Many people enjoy one to two cups of regular coffee a day. In fact, lots of people feel that they cannot start their day without the jolt of energy they get from their morning coffee.
That jolt comes from caffeine. Caffeine is a chemical that can be found in many foods and beverages, especially coffee, tea, colas and chocolate. Once consumed, caffeine is completely absorbed and spreads throughout the body including the brain, where it increases alertness and prevents tiredness.
An 8-ounce cup of caffeinated coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine. Generally speaking, it is safe to consume up to about 400 mg of caffeine a day of caffeine, the equivalent of three-to-four cups.
But caffeine does have side effects. Drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages later in the day can result in sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
Consuming too much caffeine (more than four cups of coffee a day or the equivalent) can have negative effects. Avoid this, as well as high energy drinks which are loaded with caffeine (>400mg). They can cause restlessness, anxiety, nervousness, palpitations, and elevations of your blood pressure.
In moderation, caffeinated beverages are fine. If you are going to consume them, be health wise, and limit your consumption to no more than 3- 4 eight ounce cups a day.