Sunday, 19 April 2015 16:00 First take a deep breath of relief: no one is recommending you should give up your morning cup of coffee. There is a general understanding that for a healthy adult, that is, one not on any medication or with chronic conditions, can safely consume from 300-400 mg of caffeine per day. That is the equivalent of four cups of regularly brewed coffee, or one Venti-sized Starbucks coffee.
Caffeine is considered a drug, because it stimulates the nervous system. It does not accumulate in the body, but you may feel its effects for up to six hours. It is wiser to think about “safety limits” in these terms: “A safe caffeine limit is the amount of caffeine a person can consume without experiencing any negative caffeine overdose symptoms.” (Caffeine Informer Website)
Some people can be more sensitive to caffeine than others; just based on their genetic makeup as well as body size. For example, just as a 200-lb fit adult male may be able to consume two beers without any side effects, a 110-lb petite female might be at her top limit with two beers. Therefore, the best way to judge if you have abused caffeine lately and could be over your limit is to look at the negative caffeine overdose symptoms and see if any of them are similar to things you have been experiencing lately.