Using Caffeine Powder: Safety Rules

Caffeine powder is available as a supplement, and many people use it to create their own stay-awake formulas. However, it's a supplement that has to be used consciously and carefully. There are ways to do this, but you'll need to look at how you're using the powder and what you're using to measure it.

Don't Inhale It

This is actually something people have tried to do, supposedly to get a rush from the substance. This results in an intense inflow of caffeine to the body and can be very difficult for people to handle. If you do use caffeine powder, mix it with non-caffeinated food (so skip the cocoa powder) or a non-caffeinated drink.

Measure Carefully

A proper, safer dose of caffeine powder is very small, so small that you need a scale that weighs into the milligrams. LiveScience notes the recommended dose for powdered caffeine ranges from 50 mg to 200 mg, so it's very easy to add too much to whatever you're making. If you add too much, you could experience unpleasant side effects, so be very careful while measuring.

Watch for Concentrated Spots

Using caffeine powder in dry form can lead to areas in the recipe where there are chunks of powder that didn't get mixed in properly. If you're adding the powder to food, you want the powder to be distributed evenly. Mixing it with some water first and ensuring it's all dissolved, and then adding the mixture to your food, may be better.

Avoid Other Caffeine-Containing Foods and Drinks

Your daily intake of caffeine is cumulative, and your body can't tell the difference between the caffeine powder and the caffeine in coffee, for example. If you use caffeine powder, avoid other foods and drinks that naturally contain caffeine, and avoid energy drinks that use it as well. Otherwise, you risk an overdose. If you do want to have caffeinated food or drink on the same day that you use the powder, modify your dose of the powder. This means measuring out ever smaller doses, but that's a lot better than risking that overdose. You want the caffeine to help you during the day, not to create issues.

Caffeine powder may have some definite benefits, but these are accessible only if you use the powder correctly. This is a case where being careful is key to experiencing the helpful effects of caffeine and avoiding any undesirable effects.

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