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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Caffeine >>  Caffeine and Women

Caffeine and Women

People are consuming caffeine and caffeinated beverages since years, but its effects especially on a women health are studied carefully. Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa, cola nuts and seeds and fruits of more than 63 plant species world wide. Depending on the amount type of the product, serving size and preparation method, the amount of coffee in food product would vary.  There are many other foods and beverages besides coffee that provide substantial amounts of caffeine these include soda, carbonated beverages, cold drinks, caffeinated soft drinks, chocolates, coffee ice creams, tea, iced tea, hot cocoa and also used in some medicines.

Effect of caffeine on women

  1. Caffeine and fertility - Caffeine containing foods and beverages are often consumed with a word of caution during pregnancy. Although moderate caffeine consumption does not cause infertility in women nor does delay the time of conception, high doses should be avoided in women who is planning to conceive.
  2. Caffeine and pregnancy - Moderate caffeine consumption was studied in women along with considering other factors like smoking, alcohol, maternal age and nausea.
    The findings did not prove any relationship between caffeine and adverse pregnancy outcomes including childbirth, miscarriages, early birth, birth defects or low birth weight. Though a moderate amount of caffeine is absolutely fine in pregnancy, it is advisable to drink lots of water with caffeine (due to its diuretic effect) and also include other beverages in a day besides coffee.
  3. Caffeine and breast feeding - Caffeine when consumed in moderate amounts has no effect on breast feeding. Although caffeine tends to permeate into breast milk, 300 mg of caffeine can be safely consumed by lactating mothers without passing significant amount of caffeine to the baby that can cause any problem.
  4. Currently there is no scientific evidence to prove the relation between caffeine consumption and benign tumors in breast, fibrocystic breast disease or breast tenderness.
  5. There is also no association proved between caffeine consumption and development of any kind of cancer including ovarian cancer.
  6. Caffeine intake is often related to urinary calcium excretion (small amounts), it is suspected as a risk factor for osteoporosis; however studies prove that adequate calcium consumption in adolescent years may offset the potential effect on bone density.
Studies prove no relationship between caffeine consumption and incidence of heart disease, irregular heart beat or high blood pressure, in fact one study found that coffee may actually protect against heart disease.

Although there are no noted side effects of caffeine consumption, moderation should be the key. Anything when done in excess (including caffeine consumption); will make a person pay price for it now or later.
Submitted on January 16, 2014