Caffeine is the most popular mood-altering drug in the world, according to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The bitter-tasting stimulant occurs naturally in plants, including cocoa, coffee and tea plants, and adds "punch" to various energy drinks, soft drinks and diet products. Although people's sensitivity to caffeine varies, excessive intake may trigger toxic effects. Gaining understanding of these risks may inspire you to make wise dietary and lifestyle decisions.
Features
The term toxicity refers to the amount of damage a substance can cause in an organism. The toxicity of caffeine varies, depending on the amount you consume, your overall health and your sensitivity to the substance. Caffeine intoxication is the state caused by caffeine overdose. Because it take eight to 12 hours for caffeine to fully leave your body, caffeine intoxication symptoms usually resolve rapidly, according to JHBMC, and appear not to have lasting consequences.
Symptoms and Sensitivity
If you are particularly sensitive to caffeine, even one cup of tea or coffee may cause bothersome effects, according to MayoClinic.com, such as sleep difficulties and restlessness. Excessive caffeine intake, or more than 500 to 600 mg per day in most adults, may also cause nervousness, insomnia, irritability, an upset stomach, a rapid heartbeat and tremors. To reach lethal toxicity, in which the effects of caffeine become life-threatening, an average adult would have to consume an estimated 80 to 100 cups of coffee, or 150 to 200 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight, in a short period of time.
Contributing Factors
The time at which you consume caffeine can influence its damaging effects. Drinking coffee or soft drinks shortly before bed, for example, may interfere with your ability to fall asleep. Drinking caffeine during times of stress or anxiety may worsen the potential emotional effects. Because caffeine's effects are dependent on body weight, according to the American Psychological Association, it causes amplified nervousness, anxiety and insomnia in children compared to adults. Caffeine's toxic effects may also stem from long-term use of the substance. In other words, being a habitual coffee drinker does not safeguard you from its negative effects.
Suggestions
If you experience adverse side effects of caffeine, seek medical guidance, particularly if your symptoms are severe or your intake was excessive. Moderate intake, or the amount reaped from two to four cups of coffee or 200 to 300 mg per day, is not harmful for most adults, according to MayoClinic.com. To avoid symptoms of withdrawal while cutting back on caffeine, which may include headaches, mood swings and nausea, do so gradually. Other stimulatory substances associated with caffeine-like effects include ginseng, guarana, bitter orange and green tea extract; if you are sensitive to caffeine, you may be sensitive to these substances as well.
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