Things To Avoid Before Drinking Coffee

As of 2009, more than half of all Americans were drinking coffee every day, either plain or in fancy beverages, according to the National Coffee Association. Coffee is enjoyed for its taste, as well as its caffeine content, which gives drinkers an alertness boost. Coffee is a harmless beverage, but you might inadvertently take in too much caffeine unless you avoid other caffeine sources before drinking coffee.

Caffeine Sources

Tea leaves, cola nuts and cocoa are natural caffeine sources, just like coffee beans, so brewed tea, cola sodas and chocolate candy are all caffeinated. Avoid eating or drinking too much of any of these caffeine-containing items before you drink coffee or you might receive too high a dose of the chemical. Many an energy shot and drink relies on caffeine for its effect, and drug manufacturers add it to some over-the-counter pain pills and medicines for cold and flu relief. Beware of mixing coffee with these products, as MayoClinic.com warns that unwanted physical symptoms are triggered by consuming more than 500 mg of caffeine in a day.

Effects

Normally caffeine's main effect is to raise your alertness level, but you may have undesirable symptoms if you do not avoid other caffeinated foods, drinks and drugs before drinking coffee. Typical symptoms of too much caffeine include feeling jittery, nervous and irritable, according to MayoClinic.com. Your heart may race, and you may feel queasy. None of these effects causes permanent harm, but they are not pleasant while they last. The symptoms disappear within a few hours unless you lengthen the problem by taking in more caffeine.

Dehydration

Avoid dehydrating activities before drinking coffee unless you carefully replenish your liquids because caffeine is a diuretic, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Coffee increases your urge to urinate, which is normally harmless but which can be problematic if you are dehydrated from an intense workout, being out in the sun or another cause. Head off this potential problem by drinking more water if you need to do something dehydrating, like a brisk morning workout, before you enjoy your cup of coffee.

Fasting

Have some food in your stomach before you drink coffee. Fasting before you drink it means the coffee triggers your digestive system to produce acid even though there is nothing to break down, according to pediatrician Dr. Bill Sears. This effect is particularly bad if you are under stress. The unneeded acid can damage your duodenum lining or reflux back up into your esophagus.

Considerations

You need not avoid other caffeinated beverages and foods and dehydrating activities if you drink decaffeinated coffee. The decaffeination process removes nearly all of the chemical, rendering coffee the same as any other hot beverage. Drinking decaffeinated coffee is also a good way to cut down on your overall caffeine consumption if you regularly drink enough to bring on unwanted symptoms. Cessation of caffeine intake does cause withdrawal symptoms, including flulike feelings, fatigue and depression, so cut back slowly if you are used to drinking more than four cups of caffeinated coffee daily.