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Ah, coffee. Whether you’re cradling a travel mug on your way to work or dashing out after spin class to refuel with a skinny latte, it’s hard to imagine a day without it. The caffeine perks you up, and there’s something incredibly soothing about sipping a steaming cup of joe. But is
drinking coffee good for you? Good news: The case for coffee is stronger than ever. Study after study indicates you could be getting more from your favorite morning beverage than you thought: Coffee is chock full of substances that may help guard against conditions more common in women, including Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. Caffeine is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about coffee. But coffee also contains antioxidants and other active substances that may
reduce internal inflammation and protect against disease, say nutrition experts from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. What are the top health benefits of drinking coffee?Your brew gives you benefits beyond an energy boost. Here are the top ways coffee can positively impact your health:
5 Heart-Healthy Food SwapsWhen it comes to your heart health, it's the little, everyday choices you make that can have the biggest impact on your future well-being. Isatu Isuk, a dietitian at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, suggests five simple adjustments you can make to help boost your heart health. How much coffee is safe for women to drink each day?It’s true, you can have too much of a good thing. Excessive intake of caffeinated coffee can make you jittery and cause:
So how much coffee is the optimal amount to drink to get all the benefits, but avoid the negative side effects? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it’s safe for most women to drink three to five cups of coffee a day with a maximum intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine. (Caffeine content can vary depending on the type of coffee, but an average 8-ounce cup has 95 milligrams.) But if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, the rules are different. Check with your obstetrician before adding caffeine into your diet. If coffee gives you the jitters, take care not to overdo it: Caffeine tolerance is different for everyone. You can still get some of the potential health benefits by drinking one cup of coffee a day, or even decaf. Also, remember that what you add to your coffee can make a difference in how healthy the beverage really is. Instead of loading up on cream and sugar, try adding up to two tablespoons of milk, milk substitute or half-and-half, and using naturally sweet spices and flavorings. Try stirring in a ¼ teaspoon of the following for extra flavor:
While coffee is a pleasurable part of your lifestyle, there are other factors that make a bigger impact on your health such as eating a balanced diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight. But drinking coffee is a delightful addition to those key health factors. Johns Hopkins nutritionists share a recipe for a healthy iced pumpkin spice "latte" smoothie. Quick & Healthy Coffee RecipeIced Pumpkin Spice “Latte” SmoothieBlend all ingredients to create a seasonally-inspired drink. Using real pumpkin adds beneficial fiber.
Try to limit added sugar as much as you can! If you MUST add sweetener, try pure maple syrup in a small quantity- start with 1 teaspoon.
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Is 1000 mg of caffeine too much?Extremely high daily intakes of 1,000 mg or more per day have been reported to cause nervousness, jitteriness and similar symptoms in most people, whereas even a moderate intake may lead to similar effects in caffeine-sensitive individuals (9, 10 ).
Is 600 mg of caffeine too much?The Food and Drug Administration says 600 mg per day is too much. While everyone's tolerance is different, getting more than your normal amount could make you feel nervous, anxious, irritable, jittery, and could cause excessive urine production or irregular heartbeat, says caffeine researcher Maggie Sweeney, Ph.
Is 200 mg of caffeine a lot?A caffeine intake of 200 mg per dose, and up to 400 mg per day, is generally considered safe.
What happens if you drink 400 mg of caffeine?For most people, it is not harmful to consume up to 400mg of caffeine a day. If you do eat or drink too much caffeine, it can cause health problems, such as: Restlessness and shakiness. Insomnia.
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