How Much Is Too Much?

Medical experts advise us to drink no more than six cups of tea or coffee a day. However, many nutritionists believe this is far too much and it is certainly best for those with high blood pressure, circulatory problems and kidney disease to try quitting caffeine intake altogether. People who are trying to conceive should try to restrict their intake to one cup of coffee a day, while pregnant women and breast feeding mothers can also benefit from restricted intake. Caffeine can be transferred to babies whilst they are still in the womb and it is not unknown for them to have withdrawal symptoms after birth.

Unfortunately, caffeine is habit forming and can become addictive. The more we rely on caffeine, the more we end up needing it. Our adrenal glands can become desensitized to caffeine and the amount that would once have been a pick-me-up is no longer effective. But even before the adrenal glands become desensitized, it is common to experience swings in mood and energy levels. The sudden rise in insulin which results from an intake of caffeine can deprive the brain of glucose, leading to irritability, tension, confusion, dizziness, headaches and cravings for more caffeine or sugary foods, reinforcing the addictive cycle. Some people experience sleep difficulties as a result of this constant see-sawing. Others find it difficult to get going in the morning until they’ve had their first caffeine fix.