Coffee is an extremely popular drink for many people. The caffeine in coffee helps people stay awake, since it is a stimulant. However, the effect of caffeine in coffee goes far beyond just keeping a person awake. Caffeine affects almost every part of the body in some way, with both positive and negative outcomes. However, caffeine intake needs to be in moderation, as too much causes several issues. The acceptable amount of coffee intake per day is 500 mg to 600 mg a day, or roughly four cups of coffee, to avoid problems related to over consumption of caffeine.
Effects
Caffeine is a stimulant, which causes an increase in heart rate, pupil dilation and tightening of muscles. It causes a release of adrenalin in the body, which triggers the person to feel alert and elevates their mood.
Benefits
When consumed in moderation, caffeine from coffee can have a positive effect. It enhances athletic performance when consumed prior to workouts. It keeps people awake when they're tired. Caffeine works to control weight, reduce pain and open up restricted airways. It is particularly beneficial to individuals with chronic fatigue. Caffeine is the main active ingredient in many diet pills. The medical benefits of caffeinated coffee include reduction of risk for individuals at high-risk for liver disease, small reduction in risk for type 2 diabetes and reduction of the symptoms of asthma. It also increases mental alertness, increases the effect of pain medications and increases muscle strength.
Risks
Too much caffeine from coffee alone or from a combination of sources, is dangerous to even the healthiest person. It can cause heart palpitations, jitters and concentration problems. It also causes sleep disturbances and insomnia. Other symptoms of caffeine overload include headache, anxiety, heartburn, high blood pressure, nausea and rapid heart rate. Make sure to monitor caffeine intake from all sources to avoid issues with caffeine overload. If any of these symptoms appear, reduce caffeine intake to resolve the issue.
Considerations
Caffeine is addictive. This means that when the body becomes accustomed to caffeine intake, it becomes dependent on it to function. Removing caffeine then results in withdrawal symptoms. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms include headache, tiredness, anxiety, nausea, irritability, muscle stiffness and hot flashes and chills. Slowly reducing caffeinated coffee intake reduces the likelihood of these symptoms.
Warning
People with heart conditions need to discuss caffeine intake with their doctor or cardiologist. Consuming caffeine is dangerous to individuals with certain heart conditions.
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