Coffee and Caffeine . . . How much is too much?
Coffee is a critical part to most people’s morning routine, including my own. That warm beverage, first thing in the morning, is something I always look forward to. Coffee and the caffeine that comes with it actually come with a plethora of health benefits such as:
- Decrease of fatigue
- Improved mental functioning
- Antioxidants and minerals
But too much of a good thing can quickly become bad.
When I was 17 and prepping for my first bodybuilding show, I was addicted to caffeine. That sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth! My typical day consisted of a cup of coffee in the morning, a pre-workout just about an hour later, a Monster energy drink in the afternoon, and a double or triple espresso in the evening (I was working at Starbucks, so quick jolts of energy were always at the ready). This equates to roughly a gram a day! For anyone concerned with heart health, longevity, and general body functions, this is a huge problem.
Excessive caffeine consumption can lead to:
- Insomnia
- Increased blood pressure
- Boost in blood glucose levels
- Boost in risk of heart disease
- Rapid heart rate
My goal for this email isn’t to scare you away from caffeine. Like I stated previously, there’s plenty of benefits with it, and black coffee is my go-to pre-workout! However, it’s something we need to be mindful of, as excessive consumption can lead to long term effects. Because of this, I recommend to most and limit myself to two cups of coffee a day, which is about 200mg.
