Caffeine certainly gets a lot of love in our society, found in coffee, energy drinks, soft drinks, energy pills, fat burners, and even foods like yogurt. There is a ton of controversy surrounding caffeine consumption, with some camps celebrating its benefits while others are quite anti-caffeine. Here is a short list of pros and cons of caffeine.

PROS:
Boosts memory
Improves concentration
Decreases fatigue
Speeds up reaction times
May lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease

CONS:
May trigger high blood pressure in susceptible individuals
May cause jitters
May decrease bone density
May produce dependence
Dehydrating due to its diuretic effect

I know many of you may be wondering what is considered an acceptable level of caffeine consumption. According to researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, a daily intake of 300 to 400 milligrams per day (which is equivalent to 3 to 4 six-ounce cups of coffee) is acceptable and carries minimal health risks. However, if you consume caffeine daily and choose to decrease your caffeine consumption, make sure to do it gradually. Abrupt drops in caffeine consumption can cause withdrawal symptoms such as headache to occur. On the flip side, excessive caffeine consumption can also cause symptoms which include insomnia, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting and tremors. Bear in mind that caffeine is considered a drug with the power to create dependence in those who consume it regularly and in large amounts.