Low to moderate coffee consumption (up to 3 cups per day) has been shown to protect against heart attacks. However, taking more than 3 cups of caffeine a day may trigger coronary (heart artery) problems and heart rhythm irregularities in people with underlying heart disease. Thus, patients at risk of heart problems should avoid drinking large quantities of caffeine.
For people who seldom take caffeine, an episode of caffeine intake can raise their blood pressure significantly. However, there is little or no acute effect on habitual coffee drinkers.
Downsides of caffeine
For all the good that caffeine does, caffeine intake has its downsides too.
Since caffeine can boost mental and physical energy, it is little wonder that many individuals turn to caffeine regularly to maintain their active, สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน busy lifestyles. However, consuming high levels of caffeine may lead to symptoms such as headache, rapid heart rate, anxiety, tremors, and insomnia.
In the long term, caffeine dependence may lead to generalised anxiety disorder, nervousness, insomnia, irritability, and even panic attacks.
Caffeine has also been linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis. Research suggests that high coffee intake may be associated with lower bone density and increased fracture risk in women, particularly those with low calcium intake. One way to counter this is to increase intake of calcium-rich food, or calcium-fortified drinks.
Signs of caffeine withdrawal
Like all stimulants, caffeine can be addictive and give you withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Here’s how to tell if you’re undergoing caffeine withdrawal:
If you experience
- Headache
- Tiredness/fatigue
- Decreased energy
- Decreased alertness
- Drowsiness/sleepiness
- Depressed mood
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Fuzzy/foggy mind
How much caffeine should I take?
For most adults, consumption of up to 400mg of caffeine a day appears to be safe. Here’s the amount of caffeine in our common drinks.
- Coffee (235ml): 102 – 200mg
- Espresso (30ml): 30 – 90mg
- Tea (235ml): 40 – 120mg
- Coke (355ml): 35 – 47mg
- Mountain Dew (355ml): 118mg
The average US adult’s coffee consumption is about 2 cups per day, which is the equivalent of approximately 280mg of caffeine, although coffee varies greatly in caffeine content. Individuals who consume 4 or more cups of coffee daily are considered to be heavy coffee drinkers.