Limit of Caffeine
In the U.S., it’s become common to drink caffeine every single morning to get you ready for your day, but do we ever stop and wonder just how much the limit is?
Caffeine is a stimulant that increases the activity of your brain and nervous system. It is found in many commonly consumed drinks, like coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks. In small doses, caffeine can make you feel energized and focused, but in large doses it can make you feel anxious and have difficulty sleeping.
Studies have shown that 83% of teens in the U.S. consume caffeine regularly, and 96% drink it semi-regularly. According to Michigan Medicine, teens are not recommended to consume more than 100ml of caffeine a day. For reference, one can of Monster contains 160 ml of caffeine, one can of Celsius contains 200 m, one can of Red Bull contains 80 ml, one can of Coca-Cola contains 35 ml, and one Starbucks latte or cappuccino each have 150ml.
This means that most of these drinks which are regularly consumed by teenagers should not be. The American Academy of Pediatrics even advises that teens do not drink energy drinks at all. Additionally, energy drinks use artificial caffeine, meaning that it is the least healthy option when compared to coffee or tea.
People who drink excessive amounts of caffeine can have elevated heart rates and blood pressure, meaning an increased risk of heart problems like heart attacks, heart failures, or strokes.
A study was done where a group of individuals were asked to perform a step test, stepping up and down on a platform, for three minutes. Their heart rates and blood pressures were measured too. Those who regularly drank the limit of caffeine per day had higher heart rates and blood pressures while doing this test and while recovering after.
Drinking lots of caffeine can lead to caffeine dependency, meaning without caffeine your body might not even function effectively. When trying to quit caffeine while having caffeine dependency, you might even experience withdrawls, which may include fatigue, crankiness, persistent headache, and anxiety. The easiest way to break caffeine dependency is to reduce the amount that you’re having gradually. This eases your body into eventually being able to function effectively without caffeine.
This study, among many others, shows that regularly drinking even the “healthy” amount of caffeine per day is still not the best for you and can lead to decreased physical or even mental health.
Written by: Shengze