You love your coffee and enjoy that first cup as soon as you climb out of bed. You go to refill as you head out the door before grabbing your third cup mid-morning. By afternoon, you start to wonder if drinking this much coffee is healthy. Let’s take a closer look at how much coffee you can safely drink, when you should begin to cut back, and how to do so without the nasty side effects of caffeine withdrawal. 

Listen to Your Body

According to the latest dietary guidelines from the USDA, drinking three to five cups of coffee per day is safe and healthy for most adults. Keep in mind that this is the total caffeine intake. If you also drink caffeinated tea or soda, you should cut back on the amount of coffee you drink. Of course, your own body and health should always be your main guidelines. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. Some people have health conditions that make it inadvisable to consume this much (or any amount of) caffeine. Listen to your body. If you find yourself getting jittery or agitated, or if you find that you are having trouble getting enough sleep, it may be time to cut back on the amount of coffee you drink. 

Monitor Caffeine Intake

Keep track of how much you drink and when you drink it. Keep a little log and be aware that a cup of coffee is eight fluid ounces. A large 16 oz coffee from your favorite little coffee place, or that large insulated mug you fill up before heading out the door in the morning, could easily count as two cups of coffee. Keep a little journal for a week and record how much coffee you drink, when you drink it, and how you feel throughout the day. Adding notes about sleep and energy levels can be helpful as well. 

If you find yourself drinking more than four cups of coffee, notice a dip in energy a few hours after your caffeine spike, or have trouble getting to sleep at night, it may be time to cut back a little. Of course, that is easier said than done. If you cut back too much, you will find yourself groggy and with a vicious caffeine-withdrawal headache. Start by cutting back slowly and replacing some of your regular coffee with half-caf or decaf. It will make the transition easier. 

Try No-Caffeine Fridays

It can also be helpful to start cutting back on caffeine on a Friday. You will make it through the day and then have the rest of the weekend to get used to functioning on less caffeine. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and it will not take you long to get accustomed to making it through the day with a little less coffee. Being able to get a good night sleep, and keeping energy levels throughout the day is well worth the time and effort it takes to cut back on caffeine.

Overall, it is essential that you limit your caffeine intake to safe levels, depending on how your body reacts to certain amounts. Also, you want to drink only a healthy, immunity-boosting cup of delicious coffee. So drink Good Leaf Ashitaba Instant Coffee from Orgaanics and be ready to tackle the day ahead!