WCaffeine Caution
Pregnant women have been warned that
cigarettes, alcohol and drugs are all possible
threats to the health of an unborn child.
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration
added another item to the list: caffeine. Studies
were conducted on pregnant rats who were fed
caffeine in doses equivalent to more than twelve
cups of strong coffee a day.
Many of their offspring suffered skeletal
deformities, including missing fingers and toes.
The FDA said that the evidence against caffeine
isn’t strong enough to conclude that it definitely
causes human birth defects, but warns pregnant
women to use products containing sparingly-if at
all.
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola drinks,
chocolate and many medications such as
prescription pain killers and some over-the-
counter cold remedies.