Can Drinking Too Much Coffee Make You Sick?
Coffee is a popular beverage, enjoyed and relished all over the world. But what happens when you drink too much of it? Can it make you sick? To answer this question, let’s look at the effects of excessive consumption of coffee, relevant data and analyze perspectives from experts.
Research shows that regular consumption of 2-3 cups of strong coffee a day has health benefits. It aids in improving concentration, aids in weight loss, reduces the risk of certain types of cancer, and might even protect us from developing diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Coffee has natural antioxidants that help keep us healthy.
However, too much of anything can have its drawbacks. Similarly, drinking more than the recommended amount of coffee can have negative effects on our health. Some of the adverse effects of drinking too much coffee include nausea, diarrhea, heart palpitations, and headaches. Caffeine is a stimulant, and when taken in high doses, it can cause anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. Drinking more than 6 cups of coffee a day can cause hypertension and increase the risk of heart diseases.
Apart from the physiological effects, excessive consumption of coffee can also affect our quality of life. When we drink too much coffee, we become dependent on it and may even develop a caffeine addiction. According to experts, people become physically dependent on coffee when they drink more than 2-3 cups in a day. Our bodies become so unnaturally accustomed to the caffeine rush that it becomes difficult to function without it. This dependency can lead to mood swings, irritability, and fatigue.
Coffee Withdrawal: How to Wean Off
Coffee withdrawal is not something to take lightly. Gradual reduction in coffee intake is the best way to avoid the misery of caffeine withdrawal. If you are someone with a high caffeine tolerance, you must avoid sudden withdrawal of coffee as it can cause various unpleasant symptoms. To reduce the impact of withdrawal, you must start by reducing your caffeine intake by 20%. Keep this up for the next month and during this time, you should also include warm non-caffeinated drinks in your daily routine. After a month of gradually reducing your caffeine intake, your body will slowly become accustomed to low caffeine.
Apart from slowly reducing your caffeine intake, you should also substitute it with other healthier drinks like warm herbal teas or health tonics. You can also opt for coffees that are low in caffeine or organic coffee beans. This will help you keep your coffee break healthy yet still enjoyable.
Having coffee in moderation will benefit your general health. You should restrict your caffeine intake to 400 milligrams per day or no more than 2-3 cups of coffee. Having too much coffee isn’t a pleasant experience and hence you should replace your high caffeine intake with healthier alternatives.
Factors Leading to Overconsumption of Coffee
It’s easy to be hooked on coffee if certain factors such as stress, poor quality of sleep, and overexertion of the body come into play. Young adults, especially those in college and university, are at a higher risk of developing coffee dependency due to the stressful environment. Studies show that over 30% of the population suffer from some kind of coffee addiction. Overconsumption of coffee leads to a variety of lifestyle-related illnesses, and many people end up hospitalized.
Apart from the physical health issues, overconsumption of coffee can also strain your relationships and daily routines. Being dependent on coffee can lead to problems like irritability, change in behavior, and difficulty to concentrate. In these cases, a gradual reduction of coffee intake paired with a healthy lifestyle and exercise is key to healing.
What Can You do to Stay Away From Coffee
If you want to stay away from coffee, it’s best to start with a balanced approach to life. Sufferers of caffeine addiction should focus on incorporating healthy alternatives like herbal teas, fruits such as cherries and cranberries, smoothies, and freshly extracted juices.
One thing that we shouldn’t ignore is the power of an early morning walk. A short morning walk before starting your day can help relax your body, clear your mind and kickstart your day. It is also an excellent way to increase your energy levels and stay away from coffee. Drink more water. Start your day with a glass of warm water. It helps to naturally detoxify your system and cleanses your stomach.
You can also substitute coffee with other healthy options such as roasted barley tea and roasted chicory root tea. All of these options are not only caffeine-free but they are also rich in antioxidants and minerals.
Making Healthy Choices
Although coffee has its benefits, it is always a good idea to opt for drinks that are free from toxins and poisons. Make an active decision to opt for healthier alternatives and motivate yourself with positive thoughts. When we make conscious efforts to embrace good habits, we don’t only help our own health but also inspire and uplift those around us.
Exercise regularly and take full body workouts. Add more proteins and fibers to your diet and stay away from sugary drinks and snacks. Sleep 7-9 hours per day and keep all gadgets away from your bed. Lastly, spend quality time with friends and family. Talking to and connecting with people can help you stay away from caffeine consumption and boost your overall mood.
Alternatives to Coffee
If you’re looking for alternatives to coffee, there are so many options out there. Hot chocolate with some almond milk, hot apple cider vinegar, brewless black tea, fresh juices, carrot juice, and freshly extracted orange juice are some of the healthiest and caffeine-free options available.
Rich teas, decaffeinated coffee, green tea, herbal teas, and matcha tea are also excellent alternatives that can fight off physical and mental fatigue. All these options provide numerous health benefits with none of the side effects of coffee.
Side Effects of Prescribed Caffeine Pills
Although caffeine has been around for centuries and has been used in the medical field to treat several diseases and conditions, research suggests that taking it in pill form is not suitable for everyone. Excessive use of caffeine pills can give rise to a wide array of side effects. In some cases, it can even prove to be fatal. Apart from insomnia, anxiety and restlessness, other side effects include headaches, shaking, dizziness, cramps, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, and an irregular heartbeat.
In conclusion, it is important to make sure that your caffeine intake is within the recommended limits. Staying away from coffee will not only do wonders to your wellbeing but also help you to lead a healthier lifestyle. In addition to this, develop healthy habits like exercising regularly, having a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. With conscious efforts, you can make sure your coffee break never gets out of hand.
