Coffee is an integral part of many people’s day the world over. There’s nothing like brewing a fresh pot, or enjoying a few fresh cups of coffee from your French press. Not to mention it helps keep us going throughout the longest of days. And we know we’re not alone when it comes to this love for coffee.
According to a study, daily coffee consumption has shot to an all-time high since 2012. A whopping 64 percent of Americans (18+) said they had at least one cup of coffee the previous day in 2018. The number is expected to get even higher, too, especially with more people getting their coffee fix at home.
It’s sad but true — it is possible to have too much of a good thing, and coffee is no exception. Though we turn to coffee to achieve a laser-like focus, too much coffee can have the exact opposite result. But how could something so good potentially be so bad for us? Let’s break it down.
For starters, why do we all love coffee so much?
Sure, we love the smell and taste of coffee, but you know what we really love about it? The caffeine.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant byproduct that acts as a stimulant to our central nervous systems, according to the University of Michigan. By stimulating our central nervous system, it makes us feel more alert and, most of the time, more productive. It’s main benefit is keeping us focused.
Although coffee is one of the most popular caffeinated beverage…
You can also sip on some tea, drink a soda, or even eat chocolate to get a caffeine boost. Be warned though: even coffee advertised as “decaf” has a little bit of caffeine in it. Decaffeinated coffee can contain as little as two milligrams or as much as 12 milligrams, according to Sleep.org.
How does your body react to caffeine?
It only takes about 15 minutes for caffeine to work its way into your system.
Once you take that first sip of coffee, the caffeine is quickly absorbed into the body and processed by the liver. Caffeine then makes its way to the brain and impacts the effectiveness of adenosine, a nervous system depressant that promotes sleep, according to Self.
Once in your brain, caffeine binds to these adenosine receptors, reducing adenosine’s ability to make us tired and — tada! — we feel more awake. This is why we feel more stimulated and energized after we drink coffee. Once the caffeine is absorbed and processed, it can stay in your system for as long as six hours. That’s why many people like to drink coffee bright and early in the morning to give themselves an extra boost.
What are the side effects of drinking coffee?
We can all probably agree that one of coffee’s greatest side effects is making us more alert.
But if you happen to have one cup too many, this desired side effect essentially disappears. At this point, you might not be able to focus at all. Instead you may feel jittery and restless, and for some this can even lead to anxiety. Coffee can also cause headaches, irregular heartbeat, and insomnia when consumed in high doses. So, where did we go wrong? If you’ve experienced any of the negative side effects of coffee, you may have discovered your coffee threshold.
Believe it or not, there is a reason for your coffee limit.
There’s a gene called CYP1A2 that helps determine how fast your body can break down caffeine, the New York Times reported.
If you seem to experience the worst side effects of coffee quickly, you may have the gene that metabolizes coffee more slowly. If you were lucky enough to have inherited the fast gene from both of your parents, your body will be able to metabolize caffeine four-times more quickly than those with who’ve inherited only one fast gene or have the slow-metabolizing gene.
Is there a magic amount of coffee you should have each day?
If you think you have the gene that metabolizes caffeine more slowly, consider limiting your intake of coffee.
Not only will you reduce your risk experiencing the negative side effects of coffee, but it will lessen the impact on your heart health in the long run as well. According to a study, drinking four or more cups of coffee daily was linked to a 36 percent increased risk of having a heart attack. This held especially true for people who carried the gene that breaks down caffeine more slowly.
For quick caffeine metabolizers, those who drank one to three cups of coffee per day seemed to have reduced risk of heart attacks. Based on another study, it’s recommended to have fewer than six cups per day, as anything more has shown to have a negative impact on heart health.
Yes, caffeine overdose is a real thing.
Caffeine overdoses can and have happened.
In 2017, a person named Davis Allen Cripe from South Carolina had their official cause of death designated as a “caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia,” USA Today reported. The lethal combination was reached by ingesting a large Diet Mountain Dew, a latte from McDonald’s, and an energy drink in two hours.
By drinking so much caffeine in such a short amount of time, Cripe likely experienced ventricular fibrillation.
Ventricular fibrillation is when blood flow is disrupted by rapid and irregular heartbeat causing low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, then death, according to Vox.
But a caffeine overdose doesn’t always mean death, as death by caffeinated beverages isn’t all that common (unless you down upwards of 30 cups of coffee in an hour). You can also experience vomiting, abdominal pain, altered consciousness, and seizures.
If you make coffee drinking a habit, you can get addicted to the caffeine.
You’re not going to get addicted after drinking a few cups of coffee, but make it a routine and you might.
How can you tell if you’ve developed a caffeine dependency? For starters, you may feel as if you have a difficult time functioning if you try to go without it. It’s possible that you may feel extra lethargic and feel like you’re unable to concentrate. It can even lead to trouble going to the bathroom. According to a study, caffeine addiction can impact your stomach, leading to flatulence, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome.
If you stop drinking coffee cold turkey, you’ll likely experience the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.
As we mentioned earlier, drinking too many cups of coffee can cause headaches. But it turns out that not drinking coffee can cause them, too.
According to Healthline, caffeine makes the blood vessels in your brain constrict, slowing the blood flow. When you suddenly stop drinking coffee, the blood vessels open up more, increasing blood flow, and causing a headache. But once your body readjusts to your regular blood flow sans caffeine, your headaches should get better.
Another symptom of caffeine withdrawals is depression.
Since caffeine boosts your energy, it can make you feel more productive and enhance your mood. So, if you develop a coffee drinking habit and suddenly stop, it may impact your mood and lead to feelings of depression. Caffeine withdrawal can also cause irritability and tremors.
The best way to lessen the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal is to cut back on coffee slowly rather than stopping consumption abruptly. Be sure to also drink lots of water to stay hydrated and try to get a good night’s rest.
Don’t be scared, though — drinking coffee in moderation also has lots of health benefits!
Don’t worry. Drinking coffee doesn’t have to be a negative experience!
Studies show that drinking coffee in moderate amounts (which is, of course, specific to each person) can be good for you. One potential health benefit is that drinking at least two cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of liver cancer by a third. This is even true for decaf coffee drinkers, although researchers say to a lesser degree than with caffeinated coffee. The other long-term benefits of drinking coffee include the reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease, protection against type 2 diabetes, and a lower risk of mouth and throat cancers.
Yet another benefit of drinking a few cups of coffee is that is positively effects memory. Caffeine can give you an immediate boost for about 45 minutes, but researchers found that it can also enhance memory for up to 24 hours after you consume it.
