How much caffeine is in that mug?

Posted on May 22, 2012 | 2 Comments

So yeah, I guess it’s turning into unofficial Caffeine Obsession Week over here. I should have figured going from a quart of black coffee a day to two bags of tea a day would be hard. At least the headaches and fogginess will drift away soon. Fortunately, I haven’t felt irritable or anything like that. In some ways, I’m a little more cheerful, since I’m not so jittery.

So far so good…

Sometimes patients ask about caffeine content in various kinds of beverages, so I wanted to share this nifty chart I found at the Center For Science in the Public Interest.

Coffees Service Size Caffeine (mg)
Coffee, generic brewed 8 oz. 133 (range: 102-200) (16 oz. = 266)
Starbucks Brewed Coffee (Grande) 16 oz. 320
Einstein Bros. regular coffee 16 oz. 300
Dunkin’ Donuts regular coffee 16 oz. 206
Starbucks Vanilla Latte (Grande) 16 oz. 150
Coffee, generic instant 8 oz. 93 (range: 27-173)
Coffee, generic decaffeinated 8 oz. 5 (range: 3-12)
Starbucks Espresso, doppio 2 oz. 150
Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Coffee Beverages, average 9.5 oz. 115
Starbucks Espresso, solo 1 oz. 75
Einstein Bros. Espresso 1 oz. 75
Espresso, generic 1 oz. 40 (range: 30-90)
Starbucks Espresso decaffeinated 1 oz. 4
Teas Service Size Caffeine (mg)
Tea, brewed 8 oz. 53 (range: 40-120)
Starbucks Tazo Chai Tea Latte (Grande) 16 oz. 100
Snapple, Lemon (and diet version) 16 oz. 42
Snapple, Peach (and diet version) 16 oz. 42
Snapple Raspberry (and diet version) 16 oz. 42
Arizona Iced Tea, black 16 oz. 32
Nestea 12 oz. 26
Snapple, Just Plain Unsweetened 16 oz. 18
Arizona Iced Tea, green 16 oz. 15
Snapple, Kiwi Teawi 16 oz. 10
Soft Drinks Service Size Caffeine (mg)
FDA official limit for cola and pepper soft drinks 12 oz. 71
Vault 12 oz. 71 (20 oz. = 118)
Jolt Cola 12 oz. 72
Mountain Dew MDX, regular or diet 12 oz. 71 (20 oz. = 118)
Coke Blak 12 oz. 69 (20 oz. = 115)
Coke Red, regular or diet 12 oz. 54 (20 oz. = 90)
Mountain Dew, regular or diet 12 oz. 54 (20 oz. = 90)
Pepsi One 12 oz. 54 (20 oz. = 90)
Mellow Yellow 12 oz. 53
Diet Coke 12 oz. 47 (20 oz. = 78)
Diet Coke Lime 12 oz. 47 (20 oz. = 78)
TAB 12 oz. 46.5
Pibb Xtra, Diet Mr. Pibb, Pibb Zero 12 oz. 41 (20 oz. = 68)
Dr. Pepper 12 oz. 42 (20 oz. = 68)
Dr. Pepper diet 12 oz. 44 (20 oz. = 68)
Pepsi 12 oz. 38 (20 oz. = 63)
Pepsi Lime, regular or Diet 12 oz. 38 (20 oz. = 63)
Pepsi Vanilla 12 oz. 37
Pepsi Twist 12 oz. 38 (20 oz. = 63)
Pepsi Wild Cherry, regular or diet 12 oz. 38 (20 oz. = 63)
Diet Pepsi 12 oz. 36 (20 oz. = 60)
Pepsi Twist, diet 12 oz. 36 (20 oz. = 60)
Coca-Cola Classic 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Coke Black Cherry Vanilla, regular or diet 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Coke C2 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Coke Cherry, regular or diet 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Coke Lime 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Coke Vanilla 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Coke Zero 12 oz. 35 (20 oz. = 58)
Barq’s Diet Root Beer 12 oz. 0
Barq’s Root Beer 12 oz. 22 (20 oz. = 38)
7-Up, regular or diet 12 oz. 0
Fanta, all flavors 12 oz. 0
Fresca, all flavors 12 oz. 0
Mug Root Beer, regular or diet 12 oz. 0
Sierra Mist, regular or free 12 oz. 0
Sprite, regular or diet 12 oz. 0
Energy Drinks Service Size Caffeine (mg)
Spike Shooter 8.4 oz. 300
Cocaine 8.4 oz. 288
Monster Energy 16 oz. 160
Full Throttle 16 oz. 144
Rip It, all varieties 8 oz. 100
Enviga 12 oz. 100
Tab Energy 10.5 oz. 95
SoBe No Fear 8 oz. 83
Red Bull 8.3 oz. 80
Red Bull Sugarfree 8.3 oz.. 80
Rockstar Energy Drink 8 oz. 80
SoBe Adrenaline Rush 8.3 oz. 79
Amp 8.4 oz. 74
Glaceau Vitamin Water Energy Tropical Citrus 20 oz. 50
SoBe Essential Energy, Berry or Orange 8 oz. 48
Frozen Desserts Service Size Caffeine (mg)
Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch 8 fl. oz. 84
Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Flavored Ice Cream 8 fl. oz. 68
Haagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream 8 fl. oz. 58
Haagen-Dazs Coffee Light Ice Cream 8 fl. oz. 58
Haagen-Dazs Coffee Frozen Yogurt 8 fl. oz. 58
Haagen-Dazs Coffee & Almond Crunch Bar 8 fl. oz. 58
Starbucks Coffee Ice Cream 8 fl. oz. 50-60
Chocolates/Candies/Other Service Size Caffeine (mg)
Jolt Caffeinated Gum 1 stick 33
Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Bar 1.45 oz. 31
Hershey’s Chocolate Bar 1.55 oz. 9
Hershey’s Kisses 41g (9 pieces) 9
Hot Cocoa 8 oz. 9 (range: 3-13)
Over-The-Counter Drugs Service Size Caffeine (mg)
NoDoz (Maximum Strength) 1 tablet 200
Vivarin 1 tablet 200
Excedrin (Extra Strength) 2 tablets 130
Anacin (Maximum Strength) 2 tablets 64

How much caffeine do you drink in a day?

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Recovery Time

Posted on May 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Yesterday was a really nice day. After working on a fun project with some lovely folks in the morning, I spent the afternoon running errands and alternating between napping and pretending to work.

I think I underestimated the effects of caffeine withdrawal. Either that or I’m fighting something off. Nothing a little turmeric tea can’t fix. 

Of course, sparkling wine enjoyed in front of an open window helps too. Early Saturday evening, my friend JR and I grabbed a drink at Wine Escape, a cute little Hells Kitchen wine bar. Go figure I didn’t get around to checking this place out until finding out I’m moving. So it goes. I still have a month and change before it’s time to pack up and head to a new neighborhood.

sparkling pinot noir—why not?

After that I ventured to the east 30′s for a friend’s birthday dinner at Hummus Kitchen. I’d walked by the one in Hells Kitchen a zillion times, so it was funny to finally get around to going to a location in another part of town. I couldn’t decide what I wanted, so I ended up ordering a mazze trio: falafel, salad and roasted cauliflower with green tahini. It was fun to catch up over a meal—normally it’s just rushed conversation at the hospital.

pardon the crappy photo-it was dark

We ended up staying at the restaurant until close to 11. Had my voice been working properly, I’d probably have joined the karaoke party, but my throat was so scratchy it hurt to talk and my eyes were beginning to close.

I feel like maybe I just needed some extra “recovery time” this weekend. Some really big, important stuff happened in the past week (home situation, work stuff, etc), and it’s like my body was just holding on to get through the crazy part. Now that I’m not trying to outrun the fatigue, part of catching my breath involves acknowledging that tiredness. I have to go into action mode soon, but for at least the next few days, I plan to enjoy the downtime and that peaceful feeling of knowing I’m on the right path.

When do you seem to need the most “recovery” time? 

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Winds of Change

Posted on May 19, 2012 | 4 Comments

ImageA conversation at work yesterday reminded me that this time last year, I was a devoted tea drinker. It wasn’t until this fall, when I got my first coffee maker in years, that I got back into the morning coffee habit. Unfortunately, my body reacts a little differently to it now than it did when I was in my early twenties.

Yesterday I had one of those “click” moments when being made aware of how much tension I really do store in my upper back.  How did that get there?

With tomorrow’s solar eclipse already working its magic, it feels like the right time to make a change, however small. So starting with today, I’m going back to drinking green tea in the morning. I think I’ll like it. I certainly didn’t miss the black-coffee jitters before, and I don’t think I’ll miss them now.

So yeah. When I spoke a few weeks ago about 2012 being the beginning of that “whole other ball game,” I didn’t even realize how true that was going to turn out to be. Long story short, it’s all good. For right now, I’m just relaxed and paying attention.

How does caffeine affect you? Do you prefer tea or coffee? 

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Congratulations!

Posted on May 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Last night, my sister graduated from social work school. I’m so proud of her and know she’s going to be fantastic at whatever she decides to do. Here’s a photo of mom & dad with the grad. Image

In other news, I’m glad it’s Friday. This week has been a whirlwind!

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Mario Batali Tries the Food Stamp Diet

Posted on May 17, 2012 | 6 Comments

…And for his next trick, chef Mario Batali, along with his wife and two teenage sons, is attempting to live on food stamps for a week in protest of potential cuts pending in Congress that could affect the 46 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits to obtain food.

At about $31 per person per month, he’s making the $1.48 per person meal budget work by forgoing organic foods and turning to lentils, cheaper cuts of meat, and lots of peanut butter and jelly for the kids. When asked how it’s going, Batali, who is on the board of the food relief agency Food Bank for New York City, says he’s “$#&@#!! starving.”

At least he’s being honest. As described in this Washington Post article, the Food Bank for New York City issued the challenge to celebrities such as Batali and others eager to pull a publicity stunt give this ”conversation starter” a go.

While it makes me roll my eyes a bit, at least Batali’s rolling his eyes at himself a little too. He adds, “We, hopefully, aren’t pretending or being like a bunch of yuppies saying, `Oh yeah, this is how you can do it. Look, we can grind our own oats!’ We want people to think about calling and talking to their representation about cuts to the Farm Bill and the food stamp program.”

Cynic I am, I still hope Mr. Batali gets something meaningful out of this exercise.

For one of my nutrition courses a few years ago, we had to do something similar for a week and keep track of how much our food cost us. I remember it being doable but tricky. Yes, there was a lot of peanut butter involved, and a lot of homemade soup. Not that that’s is so hugely different from my typical fare (especially these days), but it was certainly a valuable learning experience.

Do you follow a particular food budget? How do you make it work for you? 

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What I Ate Wednesday #58

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 5 Comments

Another week, another Wednesday. You know what that means…another What I Ate Wednesday. As always, thanks to Jenn of Peas & Crayons for hosting the link party! Visit her site to see more WIAW from other bloggers. 

I’m someone who can always make time to eat, but for some reason, lately it’s really easy for me to get absorbed in what I’m doing and not realize I’m hungry until I’ve reached that point of no return. Any notes I attempt to write in that half-hour before lunch, I can pretty much guarantee I’ll have to revise them after. But then I eat and it’s all good. Overall, I have a lot more energy this go-around thanks to a kinder schedule. This 8-4 really works for me.

Monday was kind of a weird day but here goes…

Breakfast: Made-ahead steel-cut oats w/ apple, dried apricot, chia & flax and spices, topped with PB and applesauce 

Lunch: A pretty weak cafeteria salad. Later, I had an orange. Meh. 

Dinner: A “what’s still good in the fridge” concoction of spaghetti squash, lentils, veggies, and goat cheese. Seriously, it was like a page out of a clean-eating stoner-food cookbook. So freaking random. But delicious.

Recycled pic thanks to a camera mess-up, but you get the idea

Snack: Yogurt with cereal, banana and berries

Do you ever forget to eat? What’s the best thing you’ve had recently? 

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Another Monday Breakfast Post

Posted on May 14, 2012 | 2 Comments

Yesterday was lovely—I didn’t even know my aunt had a pool, but she does, and it was open, and it was so nice to sit in the sun (wearing sunscreen, of course) and dip my feet in the water. There was plenty of good food, lots to talk about, and most importantly, my mom seemed to have a good time.

me & my beautiful madre

And now it’s back to the Monday grind. I have to say, though, I actually look forward to going in every day for this rotation. That’s not to say my body doesn’t need a little fuel to get going. Making breakfast ahead of time has been a sanity-saver the past few months. This morning I got to enjoy steel cut oats with chia seeds, flax, chopped apple and lots of cinnamon, ginger and cloves, topped with apple sauce and peanut butter. Great way to start the week.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? 

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