Caffeine in Coffee...Is it Unhealthy?

Is the caffeine in coffee unhealthy?    Enjoy drinking a cup of coffee from time to time?

Most people do! However, some people end up dealing with problems when drinking coffee that are often attributed to caffeine consumption. Even if you have a problem with caffeine, there are still coffee choices available for you. It is important you consider the amount of caffeine contained in coffee, how it affects your body and health and common problems you deal with when you drink coffee.

What is Caffeine?

Basically caffeine is a chemical that is benign, and most people have no problem tolerating it. It does provide you with a bit of lift, which is done by preventing adenosine to act normally within the body. However, this is something temporary that really has no big effect on the body. There are a few people out there that have bad reactions when they drink or eat something with caffeine but in general most people don't have severe reactions to caffeine.

Coffee - Can You Get Too Much of a Good Thing?

There are various healthy aspects to coffee, including the host of anti oxidants that are contained in the brew. It can provide health benefits, but only when it is consumed in moderation. Drinking too much coffee can lead to a dependency on the caffeine that is in it, and if you stop drinking the coffee to quickly, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms as well.

Caffeine in Coffee - How Much is There?

How much caffeine is there really in these drinks?

You'll find that while soft drinks and many foods have a specific level of caffeine in them, it's hard to totally tell how much caffeine is actually in coffee. Various types of coffee can have different amounts of caffeine in them. Some beans may have up to 2.4% level of caffeine, while there are other beans that barely have any caffeine in them. Processing factors can also alter the amount of caffeine in coffee as well, so this has to be taken into consideration as well. In general though, you can get between 40mg to 200 mg per cup of coffee, which is definitely more than the average soda.

Common Problems with Coffee

Some of the most common problems that people end up experiencing when they drink coffee include not being able to sleep, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery or nervous, acid reflux or heartburn, and dehydration from the diuretic effects of caffeine.

While these are common problems that people end up with when drinking coffee, it's important to note that caffeine is not always the problem. Some people actually are sensitive to certain roasts and not the caffeine. However, if you really do have a problem with the caffeine in coffee you can simply switch to decaffeinated.

How Caffeine Affects the Body

Caffeine does have some effects on the body. It is known for being a stimulant that stimulates the brain, the heart, and the nervous system as well. It can elevate the mood, increase the ability to work hard and think clearly, and also helps to decrease the fatigue you may feel. When it is absorbed by the body your respiration, blood flow, metabolic rate, and heart rate can all be increased for a few hours. If you drink 6 cups or more you may have these affects.

Caffeine and Health - A Few Important Facts

There are a variety of important facts that you really need to know.

   - Fact #1 - Too Much Caffeine is Not Great for Pregnant Women - Studies have shown that women who are pregnant should avoid drinking too much caffeine. In some cases too much caffeine has been associated with babies that had a low birth weight as well as miscarriages as well.

   - Fact #2 - It's Important to Control Caffeine Consumption in Children - Children are dealing with nervous systems that are just developing, and because of this, it is important to control and moderate the amount of caffeine that they are getting from their food and drinks.

   - Fact #3 - Caffeine Increases Metabolism Temporarily - For about three hours or so after you consume caffeine, it increases your metabolic rate, which means during that time you are burning more calories than usual.

Caffeine in coffee is not always a problem as long as it is used in moderation. Drinking coffee can come along with some excellent health benefits, but when it comes to caffeine and health, overdoing it can come with negative consequences to your body as well. Don't forget, other sources also have caffeine, so you may be getting more than you should when you add those to your daily list of caffeine intake.

So, go ahead and have your cup of java but avoid drinking more than 5-6 cups a day.