I have a confession to make. As I sit here typing my blog post, I’m half sipping my cup of coffee. But how bad is caffeine addiction really? It helps me stay up late to finish an assignment, it gives a good boost before my soccer game.
According to the VeryWellHealth, Caffeine is a drug that naturally occurs in the leaves and seeds of many plants. Produced artifically, it is often added to many other beverages.
Caffeine is undoubtedly a stimulant, and millions of people across the world consume it to improve concentration and alleviate fatigue. Quite frankly, according to James D. Lane, PhD, director of the Duke University Medical Center Psychophysiology Laboratory, it could even reduce your chance of getting Parkinson’s disease and possibly even Alzheimers.
It’s true that consuming caffeine may have certain benefits, but that doesn’t mean you should start drinking coffee every day!
According to the Mayo Clinic, most adults can safely consume 200 to 300 mg of caffeine per day, or about the equivalent of two to four cups of coffee. But heavy caffeine use, or the consumption of 500 to 600 mg of the drug per day, can have side effects such as:
- Agitation
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Rapid heart rate
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Adolescent sleep disorders
- Upset stomach
- Dehydration
Lack of sleep is a big one. Most people, myself included, are ignorant of how much an excessive consumption of caffeine can lead to sleep deprivation.
One study also found that caffeine can delay the timing of your body clock. In other words, your body has its own biological, which alarms you when you are tired, hungry, etc. Consuming caffeine has a negative impact on your body clock because it alters your consistent sleep routine.
The next time you take a sip, reflect as you sip. Ask yourself if you’re consuming too much, and why you’re consuming it!
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