Caffeine consumption is a daily occurrence for many people around the world. From the morning cup of coffee to tall glasses of iced tea for lunch and chocolate desserts after dinner, most of us have no idea how much caffeine we ingest each day. Here is some information about the use of caffeine that will help to put the average consumption into perspective.
The daily intake of caffeine varies somewhat from one country to the next. Much of this variance has to do with the rate of coffee and tea consumption within a given location. For example, coffee is easily the single most popular caffeinated beverage among adults in many parts of the world. This accounts largely for how much caffeine is consumed on a daily basis by adults in the United States and Canada. In those two countries, the average consumption per adult is just under 250 mg. However, these figures pale in comparison to reports from Sweden and Finland, where the average daily caffeine intake of caffeine is cited as being in the range of 400 mg for adults over the age of twenty-one. In all instances, coffee is cited as the main source of this daily intake of caffeine.
In other countries, coffee slips down the ladder as the main source of caffeine. In the United Kingdom and many other areas formerly in the British empire, tea is the beverage of choice and provides the major source for daily consumption of caffeine. Some studies indicate that the average caffeine intake for citizens of the UK is in the 300 mg range. While tea accounts for most of the presence of caffeine in the daily diet, coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate treats are gaining ground.
For children, it is often estimated that in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom that soft drinks and sweets account for the main sources of caffeine in the diet. The breakdown of how much caffeine children consume on average is usually in the range of 150 to 200 mg per day. Along with soft drinks and sweets, other beverages such as sports drinks appear to be driving up the daily average of how much caffeine our children are taking in each and every day.
Some experts feel this is a clear indication of widespread caffeine addiction in our society. While many stimulants are recognized as being addictive, many people think little or nothing about caffeine. The average person gets the best effects from about 50 to 300 mg of caffeine, though this varies from person to person. Being aware of how much caffeine surrounds us and choosing to limit our daily intake is the first step toward avoiding a potentially addictive situation, while still being able to enjoy all the foods and drinks we love.
