How Much Caffeine Is Too Much



Even though I love the taste and smell of coffee, I always encourage people to try and stay away. Why? Because caffeine is very habit forming and can cause undesirable reactions. It is amazing how popular caffeine is. Eight out of 10 people consume it every day in one form or another. Beverages containing caffeine are coffee, tea, and colas. I always advise people to try their best and stick to one cup in the morning and to choose espresso over dripped coffee as it is less acidic. The longer coffee sits, the more acidic it becomes.

The primary natural sources of caffeine are tea leaves, coffee beans, kola nuts, yerba mate leaves, and cacao beans. The history of coffee dates back to the 15th century in Turkey:Read More on This. Most people say that they drink coffee to wake up and stay alert, but frankly the caffeine is just a stimulant. So yes, it stimulates some energy initially, but what I try to explain to clients is that this is really nervous energy and does not last as compared to the vital energy that comes drinking the juice of fresh fruits and vegetables. This is why starting your day with one cup is acceptable, but adding more and more is not. The acidity can interfere with digestion, and also causes dehydration. The more coffee you drink, the more you need to lubricate with water. Headaches can develop from too much caffeine because of this dehydration problem with over consumption.

Many people are fooled into thinking that coffee is healthy because caffeine is a substance found in nature in the leaves of berries, seeds or bark. This is not the case. I just had a client tell me that when she tried to stop caffeine, she developed headaches which fooled her into thinking that she really should stick to the coffee. I explained that this was a withdrawal symptom from the chemical compounds in caffeine.

In spite of the great popularity, products containing caffeine should be consumed with caution. Studies seem to agree that drinking two or three cups of coffee or tea a day is not a reason for concern, except for pregnant and nursing mothers, and people with heart problems or sensitivity to caffeine. On his website, Dr. Greger explains who should avoid coffee completely. https://nutritionfacts.org/2017/10/19/who-should-avoid-coffee/

In conclusion, it is nice to “wake up and smell the coffee”, but as with everything else, moderation is key!!

The opinions shared in this article are those of the contributor and not Total Gym Direct.

 

Frances Michaelson

A pioneer in the fitness industry, Frances opened the first personal training center in the West Island of Montreal in 2001. In 2008 , Frances had the “gut feeling“ that there was more to learn about health and how our bodies function, which led to further her education in the field of Naturopathy and holistic nutrition. She has since authored two books. Her latest book, "Do you Have the Guts to be Healthy" was published in March 2021. As a trainer and naturopath, she truly loves seeing people transform themselves by trusting their bodies instead of getting caught up in the medical system. Practicing health is the only way to live the gift of life well!

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