Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drug. It is found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa, and other foods. An afternoon pick-me-up can come in many different forms, from a cup of coffee to a can of cola or even a glass of sparkling ice.
Although these drinks all have very different flavors and textures, they also have something else in common: They are all high in caffeine. The new Sparkling Ice + Caffeine Drink contains caffeine and is flying off of the shelves at grocery stores, gas stations, and local food shops. But exactly how much caffeine do the drinks contain? Sparkling Ice + Caffeine Drinks contain 70 mg of caffeine in each 16-oz can. And how does this compare to other caffeinated drinks? Let’s take a look.
Caffeine Content of Sparkling Ice + Caffeine
Sparkling Ice + Caffeine drinks contain 70 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. These flavorful, fizzy, and innovative drinks contain zero sugar, have zero carbs, and are perfect if you need a bit of a pick-me-up during the day or in the morning. They are the latest items to be added to the Sparkling brand’s portfolio and they are available in 16 oz. cans and in five flavor varieties.
And if you are wondering about the source of the caffeine, you’ll be happy to know that the caffeine is extracted from both coffee beans and green tea extract, and sucralose is used to sweeten the drinks. These drinks contain only 1% juice, which means that you don’t have to worry about adding extra calories if you have more than one a day.
Caffeine Content in Popular Drinks
| Drink | Caffeine Content |
| 1 cup of Coffee | 95 mg |
| Red Bull (8.2 oz) | 80 mg |
| Sparkling Ice + Caffeine | 70 mg |
| Mountain Dew 16-oz | 55 mg |
| 1 Espresso shot | 65 mg |
| Pepsi 16-oz | 55 mg |
| Diet Coke | 45.6 mg |
| 1 cup Black Tea | 47 mg |
| Snapple Flavored Teas | 31.5 mg |
| Diet Cherry Coke | 34.0 mg |
A Brief History of Caffeine
Our relationship with caffeine dates back thousands of years. Some researchers suggest that the earliest caffeinated beverage was brewed in the Arabian Peninsula around 6000 B.C.
This beverage was made from the leaves of a species of wild coffee. Caffeine receptors were discovered in the human body in the 1950s. Around this same time, scientists discovered that caffeine is the chemical that produces the effects in the human body that we associate with drinking coffee.
How Does Caffeine Work?
Caffeine can be consumed in a variety of ways – including in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, ice cream, and energy drinks. It can also be found in some common medications and supplements. Caffeine acts as a stimulant in the human body. It stimulates the central nervous system and increases the production of certain hormones.
This ultimately leads to an increase in the speed of your heart rate, the strength of your heart contractions, and the amount of oxygen and glucose in your blood. Caffeine also affects the brain, where it blocks the adenosine receptors that make us feel sleepy. When caffeine binds to these receptors, the brain doesn’t receive the signal that it’s time to rest. Caffeine is an addictive substance. It can be habit-forming, and it is possible to become dependent on it.
Potential Caffeine Benefits
Many people include caffeinated beverages and foods as part of their daily routine. But other than increasing energy levels, caffeine also has other notable benefits. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Helps You to Stay Awake
When you feel tired, caffeine can help you to stay more alert and awake. This is especially helpful if you’re prone to feeling drowsy while driving or sitting in a lecture.
Improves Athletic Performance
Some research suggests that caffeine can improve athletic performance. It’s important to note that the research was conducted on people who were not habitual coffee drinkers.
Helps You to Lose Weight
Drinking between two and four cups of coffee each day can help you to lose weight. This is because it increases the number of calories your body burns and increases your metabolism.
Helps You to Focus
Caffeine can help you to focus on what you’re doing, which is great for students and people who work in offices.
Potential Negative Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine affects the mind in a few different ways. But while popular for increasing focus and energy levels, it does have some downsides if you consume too much of it.
Anxiety
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it makes you feel more alert and awake. While this can be helpful if you’re feeling particularly drowsy, it can be problematic if you’re prone to anxiety. Consuming caffeine can up your heart rate and make you feel more anxious.
Memory Loss
As caffeine affects the part of your brain that creates new memories, it can cause you to forget things. Studies have found that consuming caffeine prior to learning can cause people to forget words they had just been introduced to and may even cause dementia.
Mood Swings
Those mood swings we mentioned above? They aren’t just temporary. Although consuming caffeine every once in a while might not cause you to become moody, drinking caffeine daily could make those swings more frequent.
Depression
Caffeine can actually make your depression worse. This is especially the case for people who already have severe depression. If you have mild depression, caffeine may help you feel a little bit better. However, if you have severe depression, consuming caffeine can worsen your symptoms.
In Conclusion
Caffeine is a stimulant (not a drug) that many people depend on to get through the day. Although it can give you a boost, too much can also lead to a decrease in your health. It’s important to keep this in mind when you’re consuming beverages such as the Sparking + Caffeine drinks.
You may also be interested in: How Much Caffeine in AHA Sparkling Water? What to Know!
