Many people reach for their coffeepot or kettle as a first thing in the morning. Many people cannot start their day without a cup of coffee, whether it’s their first or fifth. We’re all familiar with the need to cut down on our coffee intake, primarily to lower our caffeine intake.
Caffeine has been linked to several adverse health effects. These include:
Sleeplessness – Caffeine has been known to improve alertness and reduce sleepiness. Uneven sleep patterns can be caused by caffeine intake or coffee consumed within three hours of bedtime. I used to drink several cups of coffee every day, and would stay awake for hours at night.
Constipation – Caffeine overuse is believed to be the main cause of constipation. Some people also experience the opposite effect.
Unusual Heartbeat – Caffeine has been known to cause irregular or fluctuating heartbeats. Caffeine can also increase your heart rate. Similar symptoms can occur if we quickly stop taking caffeine.
Another known side effect of caffeine is high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a side effect of caffeine that can be caused by excessive coffee consumption.
Headaches can result from abrupt withdrawal of caffeine.
Although coffee is commonly thought to be the only source, we also consume caffeine in various forms every day. Caffeine is found in many things that we eat daily, including:
Chocolate
Tea
Energy Drinks
Soy products
A few breakfast cereals that are processed
Keep this in mind: If you drink an average amount of coffee per day and also consume any of the foods mentioned above, you may be increasing your caffeine intake without realising.
There are positives.
Despite the fact that coffee has a lot of caffeine, there are many health benefits to it.
Antioxidants are found in coffee, which help to eliminate free radicals. Caffeine can cause heart problems, as we have already mentioned. However, the benefits of Antioxidants can help to lower heart disease and certain cancers.
Coffee has more antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are extremely high in coffee.
We don’t get the extra fibre, vitamins, minerals, and other health benefits that we normally get from Fruit and Vegetables.
A small amount of caffeine should not cause major health problems. You should always follow your doctor’s advice if you have been advised by your doctor to quit drinking coffee or reduce the amount of caffeine in your diet.
