Coffee is seen at the Viennese coffee house (Wiener Kaffeehaus) Central in Vienna November 10, 2011.
Coffee is seen at the Viennese coffee house (Wiener Kaffeehaus) Central in Vienna November 10, 2011. Reuters

Many people can’t survive the day without drinking a steaming cup of their favourite coffee. However, they should be aware that there are several harmful effects of too much caffeine. It’s true that it also offers numerous benefits to one’s health and wellness but taking too much is definitely bad for you.

  1. Insomnia

Caffeine is a stimulant that can leave you awake the whole night. It is a common energy booster that can effectively awaken your senses especially when you feel groggy at work. It’s a morning upper for many individuals; however, it’s best to avoid it in the evening unless you don’t want to sleep.

  1. Heartburn

Do you experience a burning sensation in your stomach and you feel like vomiting? Heartburn can be caused by drinking caffeine. Just a cup of coffee for instance can already relax the lower oesophageal sphincter and cause hydrochloric acid to burn the lining of the stomach.

  1. Peristalsis

Caffeine can trigger peristalsis which prevents the stomach from digesting food properly and for the body to effectively absorb nutrients from the food we eat. This causes indigestion and also irritates the gastrointestinal tract. Not to mention the fact that you’re eating all those foods without really benefiting from the nutrients they offer.

  1. Nervousness

Too much caffeine can also lead to nervousness. We often drink coffee to relieve stress but during the process, our body also releases stress hormones. These hormones, namely cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine, cause increase heart rate and high blood pressure.

  1. Irritable bowel syndrome

Coffee addicts are also prone to having irritable bowel syndrome especially if they’re fond of drinking coffee on an empty stomach. Caffeine can irritate the stomach lining and causes abdominal pains which lead to diarrhoea and constipation.

Drink caffeine in moderation and if you have health problems, be sure to consult your doctor first. One should bear in mind these harmful effects of too much caffeine to avoid being addicted to it. For questions/comments regarding the article, you may email the writer at sprevendido25ibtimes@gmail.com