I love a good cup of coffee! For me, having a coffee has always been associated with taking a break; whether going for a walk to get a coffee with a colleague, catching up with a friend or family member over coffee, or making myself a coffee to have some quiet time away from my desk. Because of this, coffee equals relaxation, and on particularly stressful days, i often find myself wanting several cups per day. But how much coffee is too much?
Caffeine occurs naturally in a range of foods, including coffee, tea and cocoa. Caffeine is a stimulant which acts on the brain and nervous system to improve alertness, focus, memory and mood. It is also addictive, so it makes sense that food manufacturers add it to some food products (such as Coca-Cola, energy drinks and sports supplements).
Caffeine affects everyone differently, and is dependent on several factors such as:
Age, body size, body weight and health
How much is consumed
Whether a person is used to taking it
Some of the possible effects of caffeine include:
Feeling more alert
Improved mood
Restlessness and irritability
Increased anxiety
Improved memory
Dehydration
Headaches
Increased heart rate and breathing rate
So, how much is safe to consume?
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) recommends no more than 400mg of caffeine per day for anyone over 18 years of age. A standard coffee generally contains between 80 and 120mg of caffeine, so i would recommend limiting coffee consumption to no more than 3 cups per day.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the recommendation is to have no more than 200mg of caffeine per day, or 1 to 2 coffees per day.
As caffeine can cause undesirable effects for some people, it is also important to consider whether caffeine consumption is right for you.
If you would like to discuss caffeine consumption and other nutrition advice, book a free introductory phone call today.
