Reporting Natalie Nyhus
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — How much do caffeine would you say you drink a day? One study says 98 percent of people consume some kind of caffeine every day.
A recent article outlines how much is too much and what the side effects can be.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, soda and energy drinks to name a few.
Experts say 200 mg or about two cups of strong coffee can wake you up, fight headaches and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
That’s if you drink 200 mg. So how much is too much?
If you drink ore than 500 mg per day — that’s about four to five cups of coffee — it can lead to addiction, anxiety, irritability and even hallucinations.
It’s the same for soda, but you would have to drink 14 cans of Diet Coke to reach 500 mg.
For chocolate, you’d have to eat five cups of chocolate chips.
If you drink more than two energy drinks, like 5-Hour Energy — you’re in the danger zone.
If you get to extreme levels of caffeine, you could sufferr from panic attacks, psychosis and mania.
It’s difficult to say how much is too much because it depends on who’s drinking it. People can build up a tolerance.
Also, weight and body mass index come into play.