Slushies and Icees represent a typical summer day. Even though the scorching summer brings monotonous days with itself, they all are filled with fun and relaxation.
Even the most boring days can be sprinkled with a spontaneous light-heartedness by grabbing one of your favorite flavored Icees for the day and letting your mind drift away. The joy of holding onto your giant cup of icees and being in the moment is inexplicable.
Of all the different flavored Icees, a Coke Icee has to be the most delicious and everyone’s favorite. But, most people wonder if a Coke Icee contains caffeine. Well, the majority of Icee flavors tend to be caffeine-free. Still, some specific flavors contain some amount of caffeine. A Coke Icee may have a small amount of caffeine in it as it is made from Coca-Cola, which has caffeine in it.
Do Coke Icees Have Caffeine?
Roughly speaking, an 8 oz. of Coke Icee will contain about 15 mg of caffeine. The majority of Icee flavors tend to be free of caffeine, although a few have some caffeine in them. In general, if the soda flavor that is being replicated within the Icee has caffeine, the Icee variety will also have some amount of caffeine in it.
Icees are basically slushy-type drinks made from frozen carbonated beverages. They’re available in a vast range of sodas and fruit flavors, including Coke. Coke Icees are made from carbonated Coca-Cola, which does contain caffeine. Hence, a Coke Icee will also have some amount of caffeine in it.
Where Can You Get A Coke Icee?
The Icee Company has more than 75,000 Icee machines spread across the entire United States of America, serving more than 300 million Icee servings every year. A Coke Icee is one of the most popular flavors, and it can be found in many places.
Restaurants like Burger King and big stores like Sam’s Club in the United States sell both assorted flavored Icees and Icee Floats. Coke Icees are available at various places such as Wawa, Target, Subway, and McDonald’s restaurants inside Walmart Stores.
In addition, they can be found department stores and convenience stores such as Walmart and Sears, and movie theatres. When you purchase an Icee from a movie theatre or convenience store, it is made in a patented machine. This machine keeps the liquid at a balanced cold temperature in an ice liquid form and doesn’t freeze it entirely.
What Is Included in a Coke ICEE?
Here are the ingredients included in a Coke Icee:
- Carbonated Water
- Caffeine
- Caramel Color
- Yucca Extract
- Quillaia Extract
- Phosphoric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
Is Coke Icees Unhealthy?
A regular cup of ICEE has very little to contribute in the way of essential nutrients. The overload of sugar is the most significant drawback to this icy cold and delicious treat. If you consume sugar in excess amounts, you will develop a tendency to gain too much unhealthy weight. This can lead to obesity at a very young age.
As per a 2002 article published in a journal from the American Heart Association called “Circulation,” you can be prone to several heart diseases if you consume excessive sugar regularly. Sugar raises your triglycerides, which is the biggest reason that can put you at a higher risk for heart problems.
Too much sugar leaves very little room for nutrient-rich foods in your diet. As a result, it can leave you lacking in the essential minerals and vitamins your body needs. Moreover, consuming too much sugar is also one of the most significant factors that lead to tooth decay.
So, even though your favorite Coke Icee may not be unhealthy and bad for you in terms of too much caffeine, it certainly is unhealthy because of the high amount of sugar it contains.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is found in numerous natural sources, including cacao beans, coffee beans, and several leaves and herbs used to make tea. A small amount of caffeine can be found in some of the most unexpected places, such as natural supplements, pain relievers, and chocolate.
Caffeine is basically a stimulant that acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Our bodies naturally produce a substance called adenosine, which causes us to feel sleepy. On the other hand, caffeine works as an adenosine blocker and blocks it to keep you from feeling sleepy.
This helps people who consume caffeine to stay awake, more alert, and have more energy to do things. The reality of caffeine is that its impact mainly depends on what your body needs and who you are as a person.
No two individuals will react to caffeine in the same way. Hence, its effect varies from person to person. Therefore, while caffeine may be a healthy substance to incorporate into a diet and consume in moderation for some people, it could practically do more harm than good or have zero effect on others.
Why Is Caffeine Such A Concern?
Approximately 80% of the entire population of the world tends to relish some kind of caffeinated product every day to kick-start their day. Most people commence their day with a lightly caffeinated tea or a strong cup of coffee. In contrast, others like to drink energy drinks or fizzy sodas throughout the day.
No matter how you consume it, caffeine stimulates your body and mind. It helps you get moving when you are exhausted. Unfortunately, there have been way too many conflicting messages regarding whether caffeine is actually good for your health or not.
However, after looking at the facts, you can decide for yourself how much caffeine you would like to include in your diet on a daily basis.
Is Caffeine Good or Bad For You?
The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) state that 400mg/daily is a safe caffeine intake. This breaks down to 3 mg/kg (1.4 mg per pound) of body weight or 200 mg per single dose.
Due to its stimulating effects, caffeine is connected to several health benefits such as elevated mood, increased alertness, enhanced metabolism, and improved athletic performance. However, consumption of caffeine in high amounts, like in a single dose of more than 500 mg, is bound to raise a lot of concerns.
In more significant doses, caffeine tends to be associated with difficulty sleeping and feelings of restlessness and anxiety. Moreover, a few studies discovered that drinking caffeine regularly, even in moderate amounts, could result in migraines and chronic headaches.
Finally, caffeine is deemed mildly addictive, and many people might be more prone to becoming dependent on it on a daily basis.
Hence, while caffeine itself may not be as harmful as we think it to be, overconsumption of caffeine is definitely going to raise some concerns. Luckily, a Coke Icee only has about 15 mg of caffeine, which is well under the limit of safe caffeine intake.
Recommended Dosages of Caffeine
The recommended dosage of caffeine as per EFSA and USDA considers safe caffeine intake to be 400 mg daily, which amounts to 2 to 4 cups of coffee every day. It is advised to limit the caffeine amount you take at a time to 200 mg per single dose.
If you consume over 400 mg of caffeine in a single dose, it can result in serious problems. Some fatal overdoses have also been reported over-consuming high amounts of caffeine, such as 500 mg in one dose. On the other hand, if you are pregnant, you should restrict your daily caffeine intake to 200mg or less.