This Is The Maximum Amount Of Coffee You Should Drink Each Day
People enjoy drinking coffee. This is not debatable, and in fact, there is an entire industry built around the idea that people aren't fully awake until they have their coffee. Whether it's just a morning cup, or a drink enjoyed throughout the day, drinking coffee is ingrained in people's daily routines — it even has health benefits. However, there are limits to how much coffee you can drink before it becomes potentially harmful. A study from the University of South Australia found that consuming more than five cups of coffee will negatively impact your health (via Martha Stewart).
The study analyzed health records as well as dietary patterns, which were self-reported, of 347,077 people between the ages of 37 and 73. The researchers also looked at a gene variant, CYP1A2, which enables caffeine to be metabolized up to four times faster than people who don't have the gene variant. The study compared those who drank one or two cups daily to people who consumed six cups or more per day (via Health).
The study found that drinking six or more cups of coffee can cause your risk of heart disease to increase by up to 22 percent. Researchers were watching to see whether the gene allowed people to consume more coffee without adverse health effects; however, they found that people with the CYP1A2 gene were still at an increased risk of developing hypertension.
The good side of caffeine
There are quality-of-life risks associated with drinking six or more cups of coffee as well. Many people who pound down that much coffee will get jittery and feel anxious, developing what the DSM-5 refers to as coffee intoxication. This will cause feelings of anxiety, agitation, headaches, and rambling speech (via American Psychological Association).
There's no need to put a damper on your coffee drinking, though. It still has health benefits. Coffee has hundreds of bioactive compounds, and is even the largest source of antioxidants for a lot of people. Those who drink coffee have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, liver diseases, and neurological disorders. Drinking 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is safe for an average healthy adult (via Healthline). It is important to keep in mind, however, that those effects can be canceled out by putting too much cream and sugar in your cup of joe (via USA Today).
Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive drug in the world, with each cup of coffee containing between 50 to more than 400 mg per cup. For an idea of scale, an average 8-ounce cup of coffee has approximately 100 mg of caffeine. Comparatively, a Starbucks grande contains over 300 mg of caffeine (via Healthline).
Coffee can have health benefits as long as it's consumed in moderation — and you stick to five (or fewer) cups per day.