We always have a question, Many people rely on coffee to enhance their wakefulness, improve their ability to concentrate and focus and alleviate fatigue. However, even though caffeine offers all these benefits, it can pose some problems and it is important that you know how much caffeine is too much in order to control your coffee intake. For most adults who are in good health, taking a maximum of 400 milligrams of caffeine seems to be safe. This amount of caffeine is about 4 cups of coffee, two shorts of energy drinks or 10 cans of cola. Though caffeine may be safe for adults, it is not advisable to have children take it. Adolescents too need to limit their intake to nit more than a hundred milligrams of caffeine per day. Caffeine is not also recommended for people who are sensitive to the effects it brings about or for those who are on certain medications. Here are some factors that can influence the amount to coffee you take and the effects of exceeding limits:
1. Limit your coffee intake to 4 cups
If you are a coffee lover, heavy intake of caffeine on a daily basis, that is more than 500 or 600 milligrams per day, can lead to side effects like nervousness, insomnia, irritability, fast heartbeat, restlessness, upset stomach or muscle tremors.
2. Know how sensitive you are to coffee
Sensitivity to coffee varies from one person to another. There are people who tend to be more sensitive to caffeine while others are not. If you are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, taking even a single cup can provoke side effects like sleep problems and restlessness. Your reaction to caffeine can be determined by your daily intake of caffeine. People who do not take caffeine on a regular basis are often more sensitive to negative effects compared to those that do. Other factors that determine the level of caffeine sensitivity include age, body mass, use of medication as well as health conditions like anxiety disorders. Studies suggest that generally, men are more prone to caffeine side effects than women, Check complete info here.
3. Get enough rest
Many adults need to sleep for at least 8 hours each day. Caffeine can interfere with sleeping patterns and chronic loss of sleep due to travel, work, sleep or taking in too much caffeine can deprive one of sleep. Sleep loss tends to be cumulative and small decreases can disturb performance and ability to focus. Taking caffeine in order to mask deprivation of sleep can result to an unwelcome cycle. For instance, taking caffeine due to problems in waking up can interfere with your sleep and shorten the time that you sleep.
4. Supplements or Medications
There are some herbal supplements and medications that interact with caffeine and cause negative effects. Antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin hinder caffeine breakdown which causes it to remain in the body longer and amplifies undesired effects. Theophylline has side effects that are similar to those in caffeine so taking coffee with this medication increases its content in the blood leading to adverse effects.
To curb your caffeine intake, pay attention to the amount of caffeine you get from coffee as well as other foods. Gradually reduce the amount of coffee you take by reducing the number of cups you take each day and avoid taking the beverage late in the evening. This helps in getting your body used to lower caffeine levels. You can also opt to go for healthy coffee or decaffeinated coffee as opposed to caffeinated. Also, brew your coffee for a shorter period to reduce the caffeine content. The fact of the matter is caffeine is part of the day to day routine for most adults. In many causes, it does not pose any health risks. However, it is important to take extra caution in situations where you exceed the 500 milligram mark to prevent unwanted side effects. Even Regular coffee drinking is good for health, It increases your concentration, make you more physically active, work as good antioxidant, it also helps to cure type 2 diabetes and personally for me, it’s always with me when I need it as a good friend. Start this healthy drink with our recommended coffee machines.