Too Much Caffeine?

Many people are waking up to the smell of Folgers or some other kind of coffee in their cups. In addition to drinking coffee, people are loading up on sodas and energy drinks such as Red Bull, AMP, Full Throttle, and SoBe Adrenaline Rush. For the millions of caffeine addicts, if they don't have their boost in the morning, they just aren't themselves. Some say they are moody and irritable without their daily dose of caffeine. Because they are so dependent on that caffeine boost, a morning without it can lead to a variety of withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, shakiness, or just a sluggish feeling throughout the day.

While there are some people who will drink several cups of coffee or several sodas a day, there is a thing as too much of a boost. Energy drinks, sodas, and coffee can be more harmful than people realize. Nutrition experts say the average adult should have no more than 200-300 milligrams of caffeine per day. That amounts to about two or three cups of coffee. Symptoms that you've consumed more than the recommended average are nervousness, irregular heartbeat, ringing in the ears, restlessness, nausea, and headaches. Caffeine remains in the body for seven hours after you consume it so drinking it late can result in not being able to get to sleep.

It's also important to take note of the size of your caffeinated beverage. If you get a Starbucks' Grande coffee in the morning, that's more than your recommended caffeine intake for the day and you still may have problems sleeping later on that night. It's not just drinks that may contain caffeine; diet pills may also contain the stimulant although it's not listed on the label. Caffeine related ingredients that may appear on the labels are kola nut, guarana, or mate. While some people may believe that caffeine itself helps you to lose weight, there is no conclusive evidence that supports that claim. Caffeine is proven to stimulate, which is why so many people rely on it.

Some health conditions may mean you should pay even closer attention to your caffeine intake. For instance, pregnant women should avoid caffeine because it decreases the mother's absorption of iron and may reduce blood flow to the placenta. In addition, the fetus isn't able to detoxify caffeine. The risk of spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, increases during the first trimester and early in the second trimester with heavy consumption of caffeine. The newborn may also be born with withdrawal symptoms. People with depression and anxiety problems should also avoid caffeine since the boost is only temporary and not an alleviation of symptoms. Also, those with heart problems should avoid caffeine since caffeine can cause mild disturbances of heart rhythm.

While there have been speculation as to whether or not caffeine stunts your growth, helps with weight loss, or helps prevent such diseases as Parkinson's and Type 2 diabetes, the important thing is to consume it in moderation. Too much of anything is not good for you, including that boost you look to get each day.

Sources:
Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Center for Integrative Medicine
Contemporary Nutrition, 6th Edition by Gordon M. Wardlaw and Anne M. Smith