Branum AM, et al. Trends in caffeine intake among US children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2014; doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2877. When cocoa beans are liquefied, the resulting liquid contains cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Both are used to make chocolate, although the amounts differ based upon the type of chocolate. Caffeine is found in cocoa solids, but not in cocoa butter. Fruit juice is sweet already, but fruit juice drinks usually have sugar added to them as well. Before you choose a juice, have a look at the ingredients list to see if sugar has been added. The term “juice drink” is often a clue that sugar has been added, while “pure juice” means that sugar hasn’t been added. Bordeaux B. Benefits and risks of caffeine and caffeinated beverages. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 16, 2022.

Tropical fruit juice drinks (such as mango or lychee) or drinks made from cranberries, raspberries or cherries are often the ones to watch for. If you like these drinks, look for no-added-sugar versions, though bear in mind they will still contain fruit juice and therefore sugar. Sugar, syrups, whole milk and cream add calories and saturated fat that could cause weight gain and increase cholesterol levels A 2014 review study found that along with drinking regular coffee, drinking decaf coffee may reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes ( 7). Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and find that it can be associated with palpitations.If this is you, it’s worth limiting the amount you drink, or you could try a decaffeinated version or a caffeine-free alternative like herbal teas (without added sugar or honey). Children and young people are also likely to be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine too. Pregnant women are advised to limit the amount of caffeine they have to 200 milligrams (mg) a day. This is about the same as two mugs of instant coffee.One cup (240 mL) of decaf coffee contains 1–50 mg of caffeine, depending on the brand and serving size. That’s less than half the amount of caffeine in a regular cup. These side effects include heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and increased blood pressure and heart rate ( 1). It’s probably more important to think about how you take your coffee. Sugar, syrups, whole milk and cream add calories and saturated fat that could cause weight gain and increase cholesterol levels. Is drinking tea and coffee bad for my heart? And how much caffeine is too much? BHF dietitian Victoria Taylor says:

Here’s about how much caffeine you’ll find in 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of different types of chocolate ( 10): Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines. Accessed Feb. 1, 2020.

Caffeine enhances athletic performance. For this reason, caffeinated chewing gums, along with other sources of caffeine, are on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) banned substances list for athletes. You can usually determine the amount of caffeine in chocolate by how dark it is. The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa solids it contains. This increases the amount of caffeine it has per ounce. Since white chocolate contains only cocoa butter and no cocoa solids, it has zero caffeine. While these drinks are unlikely to ever be a healthy option, you can ask for changes to cut down on the calories, saturated fat and sugar. Ask for drinks to be made with low-fat milk and sugar-free syrups and avoid marshmallows on top. Keep whipped cream on top for an occasional treat and ask for a small amount rather than the regular serving. Fruit-flavoured fizzy drinks like lemonade and fizzy orange are slightly better choices than cola, but not ideal as your regular drink. The combination of sugar and acid can damage your teeth, and over time, excess calories from a high-sugar diet can lead to weight gain.

Tonic water gets its bitter flavour from quinine. This has been found to interact with some medications, including digoxinand warfarin, and has also been linked with irregular heart rhythmswhen prescribed as a medication. Freak shakes can come in at over 1,000 calories – more than half of what you need for an entire day Many coffee shops now do “iced” versions of these drinks, but bear in mind that these won’t be any lower in fat and calories. Although there’s not much to choose between this category and the last category, ice-cream milkshakes come out as worst in our list thanks to the combination of sugar and fat. Thomas JB, et al. (2004). Determination of caffeine,theobromine, and theophylline in standard reference material 2384, baking chocolate,using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. DOI:

4. Fruit juice (150mls)

When non-users consumed caffeine, they felt more awake but jittery. Unfortunately their attention and mental alertness did not improve. Energy drinks come with a price premium due to their added ingredients such as taurine and guarana, as well as caffeine.