Caffeine – you know that stuff that makes people jump off walls, wake up, and be alert? Found in coffee, tea, soda, and many other popular beverages, caffeine is widely consumed. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 90 percent of the world’s population ingests some form of caffeine. In the United States, about 80 percent of us take in some caffeine every day.
Though it is consumed daily by most Americans, too much caffeine can have several negative effects. The over-consumption of caffeine can also cause you to build up a tolerance. That is why it is important to stick to 400 milligrams per day. Consuming more than 600 milligrams is considered too much, according to the FDA. On average, there is about 95 mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee. As for other caffeinated drinks, the caffeine levels vary so be sure to read the container levels.
Negative Side Effects of Caffeine
There are many side effects to consuming caffeine regularly. The most noticeable effect is alertness. It can help you feel more awake and less tired so it’s a common ingredient in medications to treat drowsiness. Though alertness is not necessarily negative, over-consuming caffeine can cause you to have a headache. One of the reasons this happens is because caffeine reaches your brain quickly and can act as a stimulant. Therefore, caffeine doesn’t help with headaches. In addition to headaches, caffeine can also cause a person to develop the jitters.
Caffeine not only affects mental acuity, but it also raises acid levels in the stomach, which can cause heartburn or an upset stomach. Moreover, because caffeine is processed in the liver and exits through the urine, caffeine causes a spike in blood pressure levels for a short time. Similarly, an overdose of caffeine may cause rapid or irregular heartbeat. In some rare cases, caffeine overdose can cause death due to convulsions or even the irregular heart beat.
Positive Side Effects of Caffeine
Some of the side effects of caffeine are also positive. For instance, caffeine detoxes the liver and cleanses the colon when taken as a caffeine enema. It can also replenish muscle glycogen concentrations faster after exercise. A study shows it helps relieve post-workout muscle pain by up to 48%. More impressively, caffeine helps ward off Alzheimer’s. The list of benefits goes on. When consuming caffeine just remember to not over consume; that’s the key. Caffeine can be very helpful, but it’s up to you when contemplating how much to ingest.
Because something as innocuous as drinking coffee or tea can seriously impact one’s health, it’s important to be prepared for anything and everything. That’s why everyone needs health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, please reach out to a licensed agent today!
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