Darci Marchese, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Plenty of normal, healthy people wake up in the morning with the urge for a caffeine fix. If people feel the need to satisfy that fix a few more times over the course of the day, it might do harm than good.
There have been all sorts of studies on the risks and side effects of caffeine, but how much is too much?
The American Dietetic Association says 300 milligrams is tops, which amounts to three eight-ounce cups a day.
Prevention Magazine has gathered up some tell tale signs that you’re over-caffeinated.
One of the tell-tale signs is hitting an afternoon slump and not be able to finish the day without an extra jolt.
Other signs include not being able to sleep, feeling anxious, heartburn and orange-colored urine, which is a sign of dehydration.
Experts say it takes caffeine about an hour to get absorbed into your system and can linger in your body for several hours. In order to avoid a overload of caffeine, you should avoid it past lunch time.
If your heart feels like it’s going to beat through your chest, it’s time to stop. Prevention Magazine reports caffeine can act as a stimulant that triggers the adrenal gland to excrete more stress hormones such as adrenaline, which can increase heart rate and make people feel more anxious.
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