
See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledgeįrequently Asked Questions about Coffee and Caffeine Summary: All you wanted to know about caffeinated beveragesįollowup-To:, Subject: Coffee and Caffeine's Frequently Asked Questions "If you are unsure it's always good to check in with a dietitian to see how coffee can work as a part of a healthy diet or your exercise routine.Newsgroups:, alt.coffee,, alt.answers, rec.answers, news.answers "If people are feeling over anxious or getting heart palpitations or racing thoughts it's probably time to cut back! "Evidence indicates that there is significant variation in the way that individuals respond to caffeine, and the difference in sensitivity may be linked to caffeine tolerance, caffeine withdrawal and genetic differences impacting metabolism," says Hardman. "Research shows that a moderate consumption of coffee (less than four cups per day) may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 25 percent, increases alertness and may be associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease," explains McGrice.įor Hardman, it's a classic case of listening to your body, and starting gently with a cup or two instead of leaping head first into a pool-sized mug of Blend 43. The answer – like pretty much all health questions – is "it depends": your tolerance to caffeine is decided by a huge number of factors including the type of coffee you're drinking, how often you drink it, how big you are, what medications you take and even your genetics.Īs McGrice explains, most of the research classifies "moderate" consumption of coffee to less than four cups a day – but this is an extremely rough guide. That leads many people to ask: well just how many coffees a day is over-doing it? How many should I be drinking?
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RELATED: How to tell exactly how much caffeine is in your coffee How many coffees should you drink a day? "Caffeine has a half-life of around four to six hours, therefore the effects of caffeine can continue for hours after we actually consumed it." "On the other hand, the negative effects of caffeine include insomnia, jitteriness, nervousness, irritability, rapid heart rate and headaches. "The positive effects of caffeine include improved physical and cognitive performance, increased mental alertness and decreased fatigue," explains Hardman. The impact that the sheer amount of coffee will have on your health – regardless of variety – is largely down to dosage: indulge in a little for maximum benefit, but go too far and you'll start to suffer from some unpleasant side effects. On the other hand, a ground or brewed coffee contains 60-120mg of caffeine per cup. More caffeine isn't necessarily always a good thing however, as it will impact each individual differently."

"One cup of instant coffee contains 60-80mg of caffeine. "The main difference between instant coffee and ground coffee, is the amount of caffeine," explains Hardman. Have you ever wondered how colleagues can chug back cup after cup of instant coffee, while you're buzzing off a single cappuccino you bought at the local café? The reason all comes down to the caffeine level, because it’s not the same between all varieties. "We need to remember that we can find high amounts of antioxidants in our fruits and vegetables too however, coffee isn't the sole source in our diet!" The caffeine divide "There is evidence to suggest that the antioxidants are comparable in instant and ground coffee, with one study finding that instant coffee actually had more of some antioxidants," Hardman tells Coach.

It's a sentiment that Body Fusion dietitian Emily Hardman agrees with, arguing that health profile of both coffees is fairly comparable – but we need to look at the big picture when it comes to our diets. "The main difference is found in potassium levels, with ground coffee having more than double the potassium of instant." "The differences between instant and ground coffee are pretty negligible, but there may be a small difference in terms of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and caffeine levels.
