Not Everything Is Coffee: What Other Sources Of Caffeine Exist

Although we can refer to it by other names depending on the plant from which it is extracted, the truth is that caffeine is present in more products of which we believe. We tell you what they are.

Are you one of those people who cannot conceive of their life without one (or several) cup of coffee? Is there a before and after in your day after enjoying an espresso or a cappuccino? So, surely you have read or heard good and bad things about your favorite drink.

However, if in addition to its pleasant taste, you resort to it to avoid drowsiness and stay active, you should know that there are other sources of caffeine that you could include in your daily routine. In this article we tell you what they are. Take note!

What is known about caffeine?

There are many people who depend on coffee to avoid fatigue and improve alertness. These effects occur in the body due to caffeine, an alkaloid with the ability to act as a stimulant of the central nervous system.

This substance, consumed for thousands of years, was discovered by a German chemist named Friedrich Ferdinand Runge in 1819, according to a publication in the journal Addictions. Although it was baptized under the name of caffeine, it also receives other names: theine, guaranine and mateine, depending on the plant from which it is extracted (tea, guarana or mate, respectively).

As for the recommended amount, while the effects vary from person to person, a Mayo Clinic article notes that taking up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day is generally safe. However, you should avoid mixing it with other stimulant substances, such as alcohol.

On the other hand, during pregnancy, it is recommended not to ingest more than 200 mg of caffeine per day. For example, a cup of latte in the morning and a small chocolate bar in the afternoon would be almost enough. When the baby is born and is being breastfed, the amount does not change, since this is one of the substances that can be passed to the child through milk.

What other sources of caffeine are there?

If you have decided to stop drinking coffee because you are tired of its taste or simply because you want to try new things, you should know that there are other foods that contain caffeine. The first thing to keep in mind is that the amount varies depending on the drink you choose, especially if you opt for energizers.

To know this detail, it is best to review the ingredients of each one. As we mentioned, the ideal is to consume less than 400 (ml) a day to avoid adverse effects. Next, we will tell you in detail what other sources of caffeine exist.

Green Tea

In addition to being one of the most popular digestive drinks, green tea is also characterized by having a stimulating effect on the body, although its level of caffeine is lower than that of coffee. According to a publication of the US Food and Drug Administration , a cup (230 ml) of green or black tea has between 30 and 50 milligrams of this alkaloid.

Guarana

Guarana is a fruit of the Paullinia cupana bush , native to the Amazon, and is one of the main ingredients in energy drinks. According to research published in Plos One magazine , this product, depending on its preparation, contains approximately four times the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans.

However, if you choose this alternative to be more alert, you should bear in mind that its consumption in soda mode can contain a lot of sugar. Therefore, a good option to avoid calorie intake is to ingest it through vitamin supplements.

Dark chocolate

You’ve probably heard that chocolate can help improve your body’s mood and energy levels. This is because cocoa, according to a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology , in addition to caffeine (19 mg), also contains theobromine (250 mg), a bitter-tasting alkaloid from the cocoa tree.

In relation to this, an article in Psychology and Behavior points out that caffeine could have effects on mood and blood pressure, while theobromine acts mainly through physiological changes.

Can there be adverse effects from consuming caffeine?

At recommended doses, caffeine is generally safe. This means that there are no side effects that affect health. However, it is recommended that pregnant or lactating women, as well as people sensitive to this alkaloid, consult the consumption limits as the case may be. Don’t forget that health always comes first.