Drinking coffee has been associated with alertness because of the caffeine it contains. A cup of coffee every morning has become ritualistic in the life of many adults.
Coffee is a brewed drink that is prepared from roasted coffee beans. Roasted coffee beans are ground and then brewed with boiling water to produce coffee. Coffee is a dark coloured, bitter drink that is slightly acidic and has stimulatory effect. It is one of the most popular drinks in the world. There are numerous health benefits associated with drinking coffee, but coffee can be very detrimental to health if consumed in large quantities. Here are some reasons why too much coffee is bad for your health:
- It Leads to Anxiety
Caffeine in coffee is known to increase alertness by blocking the effects of adenosine which is a brain chemical that makes you feel tired. The caffeine also triggers the release of adrenaline hormone which is associated with increased energy. At higher doses, these effects of caffeine are heightened which leads to anxiety and nervousness. This condition is called caffeine-induced anxiety disorder. High daily intakes of about 1000mg or more of coffee have been reported to cause edginess and nervousness. Even moderate intake of coffee can lead to similar effect in caffeine-sensitive people. Also, a moderate dose of coffee has been shown to cause rapid breathing and an increased level of stress when consumed in one sitting. When you notice nervousness or edginess after drinking coffee, it might be good to cut back on your coffee intake.
- It Leads to Insomnia
Caffeine has the ability to help people stay awake, which is one of its most prized quality but, too much caffeine can make it difficult to get enough therapeutic sleep. Several studies have shown that higher caffeine intake increases the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. There is also evidence that higher caffeine intake decreases total sleepy time especially among the elderly. Caffeine consumed later in the day may interfere with your sleep because it takes several houses for the effects to wear off. It is therefore important to pay attention to both the amount and timing of drinking coffee to improve your sleep.
- It Can Cause Digestive Issues
People have found out that a cup of coffee in the morning helps their bowel movements. The laxative effect of coffee has been attributed to the release of gastrin, a hormone produced by the stomach to speed up activities of the colon. Caffeine also stimulates bowel movements by increasing the contractions that move food through your digestive tract. This is the reason why large doses of caffeine may lead to loose stools and diarrhea in some people. Some studies suggest that caffeinated beverages may worsen gastroesophagael reflux disease in few people. If you are a frequent coffee drinker and you experience any digestive issues, you may need to reduce the amount of coffee you drink.
- It Can Lead to Muscle Breakdown
Excessive coffee intake has been related to a serious condition called Rhabdomyolysis. This is a condition in which damaged muscle fibers enter into the blood stream thereby leading to kidney failure and other health problems. This is especially evident in people who consume large dosage of caffeine within a short period of time. In order to reduce your risk of this condition, it is advised to limit your caffeine intake to about 250mg per day.
- It Can Increase High Blood Pressure
Caffeine has been shown to raise blood pressure due to its stimulatory effect on the nervous system. An elevated blood pressure puts you at risk of heart attack and stroke because it may damage arteries on the long run, thereby restricting blood flow to your heart and brain. Fortunately, the effect of caffeine on blood pressure seems to be temporary. The effects of high caffeine on the blood pressure were common in healthy people during exercise and in people with mildly elevated blood pressure. It is therefore necessary to pay attention to the dosage and timing of caffeine especially if you already had high blood pressure.
- It Can Lead to Addiction
There is no denying that frequent coffee drinking may become habit. Reviews suggest that caffeine triggers certain brain chemicals similar to the way cocaine and amphetamine do but it does cause classic addictions the way these drugs do. However, high doses of caffeine can lead to psychological or physical dependency. Although the compound does not seem to cause true addiction, regular consumption of coffee or other caffeinated beverages has a food chance of leading to dependency.
Although this response to high coffee intake varies from person to person, it is still evident that high consumption is not advised. Choose to take coffee in light and moderate amounts because it provides impressive health benefits in comparison to high intake.
image source: medicalnewstoday
