It’s no secret that most of us are pretty reliant on caffeine to get us through the day. For some of us, one cup of coffee in the morning is all we need while others might need 3 or 4 cups to make it to lunchtime. But at what point does your caffeine consumption become too much? Here are four signs that you might be drinking too much coffee.
You’re Addicted to the Caffeine
If you find that you can’t go more than a few hours without a cup of coffee or energy drink, you might be addicted to caffeine. The Mayo Clinic defines addiction as “a condition that results when a person ingests a substance that can be pleasurable but the continuation of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health.” If your coffee habit is interfering with your daily life, it might be time to cut back.
You Can’t Sleep
Most of us are pretty familiar with the feeling of being “wired” after drinking too much coffee. If you find that you can’t sleep at night because you had coffee too late in the day or you’re just generally wired all the time, that’s another sign that you might be drinking too much coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant and can stay in your system for up to 8 hours, so it’s important to be mindful of when you’re having your last cup of joe if you want to avoid insomnia.
You Have Anxiety
If you find that your anxiety levels are through the roof and it seems like nothing helps calm you down, it might be worth considering cutting back on the coffee. Again, because caffeine is a stimulant, it can aggravate anxiety and make it hard to focus or relax. If you think your anxiety might be linked to your caffeine intake, talk to your doctor about whether cutting back on coffee is right for you.
You Have Stomach Issues
Caffeine is also a diuretic, which means it makes you have to pee more often. This can lead to dehydration and other stomach issues like indigestion or heartburn. If you find that you have more bathroom breaks than usual or you’re always bloated after drinking coffee, those could be signs that you need to cut back on java.
Most of us rely on caffeine to some extent to get us through our days. But at what point does our reliance turn into an addiction? And how much is too much? If you find yourself experiencing any of the above symptoms after drinking coffee, it might be time to cut back on Java or switch to decaf. Talk to your doctor if you think your caffeine intake might be affecting your health in other ways.
