The Final Word on Caffeine

A moderate caffeine habit -- about three cups of coffee a day -- is fine for your health.

Maureen Callahan

In the annals of food ingredients, caffeine might just take the prize for the most medically scrutinized chemical. Linked to everything from cancer to heart disease to infertility at one time or another, the mild stimulant has followed a roller-coaster ride in scientific literature. One minute it's touted as a weight-loss aid, memory booster, and hedge against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The next it's flogged for raising blood pressure, acting as a carcinogen, and weakening bones.

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