Caffeine is a bitter white substance found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans and kola nuts. It is the most widely-used and accepted drug in Canada. Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up the central nervous system.

Coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, and some cola drinks contain caffeine. It is also an ingredient in over-the-counter stay wake pills and in certain headache and cold medicines.

The following are typical doses of caffeine in products you may use.

	cup of brewed coffee 74 mg
	cup of decaffeinated coffee 1 mg
	cup of tea 27mg
	soft drink containing caffeine 35 mg Graphic (e.g., bar graph)
	chocolate bar 20 mg
	cup of hot cocoa 20 mg
	headache and cold pill 40 mg
	stay awake pills 175 mg

About nine out of ten Canadian adults consume caffeine, mainly in the form of coffee and tea. For many of us, these beverages not only help satisfy our need for liquids, they have also become associated with certain activities and times of the day. They may signal a time to relax or mark the end of a satisfying meal.

Too much caffeine can give you a headache, upset your stomach, make you nervous and leave you unable to sleep. Some people feel these effects from fairly small amounts of caffeine.

Small amounts of caffeine have a greater effect on children because of their body size, so it is a good idea to limit the amount of caffeine consumed in chocolate products and soft drinks. Moderate amounts of caffeine, the equivalent to 3 – 4 cups of coffee will rarely harm a healthy adult. Caffeine is quickly absorbed and then passed through your body.