| Most experts recommend that we limit our caffeine | | | | lowest levels. |
| to 300-400 mg. a day...which is approximately 3 cups | | | | Here is an example of the range of caffeine in a cup |
| (not mugs) of coffee daily. But coffee is rarely | | | | of coffee, as reported by the coffee shops |
| served in 8 ounce cups (237ml) and not all coffee is | | | | themselves. |
| created equal. | | | | - Starbucks Grande: (16 oz): 320 mg. |
| According to the International Osteoporosis | | | | - Einstein Bros. regular coffee (16 oz.): 300 mg. |
| Foundation, 1 in 3 women over age 50 and 1 in 2 | | | | - Dunkin' Donuts regular coffee (16 oz.) 206 mg. |
| over age 60 will suffer a fracture due to | | | | - Tim Hortons medium coffee (14 oz): 140 mg. |
| osteoporosis. Men suffer at a reduced rate of 1 in 5 | | | | - Tim Hortons medium Icecap: 150 mg |
| over age 50...and 1 in 3 over age 60 will experience a | | | | Caffeine and osteoporosis is less of a concern for |
| fracture. | | | | those who restrict themselves to a single latte or |
| Calcium absorption into the bones is essential for | | | | espresso. |
| healthy bone renewal, but studies have shown that | | | | - Starbucks Vanilla Latte (Grande 16 oz): 150 mg. |
| caffeine increases calcium excretion from the body. | | | | - tarbucks Espresso (Solo 1 oz.): 75 mg. |
| Does that mean that excessive caffeine can cause | | | | Decaffeinated coffee is an even better choice for |
| osteoporosis? Research has been inconclusive in | | | | those concerned about caffeine and osteoporosis. It |
| creating a direct link between caffeine and | | | | is not just a better choice. It is a GREAT choice. |
| osteoporosis, perhaps because it is only one of many | | | | - Starbucks Decaffinated (Grande 16 oz): 16 mg. |
| risk factors associated with brittle bones. If you | | | | - Tim Hortons Decaffinated (medium 14 oz): 6 mg. |
| already have osteoporosis-or there is a strong history | | | | - Coffee, generic decaffeinated (16 oz.): 10 mg. |
| of osteoporosis or bone fractures in your family- it is | | | | Surprisingly, drinking regular instant coffee doesn't |
| best to reduce caffeine consumption as much as | | | | reduce caffeine significantly. A 16 ounce mug of |
| possible to prevent unnecessary bone loss. | | | | generic instant coffee averages 180 mg. of caffeine |
| When assessing whether caffeine and osteoporosis | | | | which is comparable to a medium coffee at Tim |
| might be a problem, it is important to see how much | | | | Hortons. Tea, on the other hand is a great choice. A |
| caffeine is currently in your diet. | | | | medium black tea contains approximately 50 mg. of |
| NORTH AMERICANS LOVE THEIR COFFEE! | | | | caffeine, while a chai tea or green tea contains only |
| Canadians have become the largest consumers of | | | | 20-25 mg. of caffeine. |
| coffee in North America. Almost two-thirds of | | | | So what should people concerned about caffeine and |
| Canadians report that they drink coffee every day... | | | | osteoporosis do to protect their bones? |
| and on average, 4.5 cups a day. In the United States, | | | | Decaffeinated coffee is the perfect choice for those |
| over 50% of adult Americans drink coffee every day | | | | who just can't give up their java. And treating |
| and the average is 3.1 cups of coffee per day. | | | | yourself to a latte will also help to reduce your |
| Experts advise us to limit our coffee to 3 cups (not | | | | caffeine at Starbucks...although a large mug of chai or |
| mugs) a day. But coffee shops have responded to | | | | green tea would be even better. |
| our love of coffee by creating even larger servings. | | | | It is also important to assess the total amount of |
| The popular 20 ounce jumbo cups at Starbucks or | | | | caffeine you are consuming. If you are drinking soft |
| Second Cup will deliver almost the maximum dose in | | | | drinks or energy drinks (which are laced with |
| a single serving. | | | | caffeine) you may be consuming a lot more caffeine |
| There is also a significant difference in the caffeine | | | | than you are getting solely through your coffee. The |
| content of various forms of coffee-which is a | | | | consumption of soft drinks and energy drinks by |
| concern for those interested in caffeine and | | | | teenagers is of particular concern because their |
| osteoporosis. So how do the coffee shops compare? | | | | bones are growing rapidly during this period and they |
| - The lowest amounts of caffeine are found in the | | | | are creating the foundation that must carry them |
| brands from JAVA Stop and Country Time. | | | | through the rest of their lives. |
| - There is approximately 25% more caffeine in | | | | So can we still have our java if we are at risk for |
| coffee from Timothy's and Tim Hortons | | | | osteoporosis? It is better to order a Decaf... just to |
| - Starbucks and Second Cup have almost double the | | | | be on the save side. |
| levels of caffeine in their coffee compared to the | | | | |