When A Lot Of Coffee Is Too Much

Studies of the effects of coffee show that it does good things for the brain. But a large study demonstrates that when you drink coffee all day long, you’re taking a chance that your days may be numbered.

To keep their spirits up, Americans down about 400 million cups of coffee a day. Three out of five of us drink coffee average three cups daily. If you consume more than that, your health may suffer. Research published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows that averaging 28 cups of coffee a week increases your risk of early death by 21 percent. If you are younger than 55 years of age, your mortality risk increases by 50 percent.

Coffee is a complicated concoction of chemicals containing thousands of components. Studies have found that coffee is one of the major sources of antioxidants in the American diet and can reduce inflammation and improve cognitive function. However, coffee has potential adverse effects: It stimulates the release of epinephrine and inhibits insulin activity while increasing blood pressure and homocysteine.