OCTOBER 31, 2007Provided by RealAge.com

Say It Ain't So, Citrus

88% of users found this article helpful.
Think citrus soda is the way to go to avoid a caffeine buzz? Uh, maybe not.

Scientists recently examined the caffeine content of 56 national brands of soda, and some of the citrus fizzers were highest on the list.

Caffeine Countdown
We expect colas to contain caffeine. But orange soda? Seems it's decidedly so. (Caffeine's not the only thing in sodas to be wary of. Here's another downside.)

Here's a list of popular soft drinks and their recently researched caffeine content (per 12 ounces):
  • Vault Citrus (Coca-Cola) -- 70 milligrams*
  • Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) -- 55 milligrams*
  • Mello Yello (Coca-Cola) -- 49 milligrams*
  • Diet Coke (Coca-Cola) -- 46 milligrams
  • Dr. Pepper (Schweppes) -- 42 milligrams
  • Sunkist (Schweppes) -- 40 milligrams*
  • Pepsi (PepsiCo) -- 39 milligrams
  • Diet Pepsi (PepsiCo) -- 36 milligrams
  • Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola) -- 34 milligrams
*Citrus-flavored sodas

Pick-Me-Up Points
Caffeine helps perk you up, to be sure. It makes everything work just a little bit faster -- your heart, your brain, your digestion, even your kidneys. But there can be a downside to all that ramping up. Jittery nerves, nausea, perhaps even some irregular heartbeats, if you are caffeine sensitive. (Here are all the ways in which it might affect you.) Limit yourself to around 250 milligrams per day -- about the amount in two small cups of coffee.

Did You Know?
A little coffee could be good for you. Read up on the benefits of coffee.

RealAge Benefit: Actively patrolling your health can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger.

RealAge Smart Search: Get the latest news on caffeinated drinks with RealAge Smart Search.

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