Can A Person Drink Too Much Coffee?

Drinking coffee on a regular basis may have many health benefits. Although research is still ongoing, the beverage may reduce the risk of certain diseases, reduce the risk of some mood disorders and even may extend a person's lifespan, according to the AARP. Many people also enjoy the energy boost that comes from the caffeine found in the beverage. Unfortunately, this caffeine is the very thing that may cause adverse effects when you consume excess amounts of the beverage.

Effects of Caffeine

Caffeine can have many positive effects. It can improve your mood, increase energy and prevent feelings of tiredness. Consuming between 200 to 300 mg of caffeine each day, which is roughly about two or three cups of coffee, is unlikely to cause adverse side effects, according to the American Dietetic Association's Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. However, if you consume more than 500 to 600 mg a day, you may experience insomnia, increased heart rate and urination, irritability or anxiety, muscle tremors and gastrointestinal issues, according to Mayo Clinic. Regularly consuming large amounts of caffeine through coffee can cause you to develop a physical dependence on the drug, which can lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you have to ever go without the beverage. Withdrawal symptoms from caffeine may include painful headaches, irritability and fatigue.

Amount of Caffeine in Coffee

Consider how much caffeine you are consuming when deciding how much coffee to drink. However, doing so can be difficult because each cup of coffee may have a slightly different amount of caffeine. The way the coffee is prepared, the brand of coffee and the ratio of coffee solids to water are just a few factors that can influence the caffeine coffee. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the average amount of caffeine in an 8-oz. cup is 93 mg for instant coffee, 133 mg for brewed coffee and about 5 mg for decaffeinated coffee.

Are You Drinking Too Much?

Caffeine affects everyone differently. Your age, metabolism, lifestyle, weight, hormones and other biological factors all play a role in how caffeine affects your body. Although most adults can consume up to 500 mg a day, you may experience adverse reactions even when consuming considerably less than this amount. You may wish to reduce your caffeine consumption if you experience sleep problems or often feel jittery, restless or irritable after consuming caffeine. You also may need to limit your overall caffeine consumption if you have heart problems or other medical condition, or if you take medications such as theophylline, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin or take the herbal supplement echinacea. Always ask your doctor if you have specific questions or concerns about the amount of caffeine that is appropriate for your specific situation. If you would like the benefits of coffee without the concerns of getting too much caffeine, consider switching to decaffeinated coffee instead.

Considerations

Although caffeine is the main concern associated with drinking too much coffee, you should also consider other factors when determining how much you should drink. Make sure your coffee consumption is not interfering with your diet or overall nutrition. Never use coffee as a substitute for a well-balanced or healthy meal. In addition, adding cream, sugar or other toppings to your coffee may lead to an excessive calorie intake and unwanted weight gain. If you drink large amounts of coffee on a regular basis, try to limit these extra ingredients.