How much coffee is too much coffee? This is a question that many people ask themselves daily. For some, the answer is “as long as it takes to get me through the day.” For others, the answer is, “I don’t know; I just can’t seem to get enough!” This blog post is for you if you find yourself in the latter group.
So, if you have concerns about the amount of coffee you consume daily, read this article to the very end. Everything you need to know about coffee consumption is well-detailed. Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
How Much Coffee Is Per Day Recommended?
Having too much coffee per day can put your life at risk. So, when you find your body thirsty for more cups, know that you are hurting your health.
You may not see those signs and symptoms alarming you to monitor your drinking habit or see the doctors immediately, but soon you will feel something is not ok. It is good to note coffee can sometimes mimic the symptoms of insomnia.
Below are some of the symptoms related to excess consumption of coffee. In other words, these symptoms could be a sign you need to watch your coffee consumption.
- More and more accidents at work or home
- Feeling sleepy in the middle of the day but not at night
- Wake up completely restless, even after a solid eight hours
- Difficulty falling asleep in the first place
- Depression or anxiety
- Quick bouts of anger or irritability
- Waking up in the middle of the night or before your alarm (more than once per night)
Now let’s answer the question, “how much coffee per day is recommended?”
It is advisable to keep your consumption under 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. In fact, according to USDA’s FoodData Central, one eight-ounce (about 227g) cup of coffee has about 95 milligrams of caffeine.
Now, considering coffee has other substances such as melanoidins, diterpenes, and chlorogenic acid, it is best to keep your caffeine consumption under 400 milligrams.
How much is too much?
Most health experts agree that 400 milligrams of caffeine daily are safe for healthy adults. That’s equal to about four cups of coffee. However, some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and may experience unpleasant side effects at lower intake levels. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your caffeine intake.
Can You Overdose?
Although it is possible to overdose on coffee, it is nearly impossible. This is because your stomach will send a power signal even before you near a coffee overdose. In most cases, you will feel immense pain.
What Happens If You Have Too Much Coffee?
Caffeine is a stimulant that can have both positive and negative effects on your health. Too much caffeine can lead to side effects such as anxiety, jitteriness, irritability, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping.
If you consume more than 400 mg of caffeine daily, you may be at risk for more serious health problems such as seizures or heart arrhythmias. Pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to no more than 200 mg per day.
If you have a coffee metabolizing gene in your liver enzymes, you might not know that you have exceeded recommended coffee consumption until you consume a massive amount of caffeine.
Now once you consume too much coffee, this is what happens to you:
- You will start to feel systematic problems such as elevated blood pressure.
- Develop tension headaches and a parched mouth.
- Excessive thirst and, in some cases, you may have constipation.
- It may bring paranoia symptoms, including but not limited to doubting yourself and others and assuming that something is out to get you.
- Too much coffee consumption also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Benefits of A Healthy Level of Drinking Coffee
Coffee is more than a drink. It has some health benefits no other drinks guarantee. Below are some of the benefits of a healthy level of drinking coffee.
- Reduce the risk of type II diabetes.
- Increase our energy levels.
- A potential solution to constipation.
- Coffee blocks adenosine. This means neural activities are not slowed down, and therefore you stay alert or not sleepy for long.
- Coffee contains a lot of antioxidants that help our bodies in various ways, such as fighting free radicals. Besides, antioxidants in coffee also act as anti-inflammatory agents.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
Most people can drink up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily without experiencing negative side effects. However, consuming too much caffeine or suddenly cutting back can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood disturbances. These symptoms typically last 2-9 days.
How to cut down on caffeine intake
Caffeine is a stimulant in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate. It’s also added to some medications. Caffeine can be beneficial in small amounts but can also cause side effects like jitteriness, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake, you can do a few things.
First, keep a caffeine diary. This will help you become more aware of how much caffeine you consume daily.
Second, cut back gradually. Decreasing caffeine consumption gradually will help your body adjust and avoid withdrawal symptoms. You can also switch to decaffeinated coffee or tea, which has almost no caffeine.
Finally, pay attention to the other sources of caffeine in your diet, such as energy drinks and chocolate. By making small changes, you can easily reduce your overall caffeine intake.
Caffeine in Other Forms
Caffeine is available for consumption in different forms. For example, some of the supplements on the market have caffeine. If you are nearing or have exceeded the limit (400 milligrams) daily, it is best to avoid caffeine until the next day.
Keep in mind that your body metabolizes at night. Even though caffeine from coffee can be metabolized in 45 minutes or less, foods like chocolate, ice cream, or energy water beverages could stay in your system for longer.
That is where you run into trouble sleeping.
Conclusion
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a moderate amount of coffee is generally defined as 3-5 cups a day, or on average, 400 mg of caffeine. However, scientific and epidemiological evidence has shown that moderate caffeine consumption (400 mg) per day is not associated with adverse effects in the healthy adult population.
Many studies have found beneficial side effects to caffeine intakes, such as increased alertness and improved cognitive function. Therefore, it can be concluded that moderate caffeine intake (2–3 cups or 300 mg/day) is not associated with adverse effects.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
