Mega Doctor News
CLEVELAND CLINIC – As the old saying goes, sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad.
But what about when it comes to coffee?
Millions of Americans drink at least one cup of joe every day, and of course many are drinking a lot more than that.
“Guidelines are that we keep our caffeine intake under 400 milligrams a day. So, on average, an eight-ounce coffee has about 95 to 100, so that’s about close to four or five cups a day depending on the strength of the coffee,” said Julia Zumpano, RD, registered dietitian for Cleveland Clinic.
Zumpano said it’s important to remember these guidelines from the FDA are for your overall daily caffeine intake, not just for coffee.
Meaning, that amount includes any soda or energy drinks you have too.
And while 400 milligrams of caffeine is the recommended limit, some people have a much lower threshold.
Zumpano said when a person consumes too much caffeine, it can cause a headache, make you feel jittery or anxious, and increase your heartrate.
It can also disrupt your sleep.
“If you’re looking to scale back on caffeine, I would do it slowly. Let’s say for example, you’re drinking four cups of coffee, maybe you go down to three and then that fourth one is a half decaffeinated, half regular. And then you slowly make that fourth one a fully decaf. If you go cold turkey you may experience headaches or unpleasant side effects from completely eliminating caffeine.”
Zumpano said if you like the idea of sipping on a warm beverage, you could also drink tea instead, but make sure you check the caffeine content.
Another alternative is hot chocolate.
