How much coffee is too much?

Dry_bean

I'm fast approaching my use by date, and sadly with aging comes problems like high blood pressure.

Coffee now makes my BP spike, bugger, so think it prudent to limit my consumption to a couple of espresso drinks a day, nope decaf is not an option, to me a bit like washing your feet with your socks on.

Fortunately have recently discovered Hibiscus tea, while not a coffee substitute it really is a very pleasant drink, the down side being, without sugar it really is quite tart, so, limit caffeine intake and increase sugar consumption, cant win. 🙁

This article prompted my post http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/drink/how-much-coffee-is-too-much-20150914-gjhgq6.html

GeekKopi

Dry bean. wrote:

I'm fast approaching my use by date, and sadly with aging comes problems like high blood pressure. Coffee now makes my BP spike, bugger, so think it prudent to limit my consumption to a couple of espresso drinks a day, nope decaf is not an option, to me a bit like washing your feet with your socks on. Fortunately have recently discovered Hibiscus tea, while not a coffee substitute it really is a very pleasant drink, the down side being, without sugar it really is quite tart, so, limit caffeine intake and increase sugar consumption, cant win. 🙁 This article prompted my post http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/drink/how-much-coffee-is-too-much-20150914-gjhgq6.html

check this out. http://www.caffeineinformer.com/death-by-caffeine For me it's fine to drink 3.1 espressos per day and 76 espressos in a day would kill me.

Dry_bean

GeekKopi wrote:

check this out. http://www.caffeineinformer.com/death-by-caffeine For me it's fine to drink 3.1 espressos per day and 76 espressos in a day would kill me.

Its telling me I'm fine with 5.9 espresso drinks a day, don't think so, oh, and 148.5 shots would be lethal, do ya reckon. :laugh:

GeekKopi

I stuffed up I put my weight in pounds instead of KG. My new totals are 6.9 and 150. Time to drink up

FreshCoffee2

a) depends on the individual and b) depends on who makes your coffee. For example, if you make it or have it made in an entirely *standard* way, you as an individual will withstand...so many...coffees per day before being detrimentally affected by the level of caffeine you have ingested. If however you go out for coffee and they dont brew it in the standard way, you may not know what you are ingesting, which may bring on deleterious effects at any point in time. EG, if you go to a cafe that has adopted the "new style" of using a naked group handle and deepest possible filter (basket) where they use all of it to make your one only coffee, then you could easily have had the equivalent of 3 standard espressos in a single cup. Cant win, other than to only make your own coffee or to watch while your coffee is made and adjust your intake accordingly.

Kevohere

Dry bean. wrote:

I'm fast approaching my use by date, and sadly with aging comes problems like high blood pressure. Coffee now makes my BP spike, bugger, so think it prudent to limit my consumption to a couple of espresso drinks a day, nope decaf is not an option, to me a bit like washing your feet with your socks on. Fortunately have recently discovered Hibiscus tea, while not a coffee substitute it really is a very pleasant drink, the down side being, without sugar it really is quite tart, so, limit caffeine intake and increase sugar consumption, cant win. 🙁 This article prompted my post http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/drink/how-much-coffee-is-too-much-20150914-gjhgq6.html

Well I'm not that far behind your "use by date" DB and as it happens several years ago I was informed that my BP was on the high side by my then GP. When I advised him of my love of the 'bean' and my reluctance to cut back/stop and asked if "diet" can lower BP, he straight out smiled and said "no"! ??? It's way easier for GPs to prescribe a drug to lower BP because the alternate hundreds of (doctor's) time consuming tests and questions to discover the possible causes of this symptom are not viable. A symptom, not a disease. I changed my diet, observed my stress triggers whilst maintaining my coffee intake (3 to 4 shots a day) and my BP lowered to a level my GP was okay with. Any kind of stress and inflammation in the body will elevate BP. Some might think they're having too much salt. Too much salt increases BP. Or is it that they are not getting enough potassium? The kidney can handle 45gms of salt a day (that's a lot!) as long as it is getting enough potassium to assist it in the excretion of that salt. When I read articles such as the one posted, the type/style and method of coffee consumed is not made clear in their facts IMO. As I see it, 3 to 4 sugarless long or short blacks will have much less effect on your BP (and is overall far healthier) than 3 or 4 muguccinos or caramel lattes a day! In most cases, it's not the amount of coffee people drink a day, it's what they consume with those coffees! :stir I think you are on the right track in limiting yourself (a couple of espressos a day) but monitor your BP regularly (preferably not at the doctor's surgery) when you are resting at home or on a visit to a chemist that supplies this service. It's a well known fact that just sitting in the doctor's waiting room will raise blood pressure. Mate, even stressing about having to cut back on your pleasure-giving brew can put your BP through the roof! 😃

Dry_bean

Fresh Coffee wrote:

a) depends on the individual and b) depends on who makes your coffee. For example, if you make it or have it made in an entirely *standard* way, you as an individual will withstand...so many...coffees per day before being detrimentally affected by the level of caffeine you have ingested. If however you go out for coffee and they dont brew it in the standard way, you may not know what you are ingesting, which may bring on deleterious effects at any point in time. EG, if you go to a cafe that has adopted the "new style" of using a naked group handle and deepest possible filter (basket) where they use all of it to make your one only coffee, then you could easily have had the equivalent of 3 standard espressos in a single cup. Cant win, other than to only make your own coffee or to watch while your coffee is made and adjust your intake accordingly.

G'Day Atillio, Good thoughts, understand exactly what your getting at. 98% of my coffee drinking is done at home, mainly espresso, 18 gram basket dosed with 18 grams, usually a couple of these in the AM hits the spot. Afternoon, like right now I am enjoying a Hibiscus tea with lemon or orange, very pleasant. 🙂

Dry_bean

Kevohere wrote:

Well I'm not that far behind your "use by date" DB and as it happens several years ago I was informed that my BP was on the high side by my then GP. When I advised him of my love of the 'bean' and my reluctance to cut back/stop and asked if "diet" can lower BP, he straight out smiled and said "no"! ??? It's way easier for GPs to prescribe a drug to lower BP because the alternate hundreds of (doctor's) time consuming tests and questions to discover the possible causes of this symptom are not viable. A symptom, not a disease. I changed my diet, observed my stress triggers whilst maintaining my coffee intake (3 to 4 shots a day) and my BP lowered to a level my GP was okay with. Any kind of stress and inflammation in the body will elevate BP. Some might think they're having too much salt. Too much salt increases BP. Or is it that they are not getting enough potassium? The kidney can handle 45gms of salt a day (that's a lot!) as long as it is getting enough potassium to assist it in the excretion of that salt. When I read articles such as the one posted, the type/style and method of coffee consumed is not made clear in their facts IMO. As I see it, 3 to 4 sugarless long or short blacks will have much less effect on your BP (and is overall far healthier) than 3 or 4 muguccinos or caramel lattes a day! In most cases, it's not the amount of coffee people drink a day, it's what they consume with those coffees! :stir I think you are on the right track in limiting yourself (a couple of espressos a day) but monitor your BP regularly (preferably not at the doctor's surgery) when you are resting at home or on a visit to a chemist that supplies this service. It's a well known fact that just sitting in the doctor's waiting room will raise blood pressure. Mate, even stressing about having to cut back on your pleasure-giving brew can put your BP through the roof! 😃

Afternoon Kevo, Recently had an age driving test, GP was not overly concerned about my BP, however I have known its on the high side for some years, events over the past 12 months have certainly done nothing to help. About 8 weeks back, like you decided to modify my diet, have stopped adding salt to food, cut right back on red meat and eating more fruit and veg, am also taking supplements, Lecithin, Magnesium and vitamin D. Something in what I have done has certainly had an affect, BP is now the lowest its been in 10 years, pretty pleased with the result. Potassium eh, will look into it. Thanks for your thoughts. 🙂

Brett_H

Interesting topic gents. there are some wonderful low-caffeine (not decaf) coffees out there if you look. I bet Jeff from MyCuppa or Fresh Coffee would be able to supply a lower-caffeinated blend or SO that's not decaf.

Moon

2 x 14g double-shot lattes in a mug sized glass cup is what I average these days. Sometimes might go a 3rd in the late arvo or evening. Even with the 3rd I start feeling a bit milked out. Last time I visited my GP .. he tried to get me to give up the full-cream milk and start using Rev or Physical due to highish Cholesterol - 7.8 No way I was giving up those rich creamy lattes .. Probably the same if I had to give up the sugar. Why bother? Might as well drink herbal tea and get into fresh fruit juices. Long black or espresso is nice once in a Blue Moon .. only I can't survive on that. It's all or nothing here ... at least for now. 8)

GeekKopi

Me personally, I've adopted the French philosophy. And that is eat/drink what I want but all in moderation. I do however log 250km per week on my road bike and go to the gym every now and then. Hopefully this will be enough to keep me fit. On the downside I do smoke but not as much as I did a couple years back.

askthecoffeeguy

2 x 20g double espresso based lattes made by me at home is my preferred daily limit and i seldom go above that -but if im out 3 lattes is usually not a problem because they usually taste WAP compared to my home version!