Caffeine
caffeine, caffeine anhydrous, anhydrous caffeine, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, theine, guaranine, cafeína, teína, guaranina
What it is
Caffeine is a stimulant of the nervous system. It is naturally present in coffee, tea, guarana and other plants, and it is also added to energy drinks, soft drinks and some foods. The theine in tea and the guaranine in guarana are the same substance under another name. It temporarily increases alertness, reduces the feeling of tiredness, and delays and shortens sleep, especially when taken in the afternoon or evening.
Why BOTIA flags it
In children and adolescents the safe limit is much lower, because it is worked out per kilo of body weight rather than per person. WHO recommends reducing intake during pregnancy above 300 mg a day, because a high intake is associated with pregnancy loss and low birth weight. And in perimenopause and postmenopause, higher intake was associated with more bother from hot flushes.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect caffeine and common explicit ingredient names such as caffeine anhydrous when they appear in the ingredient list.
- Explain how caffeine affects sleep and alertness, and show the Woman information layer.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Calculate total caffeine from the ingredient list when the amount is not declared there.
- Infer the exact caffeine dose from coffee, tea, guarana, cocoa or another caffeine-containing ingredient.