Caffeine Consumption Is a Mixed Bag of Benefits

Have you ever thought about how much your health could be affected based on the amount of caffeine you drink?

Caffeine is an ingredient that many people enjoy consuming; it is a stimulant that can be naturally found in certain beans, leaves, berries, and more. While many people drink caffeine to have a boost in their morning routine, the amount of caffeine you consume daily may hurt your health.

This stimulant has many effects on people’s metabolism. According to MedlinePlus, “It stimulates your central nervous system, which can make you feel more awake and gives you a boost of energy.”

Side effects of too much caffeine can be restlessness, shakiness, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, fast heart rate, dehydration, anxiety, and an increase of dependency, meaning you would have to take more of it to get the same results. It’s common for people to be more sensitive to caffeine than others.

“About 85% of adults consume 135 milligrams of caffeine daily in the U.S. This is equivalent to 12 ounces of coffee, which is the most common source of caffeine for adults,” the American Medical Association said.

The amount of caffeine in drinks can vary, but typically an eight-ounce cup of coffee is roughly 95 to 200 milligrams, a 12-ounce can of cola is 35 to 45 milligrams, and an eight-ounce energy drink is 70 to 100 milligrams, according to MedlinePlus.

Energy drinks, on the other hand, have added caffeine. It’s not uncommon for the labels to give you a false amount of caffeine on them. Due to the claim that they help boost physical and mental performance, energy drinks are popular with young adults and teens, but there isn’t enough evidence to prove the claims these drinks make.

Consuming too many energy drinks could cause weight gain and diabetes.

“Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults,” The Mayo Clinic said. “That’s roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, ten cans of cola, or two ‘energy shot’ drinks.”

It’s not recommended for children to consume the same amount of caffeine as adults.