Coffee is adored all over the world, with billions of cups of coffee consumed each day. It helps focus, increases productivity, and can even provide health benefits if consumed in moderate quantities. However, when it is consumed excessively, caffeine can be an enemy, double-edged, harming mental and physical health.
Research shows that although up to three cups of coffee daily is considered healthy, consuming more than that can have unintended consequences. Here are 10 ways that drinking too much coffee could be having a greater impact on you than you think.
Interfering with Your Sleep Pattern
Caffeine is a potent stimulant that stays in the body for long periods of time. Studies conducted by The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reveal that drinking coffee just 6 hours before bedtime could dramatically reduce the amount of sleep and quality. In time, disturbed sleep patterns can cause tiredness, low concentration, and insanity.
Inducing jitters and anxiety
The excess stimulation of caffeine can affect your central nervous system, increasing the feeling of anxiety and restlessness. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, stress is a frequent cause of anxiety-related symptoms, particularly in people who are predisposed to developing stress disorders. A racing mind and shaky hands are a sure sign that you have gotten too much caffeine.
Resulting in Regular Headaches
Although caffeine may help ease headaches in small amounts but frequent use can cause rebound headaches after the caffeine’s effects wear off.
According to the American Migraine Foundation warns that drinking too much caffeine can increase the risk of pain related to withdrawal, leaving regular drinkers in a loop of relief and repeated headaches.
Discomfort in Your Digestive System
Coffee can increase acid production in the stomach, which may irritate your digestive tract. Gastroenterologists are often concerned that excessive caffeine can contribute to acid reflux and indigestion, and nausea.
For people who are sensitive, even moderate consumption may cause stomach discomfort or even worsen digestive issues that are already present.
Raising the Heart Rate
High caffeine intake can stimulate the heart, which can cause a high heart rate. According to the Mayo Clinic notes that people who suffer from heart disease should be especially cautious since excessive consumption of caffeine could cause arrhythmias or worsen the symptoms of heart disease.
Producing Energy Crashes at Midday
Caffeine gives a short-term boost in alertness. However, it could be immediately followed by a drop in energy when the stimulant effect has worn off. The researchers of Johns Hopkins University describe this as the “caffeine crash,” which often leads to more coffee throughout the day, creating an upward pattern of highs and lows.
Growing More Reliant on Coffee
The more coffee you consume, ‘ll notice your body will adapt to it, which leads to tolerance. As time passes, higher quantities are required to achieve the same result. In the end, it is necessary to increase your intake. The World Health Organization classifies caffeine dependence as a medical illness, with withdrawal symptoms that range from mood swings to fatigue.
Increasing Your Hormones of Stress
In excess, caffeine triggers the release of cortisol as well as adrenaline, stress hormones that help make the body ready to “fight or flight.”
A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine showed that the consumption of high caffeine intake increases cortisol levels for longer and can cause an increase in weight, stress, and a decline in immunity.
Putting Money in Your Pocket With Everyday Coffee Runs
The seemingly innocent daily cup of latte will quickly accumulate. According to a study conducted by Acorns Money Matters, the average American spends over $1,000 per year on coffee. The idea of putting those dollars into savings or investing would provide better long-term returns than another coffee fix.
Irritability Without Your Cup
The withdrawal of caffeine doesn’t only cause fatigue and headaches, but it can also trigger anger. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that mood disorders occur as one of the frequent withdrawal signs. For people who are habitual drinkers, mornings without coffee are less of a fresh beginning than a fight.
In Conclusion
In moderation, coffee can be an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, providing both enjoyment as well as cognitive benefits. However, when it is consumed excessively, it can shift from being a friend to a saboteur, making sleep difficult, causing anxiety, and putting your finances in danger.
Being aware of the risks isn’t a requirement to ditch the morning cup altogether, it simply means drinking with a sense of. The concept of balance, like in many other areas of our lives, is key to making coffee more of a friend than an adversary.