The last cup of coffee of the day: what doctors say
Coffee is an energizing, nervous system-stimulating drink, and its consumption in unlimited quantities can lead to health consequences. Medicine says that afternoon coffee is something you can do without.
Fortune Well wrote, "We've all experienced the afternoon slump that comes around 3 p.m. when your eyes just keep closing. What if you can't lie down for 30-40 minutes and rest? Should I fight sleep with coffee or wait it out?"
Doctors give a clear answer to this question: if you want to get a good night's sleep, do not consume caffeine 6-8 hours before bedtime. Accordingly, if you usually go to bed around 10:00 p.m., drink your last coffee for the day between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Kristine Dilley, a leading outpatient dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Fortune that this is because "it can take your body 6-8 hours to process and eliminate the caffeine you've consumed."
And if, she says, you're thinking about a healthy lifestyle, it's a good idea to avoid drinking it in the afternoon.
For your information, science says that drinking caffeine 6 hours before bedtime reduces your rest time by one hour.
How do you know if you've had too much coffee?
For most people, a safe dose of caffeine is 400 milligrams per day. For comparison, a two-hundred-gram cup of coffee contains about 95-200 milligrams of caffeine. At the same time, the natural energy drink affects everyone differently.
How do you know if you've had too much coffee today?
Here are some signs of a caffeine overdose:
- anxiety
- trembling in the hands
- insomnia
- upset stomach
- rapid heart rate
- unreasonable dizziness
- panic attacks
- dehydration
How to replace coffee?
If you want to reduce your caffeine intake and cut down on it in the afternoon, a protein-rich breakfast, water with lemon, herbal tea, or smoothie will help you overcome drowsiness.
You can also take a half-hour nap, go for a walk in the fresh air, or take a cool shower.
Tip: add a few short, ten-minute breaks to your workday. This will replenish your energy and improve your well-being without consuming caffeine.
