Can Older Adults Have Too Much Caffeine? Medical experts tend to agree that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is just fine for average seniors. If we're talking coffee, that's roughly four cups. As we mentioned earlier, caffeine is found in many other beverages and products in addition to coffee.
Studies also showed that regular coffee consumption reduces age-related cognitive decline in seniors. It protects the brain more effectively than other healthy beverages with caffeine like green tea.
Caffeine may help prevent age-related mild cognitive impairment. It may also prevent or delay dementia. The Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study, which followed people from middle age into their seventies and beyond, found that caffeine may lower a senior's lifetime risk of dementia.
6. Does caffeine pose a danger to your health? The FDA estimates toxic effects, like seizures, can be observed with rapid consumption of around 1,200 milligrams of caffeine, or 0.15 tablespoons of pure caffeine.
But as people age, the enzymes involved in caffeine metabolism grow less efficient. This leads to the slower clearance rate that we discussed earlier. Other factors, such as pregnancy, certain medications and being a smoker can also slow the rate at which caffeine is metabolized.
Medical experts tend to agree that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is just fine for average seniors. If we're talking coffee, that's roughly four cups.
While caffeine is not bad for the elderly in low levels, those who drink more than four cups of coffee daily can experience anxiety, headaches, restlessness and heart palpitations, notes the Mayo Clinic. Too much caffeine overstimulates the nervous system, leading to jitters, an upset stomach and elderly sleep issues.
Drinking coffee every day keeps you awake and reduces depression. In addition to the effect of competing with adenosine receptors in the brain to keep the body awake, coffee also increases neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. This reduces fatigue and increases alertness.
In this battle over health benefits, coffee comes out on top. Coffee drinkers can raise a mug to fiber, microbiome health and lowering risk for cancer and diabetes. But tea drinkers, do not despair. Tea is undoubtedly good for your blood pressure, cholesterol, stress levels, mental health and productivity.
“In order to maintain a healthy heart and a healthy blood pressure, people must limit their coffees to fewer than six cups a day – based on our data six was the tipping point where caffeine started to negatively affect cardiovascular risk,” says Hyppönen.
From cultural traditions, to those on a diet, to the elderly who are looking to “speed their digestive track up a bit”, the after-meal coffee has not only become a nightly tradition, but it has a wide variety of health benefits.
However, you might want to exchange your coffee for a cup of tea every day because, according to studies, the latter has numerous health benefits to your aging body! Besides the soothing feeling of its warmth, teas contain essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy substances that every senior needs.
Americans Aged 60 or Older Drink the Most Coffee
The most devoted demographic of coffee drinkers in the U.S. is those aged 60 or older. Around 72% of Americans who are 60 or older drink coffee every single day.
In addition to a daily cup of coffee, blue zones centenarians drink water, tea and wine. While coffee is often a hotly-debated health topic, it's shown to carry many health benefits. Most centenarians in blue zones regions drink up to two or three cups of black coffee per day!
Children under 12 years old shouldn't consume any caffeine. Adolescents ages 12 to 18 should consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day.
Millions of people depend on that first cup of coffee to get started each morning. You may be among that number, but also concerned that caffeine will age you, or rather, make your skin look older. In fact, caffeine not only will not age you, it might improve the appearance of your skin and help you look younger.
With the same caffeine content, black coffee is clearly more beneficial to your health in comparison to milk coffee. It can stimulate brain activity, help improve memory and even protect against cognitive decline long-term.
The healthiest way to take your coffee is hot-brewed and black. One cup has virtually no calories or carbs, no fat, and is low in sodium. Black coffee also has micronutrients, including potassium, magnesium, and niacin.
So how much coffee is the optimal amount to drink to get all the benefits, but avoid the negative side effects? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it's safe for most women to drink three to five cups of coffee a day with a maximum intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine.
Adolescents and young adults need to be cautioned about excessive caffeine intake and mixing caffeine with alcohol and other drugs. Women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant and those who are breast-feeding should talk with their doctors about limiting caffeine use to less than 200 mg daily.
Caffeine
Caffeine found in coffee, tea, soda, and foods can also place a strain on your kidneys. Caffeine is a stimulant, which can cause increased blood flow, blood pressure and stress on the kidneys. Excessive caffeine intake has also been linked to kidney stones.
The severity of symptoms vary from individual to individual, and most commonly include a headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling foggy/not clearheaded.
It Has Less Caffeine
One of the biggest reasons people choose to drink a decaf beverage is to avoid the effects of caffeine. While caffeine can provide a subtle energy and mood increase, there are some adverse side effects. People who are sensitive to caffeine can drink decaf coffee without having to worry.
The Harvard School of Public Health cautions people of any age against consuming too many energy drinks. These products are largely unregulated and often contain extra herbal ingredients purported to give you an energy boost. There is significant evidence to suggest that energy drinks could be bad for your health.
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has created specific guidelines for those aged 65 and older. Those who do not take medication and are in good health should limit their total alcohol consumption to no more than seven drinks per week.