Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It can temporarily make you feel more awake and energetic, but it can also give you the jitters. Withdrawal or overdose can cause a range of problems.
Caffeine provides no nutritional value. It’s tasteless, so you don’t necessarily know if it’s in your food. However, it can affect your mood and cause physical side effects.
Meredith told us that studies have shown high caffeine intake may also produce negative side effects in pregnant women and individuals with heart conditions or anxiety disorders.
However, he added that the majority of us consume caffeine in moderation without any harmful side effects, so healthy adults should not be overly concerned.
"But we should be mindful that when we consume caffeine, we are consuming a psychoactive substance that can cause or exacerbate some health problems," he cautioned.
Fortunately, caffeine is one of the most researched substances on the planet and there does exist some unbiased data in which to glean some reliable information from.
While much of the research published does allude to the safety and even potential benefits of caffeine (in moderation), there are a handful of research studies that highlight the potentially harmful effects of caffeine.
The risks of suffering from any of the harmful effects of caffeine are diminished by being aware of how much is personally being consumed daily.