March is National Caffeine Awareness month! Caffeine has been safely consumed for thousands of years, yet there are many myths about this common substance. Caffeine is one of the most studied ingredients in the food supply and has been proven to be safe time and time again. Here are just some of the facts:

• Regardless of whether caffeine is added to a product such as energy drinks or naturally occurring, there is no chemical difference between the two whether consumed hot or cold. This means that drinking an energy drink would have the same effects as drinking coffee with comparable levels of caffeine.
• A typical 16-oz energy drink contains 160 mg of caffeine. This is about half the caffeine of a similar-sized cup of coffeehouse coffee, which typically has 330 mg of caffeine per 16-oz.
• Global consumption data has repeatedly shown that about 90% of consumers’ caffeine intake comes from coffee. Despite the popularity of energy drinks, overall caffeine intake has not increased since they entered the market.
• According to the Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada, caffeine consumption of up to 400 mg daily is not associated with adverse health effects for healthy adults. 

To learn more about caffeine and its safety, visit EnergyDrinkInformation.com.