Is drinking too much coffee bad for your health?

Is drinking too much coffee bad for your health?

Nutrition

Drinking too much coffee can cause symptoms such as stomach pain, tremors and even insomnia. The maximum recommended dose of caffeine per day is 400 mg, the equivalent of drinking around 600 ml of bagged coffee per day or 3 espresso coffees.

However, you need to be careful and also take into account the intake of other products containing caffeine, because caffeine is present in energy drinks, some training supplements, some medicines, green, mate and black teas and even in cola soft drinks.

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Caffeine Overdose Symptoms

In the most serious cases, too much coffee can even cause an overdose, resulting in the following symptoms:

  • Increases in heart rate;
  • Delirium and hallucinations;
  • Dizziness;
  • Diarrhea;
  • Seizures;
  • Excessive fever and thirst;
  • Difficulty breathing;
  • Chest pain;
  • Uncontrollable muscle movements.

When observing the presence of these symptoms, it is recommended to go to the hospital emergency room, as medical assistance is necessary. Find out all the symptoms of an overdose in Find out what an overdose is and when it happens.

In these cases, medical hospitalization may be necessary and, depending on the severity of the symptoms, treatment may include gastric lavage, ingestion of activated charcoal and the administration of medicines that help control symptoms.

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Symptoms of excessive coffee consumption

Some of the signs and symptoms that indicate excessive caffeine consumption include:

  • Irritability;
  • Stomachache;
  • Light tremors;
  • Insomnia;
  • Nervousness and restlessness;
  • Anxiety.

When these symptoms are present and when there are no other possible reasons that justify their appearance, it is a sign that the consumption of coffee or products containing caffeine may be excessive, and it is recommended to stop their consumption immediately. See how to take caffeine supplements at a safe dosage.

Recommended daily amount of caffeine

The recommended daily amount of caffeine is 400 mg, which is equivalent to about 600 ml of coffee. However, espresso coffee typically contains a higher concentration of caffeine, and this amount can be easily achieved through the use of energy drinks or capsule supplements.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that caffeine tolerance also varies according to the individual’s age, size and weight, and how accustomed each person is to drinking coffee daily.

Watch the following video and see tips for improving brain capacity:

Although caffeine may seem harmless, it is a central nervous system stimulant, which interferes with the way the brain and body work. Furthermore, it is important to remember that this substance is not only present in coffee, but also in some foods, soft drinks, teas, chocolate, dietary supplements or medicines, for example.

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Graduated from the Catholic University of Santos in 2001, with professional registration under CRN-3 nº 15097.

We regularly update our content with the latest scientific information, so that it maintains an exceptional level of quality.

Bibliography
  • EXAMINE.COM. How much caffeine is too much?. Available at: <https://examine.com/nutrition/caffeine-consumption/>. Accessed on 17 Jul 2019