The Perks of Caffein.

“Look beyond the buzz.. caffeine in moderation may provide some health benefits too  ..”

 Talk about happy trends. More and more yum-ola foods that used to be considered bad news are turning out to be good for you. First it was wine. Then olive oil. Chocolate. Guacamole. And now coffee. (Hey, can ice cream be far behind?!)

What restored coffee’s reputation? Caffeine. After years of being viewed with suspicion, caffeine has pulled a scientific switcheroo. Besides helping students pull all-nighters and weekend warriors jumpstart their jump shots, there’s now evidence that it defends against diabetes, Parkinson’s, asthma symptoms, post-workout soreness, and even hunger pangs. Cool.

It’s not totally benign, of course - is anything? So the real age  experts advise limiting yourself to about 250 mg a day (the average cup of joe has about 100 mg) to avoid jitters and a possible boost in blood pressure. But few labels list caffeine content, so stick this on the fridge. It covers the caffeine sources generating the most buzz, plus some timeless favorites.

DIET COKE            Everybody’s default diet drink
THE CAFFEINE FIX   45 mg
THE CALORIES        0
THE OTHER STUFF   A lot of flavorings and colorings,
                            not much else-call it caffeine lite

WATER JOE           For the purist: plain H2O with a jolt
THE CAFFEINE FIX   60 mg 16.9-ounce bottle
THE CALORIES        0
THE OTHER STUFF   Artesian water and caffeine—that’s it. 
                           No additives, no carbonation

RED BULL              The energy drink that started it all
THE CAFFEINE FIX   80 mg per 8-ounce can
THE CALORIES        110
THE OTHER STUFF   Has taurine, a “detox,” amino acid; 
                            B vitamins; loads of sugar—so beware
                            the crash after the rush

TAB ENERGY          A revved-up version of old Tab cola
THE CAFFEINE FIX   95 mg per 10.5-ounce can
THE CALORIES        5
THE OTHER STUFF   Sweet and pink, it’s spiked with ginseng
                            and guarana, a mild caffeine-like stimulant

ENVIGA                Controversial new green tea drink
THE CAFFEINE FIX   100 mg per 12-ounce can
THE CALORIES        5
THE OTHER STUFF   Laced with 200 mg of calcium and
                           green tea antioxidants but in trouble for
                           claiming that it makes the body burn up
                           extra calories

ROCKET
CHOCOLATES       Candy with more zip than a cup of joe
THE CAFFEINE FIX  150 mg per piece
THE CALORIES       70
THE OTHER STUFF  Comes in trendy flavors like mocha latte;
                           individually wrapped so you can stash in
                           a pocket—but can you eat just one?

FUSION ENERGY   7/Eleven’s new-ish “functional” brew
THE CAFFEINE FIX  250 mg per 12-ounce cup
THE CALORIES       0
THE OTHER STUFF  Freshly-ground coffee brewed with an
                          alertness-boosting blend of ginseng,
                          guarana, and yerba mate

STARBUCKS          Coffee, just coffee
THE CAFFEINE FIX  280 or so per 12-ounce cup
THE CALORIES       0
THE OTHER STUFF  Starbucks coffee averages twice the
                           caffeine of a regular 8-ounce cup of java,
                           but the hit can vary wildly-in one study,
                           by 200 mg on different days

SPIKE SHOOTER    Heavy-hitter energy drink
THE CAFFEINE FIX  300 mg per 8.4-ounce can
THE CALORIES       0
THE OTHER STUFF  Spiked with tyrosine, yohimbine, and 
                           a huge dose of vitamin B12; label warns
                           you not to drink more than 1 a day