in them.

That said, I drink 2 or 3 20 ounce bottles of Diet Mountian Dew every day.

[Yankeegirl]

I work at Starbucks, what do you all think?????