Caffeine can be part of a healthy diet for most people.
However, too much may be dangerous for your health.
This article discusses how much caffeine you should have in a day.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
It also covers the signs and symptoms when you overindulge in caffeine and how to reduce your intake.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
How Much Daily Caffeine Is Too Much?
This comes out to about four or five cups of coffee.
The FDA doesnt have official guidelines for caffeine intake in children and adolescents.
Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others.
If you experience symptoms of too much caffeine, then you should reduce your intake.
How Much Caffeine Is in This?
Food and drinks can vary in the amount of caffeine they have.
Approximate amounts per item are:
These are approximations.
Always read the label to see to it you arent consuming more caffeine than intended.
This is why many people drink coffee or caffeinated tea as a morning pick-me-up.
However, both consuming too much caffeine andwithdrawal from caffeinecan cause headaches.
Caffeine can trigger what is known as caffeine rebound.
Anxiety
Caffeine may affect your mood.
A review of 57 studies measured the effects of anxiety after consuming various amounts of caffeine.
Results were mixed when it came to both low and high intakes.
Some research showed having up to five cups of coffee had no effect on anxiety.
Other studies found feelings of tension after consuming just two or three cups.
you’d be smart to not have caffeine up to six hours before bed.
However, if you regularly consume caffeine, its effects wont be as detrimental to your sleep over time.
Your body can adjust to the effects of caffeine and build up a tolerance over time.
Increased Heartbeat
Caffeine has different effects on the heart.
This may be due to how well the body can break down caffeine.
Slow caffeine metabolizers were more at risk for heart issues after just two or three cups of coffee.
While those who cleared caffeine from their system quickly had fewer issues when consuming the same amount of caffeine.
Increased Thirst
Research shows even low intakes of caffeine may increase thirst in some people.
Thirst was most notable to casual caffeine consumers even just after one cup of coffee.
Those with daily caffeine intake were unable to detect thirst at this level.
There is no evidence of how high caffeine consumption affects thirst.
However, it is possible that being thirsty could be due to high levels of caffeine.
Frequent Urination
Caffeine is adiuretic.
This is a substance that increases the production of urine and makes you have to pee.
People with an overactive bladder may be more susceptible to the diuretic effect of caffeine.
Along with the loss of urine also goes important nutrients.
This could have a negative effect on bone health.
Chest Pain
Chest pain happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked.
As caffeine increases, so do the restrictions in blood flow.
Be sure to seek medical help right away.
Caffeine and Medications
Caffeine intake may interfere with the effectiveness of medications and alter how they work.
Caffeine Can Affect How Medications Work
Caffeine may increase or decrease how much medication is absorbed.
This can alter the effects of the drug.
Ask your healthcare provider to learn how caffeine may interfere with your medications.
According to the FDA, caffeine has a half-life of about four to six hours.
Summary
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that alters brain and body function.
Certain people may be more sensitive to caffeine and may see these effects at even lower doses.
Caffeine may cause allergies, and alter the effects of certain medications.
If you find that caffeine leaves you with side effects you may want to limit or avoid caffeine altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Caffeine levels vary depending on the size and pop in of coffee.
Bigger cups will contain more caffeine.
An 8-ounce cup of green tea contains 3050 milligrams of caffeine.
The way to eliminate caffeine is to wait it out.
It takes about 3 to 6 hours for caffeine to leave the body.
The only thing that can improve sleep is letting caffeine leave your system.
Doses between 1.4 and 2.7 milligrams per pound of bodyweight worked best when taken 60 minutes before exercise.
No, there is still caffeine in decaffeinated coffee.
An 8-ounce cup of decaf coffee has about 2-15 milligrams caffeine.
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