How much is too much: Risks of high caffeine consumption
Coffee, a daily beverage for many, is also one of the most freely marketed, addictive substances in the world. However, there still persists a lot of confusion with regards to coffee and its effects.
One cup of coffee contains about 60mg to 70mg of caffeine. This amount temporarily increases mental alertness and energy levels, which in turn reduces drowsiness. Caffeine stimulates the cardiovascular system, thereby raising the blood pressure and heart rate. It prevents fatigue, and may also act as a diuretic and a laxative.
HOW DOES CAFFEINE AFFECT OUR MIND?
The caffeine present in coffee results in closing of the blood vessels in the brain (due to which the brain cannot sleep), causing the release of adrenaline into the body, making it active and alert. Caffeine has also been shown to give a person the ‘temporary high’ by manipulating its dopamine production. It’s because of the above action that most coffee drinkers tend to experience fatigue and depression, irritability, anxiety, jumpiness, deprivation of deep sleep, and vascular headaches. Caffeine, however, can be medically useful as a cardiac stimulant by stimulating heart and blood circulation.
If we do not get our fixed amount everyday, it may result in drowsiness and
headaches.
GAUGE YOUR RISKS
The coffee drinkers can be classified into three categories: Low consumption: Zero to two cups a day.
Moderate consumption: Three to four cups a day.
High consumption: More than five cups daily. Most of the negative effects of caffeine are not a concern with low caffeine consumers. The risks vary with the level of caffeine intake, gender, age and individual sensitivity.
A total of over 500mg of caffeine (seven or more cups a day) is considered high intake.
TIPS TO DETOXIFY
Drink loads of water: Start drinking at least six to eight glasses of water, preferably on an empty stomach.
Try substitutes for coffee: Switch to herbal teas, which do not contain any caffeine, or black tea, which has less than half the caffeine present in a cup of coffee
Regulate your diet: You should eat a diet that is alkaline. Add fibre to your diet to avoid constipation after giving up coffee. After taking all these efforts, if you feel like drinking a cup of coffee during the detoxification phase, then do so in the mid or late
afternoon.