offee is one of the most popular beverages around the globe. The smell, the taste, and the effects of the caffeine draw people to the drink. It comes in more forms now than ever before, and you can find it almost anywhere, from drive-thru lanes to grocery stores. If you’re one of the many people with a coffee habit, your health could be at risk!
Is Coffee Dangerous?
Coffee isn’t something that should be feared. In fact, coffee in moderation can have some excellent health benefits. Coffee is perfectly fine in moderation. That being said, coffee lovers often cross the line between restraint and dangerously high levels. Coffee can be dangerous during the summer because the caffeine acts as a diuretic, increasing your chance for dehydration and heat stroke.
How Much is Unsafe?
Researchers say that the amount of coffee that should be considered “too much” will vary from one person to the next. As a general guideline, you should consume no more than 5 cups per day. Users who drink 6 cups or more daily begin to show an increased risk for unsafe health conditions. Remember, a cup isn’t just any size cup. One cup of coffee should contain 75 milligrams of caffeine. That large iced coffee you get every day definitely counts for more than one cup!
The Risks
Now that we know how much is unsafe, we need to understand what exactly makes it unsafe. Users who exceed 6 cups of coffee per day are at an increased risk of heart disease linked to hypertension. Hypertension can also raise your risk of stroke. Needless to say, the chances are very serious! In addition to these long-term health risks, you may begin to notice some short-term effects on your health too. Short signs that you’re drinking too much coffee include:
• Headache
• Irritability
• Jitters
• Racing heart
• Dizziness
• Nausea
If you want to try to improve your coffee habit, slowly decrease each day. If you find that it’s hard to give up the taste of the coffee, you can switch to decaf. It’s best to replace the excess coffee with a healthier option, though, like water. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your risk factors for heart disease and hypertension. They’ll be able to tell you exactly how much coffee is safe for you, depending on your health history. You can still love coffee, just do so in moderation!
