Is Too Much Coffee a Bad Thing?

There's a reason why coffee shops exist on every city corner and in every suburban mini-mall. Americans love coffee. We drink it in 16-ounce cups, bowl-sized mugs, and refillable thermoses. We have it with breakfast and with lunch — sometimes even later, for an afternoon pick-me-up.

E-learners are no exception. As a group, e-learners define the very term "multitasking." Juggling school assignments, career responsibilities, and family commitments, e-learners need to make efficient use of every waking hour. In order to optimize and extend those waking hours, many e-learners rely on regular coffee consumption.

But what does all that coffee drinking mean for your health? The latest coffee research seems to indicate a good news/bad news scenario. Concrete risks and benefits associated with frequent coffee drinking are still up for debate, but medical experts have isolated some promising upsides (including decreased risk for colon cancer, gallstones, liver damage, Parkinson's disease, and type 2 diabetes), along with some possible dangers — most notably, heart disease.

Bottom line: don't down your coffee indiscriminately. If you're going back to school this fall, make sure you've got your caffeine quotient in check. Here are 3 tips you'll want to consider, before you wake up and smell the coffee.

Monitor Your Caffeine Consumption

Coffee's main ingredient is caffeine, which happens to be a stimulant. Like other stimulants, caffeine affects your nervous system, your heart, and your muscles. Caffeine can also be mildly addictive. Some coffee drinkers experience headaches and other symptoms of low-grade withdrawal if they go without caffeine for too long.

That said, experts' underlining rule for coffee drinkers is moderation. Coffee's beneficial properties can be obtained by drinking 1 or 2 cups. But consuming more than 500 milligrams of caffeine (about 5 cups) in a day can lead to significant side effects. According to information published on the Mayo Clinic Web site, negative effects might include: insomnia, restlessness, irritability, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, irregular heartbeat, headaches, or anxiety.

Certain medical conditions or medications can exacerbate the negative effects of caffeine. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, for example, WebMD.com reports that you probably shouldn't consume more than 1 or 2 cups of coffee each day. Certain antibiotics and dietary supplements don't mix well with caffeine intake. Interaction may cause heart palpitations and anxiety. Finally, caffeine levels can be doubly high in certain sodas and guarana-fueled "energy" drinks. So if you're trying to stay below the 500 milligram cutoff, remember to count the caffeine content in your cold beverages too.

Become a Clock-Watcher

No, not the kind who races out of the office at 5 p.m. Become the kind of clock-watcher who recognizes that it might be too late in the day for another cup of coffee. Experts recommend curbing your caffeine intake at least 8 hours before you go to bed. If you have an 11:30 bedtime, that means no coffee after 3:30 pm. Sticking to this guideline can help you achieve a deeper, more restful sleep. A better night's sleep, in turn, will reduce your need for more coffee in the morning.

What can you do when late afternoon rolls around, and you need an extra jolt to keep yourself from nodding off? Try some sparkling water or a piece of fruit.

When you're dehydrated, your body often lapses into sluggishness. If you treat your sluggishness with caffeine, you may benefit from a brief buzz of energy, but the caffeine will further dehydrate you, leading to increased fatigue later in the day.