Firstly I suppose the question to ask is do you really have a caffeine allergy? Most human bodies are not naturally made to deal with having caffeine in its system – it is a drug of sorts which gives heightened senses and awareness, alertness and wakes you up. Unfortunately, the down side of this is that caffeine is addictive and can produce jittery feelings, panic attacks, dehydration, headaches, stomach aches and insomnia. Most human beings are caffeine intolerant in some form or another and should avoid drinking any caffeinated drinks frequently.

Possible Symptoms and Reactions to Caffeine

A caffeine allergy however is much more severe and can result in high blood pressure, rashes on the body, swelling of the face and lips, dizziness, difficulty breathing and even seizures. Allergies can come on at any time and during any part of your life – and they can also leave the body as well so someone who once was completely allergic to nuts may find that they one day are not. Some people have allergies from birth whilst others may get them later in life and for short periods of time in their life. Reactions vary per person and symptoms can get worse or better. Some people merely have mild caffeine allergies which may produce thirstiness, itchy throat and mouth, or minor swelling in the neck or throat – this can go unnoticed.

For people with a caffeine allergy, caffeine should be avoided at all costs as coming into contact with it as ingesting caffeine could result in hospitalization. Unfortunately this is easier said than done as caffeine can be found in a number of drinks and food items – not just in coffee!

• Tea/Coffee

• Cappuccino/Latte/Mocha Coffees

• Many types of fizzy drinks

• Some alcoholic beverages

• Energy drinks

• Energy chews

• Chocolate bars

• Some sweets

• Some cakes

For those with any reactions to caffeine the only answer is to avoid it in favour of something kinder to your body.

What to do if you have an allergic reaction

If you have an attack as a result of having any form of caffeine and you feel worried about your symptoms do not hesitate to go to see your GP or doctor. If symptoms are really bad such as restricted breathing or seizures then get someone to ring an ambulance or go straight to the emergency room – do not ever underestimate the impact of a serious allergic reaction.

What can I drink if I’m allergic to caffeine?

Instead of drinking caffeinated warm drinks replace your daily hot drink with fruit or herbal teas (ensuring that they are caffeine free), lemon juice and hot water (this is also great if for detoxing the liver), hot chocolate or if you must have that coffee taste you can now find soy coffee or decaffeinated coffees. Decaffeinated coffee does not necessarily always guarantee that they are completely caffeine free so be careful with these! So if you do suffer with a caffeine allergy the best thing you can do when shopping is check all packaging and if you’re not completely sure that caffeine is in a product, simply avoid it completely!