Life is short, enjoy your coffee. . .

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I'm a coffee lover, as they say, a coffee addict or coffee junkie,  having four (4) or more cups a day that keeps me awake, alive, alert and energetic, doing the action through the day.

Caffeine wakes up the body. Caffeine keeps our minds alert, even for just an hour or two. Regular consumption of caffeine can keep our minds more active and increase our brain power.

                 

Everybody knows that caffeine makes you more alert and clearheaded. A cup of coffee gives you a wakeup jolt because it triggers a stress response. Your adrenal glands are prompted to kick out the same stress hormones that are released when you perceive an external threat or danger. Your muscles tense, your blood sugar elevates for extra energy, your pulse and respiration rates speed up, and your state of alertness increases so you're ready to wrestle with or run from environmental dangers. You may be only sitting at your table or desk drinking a cup of coffee, but your body doesn't know that. It's preparing for action!

Although we think of caffeine in coffee as the "wake-me-up" chemical, but chronic use of it may cause fatigue, headache, moodiness, and depression in some people. Caffeine has its perks, but it can pose problems really.

Caffeine is good for the body, but it is also bad if the intake is too much. Too much is defined as more than 300mg of caffeine every day. You may love caffeine’s feel-good effects, but overdosing can harm your health.

If you are a coffee lover or coffee junkie, having more than 3 cups of coffee a day, and can't get through the day without your coffee fix, you may be promoting your fatigue with caffeine and need a rest period. Go slowly with your reduction to zero caffeine to avoid developing overwhelming sleepiness and a bad headache.

If you rely on caffeine to wake you up and keep you going, well, you are not alone. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, alleviating fatigue, increasing wakefulness, and improving concentration and focus. For most healthy adults, moderate doses of caffeine ,  200 to 300 milligrams (mg), or about two to four cups of brewed coffee a day, aren't harmful. But some circumstances may warrant limiting or even ending your caffeine routine.

Even a little makes you jittery. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than are others. If you're susceptible to the effects of caffeine, just small amounts — even one cup of coffee or tea — may prompt unwanted effects, such as restlessness and sleep problems.

How you react to caffeine may be determined in part by how much caffeine you're used to drinking. People who don't regularly drink caffeine tend to be more sensitive to its negative effects. Other factors may include body mass, age, medication use and health conditions such as anxiety disorders.

Although moderate caffeine intake isn't likely to cause harm, too much can lead to some unpleasant effects. Heavy daily caffeine use ,  more than 500 to 600 mg a day may cause:

* Insomnia

* Nervousness

* Restlessness

* Irritability

* Stomach upset

* Fast heartbeat

* Muscle tremors

Whether you like it fancy or you're a purist, coffee-lovers only seem to remember the good stuff,  such as the energy it gives you and the antioxidant properties. Researches I read that healthy adults don't need more than 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine a day -- that's two to three cups of coffee, or a few shots of espresso. Four or more can cause upset stomachs and muscle tremors in the short-term, and long-term can cause ulcers and insomnia.

So if you want to get control of your caffeine, experts say keep tabs. For every cup of coffee, you should drink two full glasses of water to replenish your body. And trade off: if you plan to down a lot of java, cut back on the sodas, chocolates, and other caffeinated treats. Lastly, slow down. The effects of caffeine last about eight hours, if you think it's wearing off, it's probably in your head.Yes, caffeine is a drug, even though it's something that you ingested in your beloved chocolate bars and colas since early childhood.

Instead of reaching for your morning cup of coffee, you can do your body a big favor by eating a healthy breakfast instead. A good breakfast, maintained by a healthy lunch, will keep you energetic all day. We have to know to distinguish between the good and bad breakfast foods , but whatever you do, don't wash it down with a cup of coffee.

Life is short but enjoy your coffee... not too much !