Caffeine: Should You Cut Back
Recent studies have failed to link caffeine to increased risk of cancer, or heart disease. It’s the subtler, more immediate effects on mood and energy that you need to watch out for. In moderate amounts, caffeine can boost alertness, heighten your sense of well-being and increase stamina, so you can exercise or perform other physical tasks longer. What’s moderate? About 300 milligrams a day (which is the average intake), which is the equivalent of about three cups of coffee. Caffeine is mildly addictive but you should evaluate the extent to which you wish to be controlled by it. Should you cut back? Here are some unpleasant symptoms to consider. Restless sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep or feeling tired after seven or eight hours’ rest, caffeine-especially if consumed late in the day-could be the culprit. Stress. If you’re stressed, caffeine can aggravate you symptoms, possibly to the point of panic. On days you’re not under the gun, caffeine can cause stress like symptoms, making your heart pound and your nerves jangle. To server PMS. Caffeine has been linked to aggravated premenstrual symptoms such as depression, fatigue and irritability. If you decide to cut back, do so gradually. Abrupt withdrawal can produce headache, fatigue, lethargy, and sometimes muscle aches, nausea and vomiting.