Exactly how much coffee is it safe to consume in one day? The first problem in answering this question to any degree of satisfaction is that the caffeine content in coffee will vary widely depending on volume, strength and brew method.
How Much Caffeine?
The amount of Caffeine you get with your drink of coffee will be dependent on a number of factors including:
- How big the cup is
- How the coffee has been ground
- How dark the roast
- The brewing method used
- The type of coffee bean used
The difficulties also continue when you consider that you can’t compare a cup of instant coffee at home with a bought takeaway latte from a coffee shop. It’s also not just about coffee as caffeine is also in tea, chocolate and some soft drinks.
There is also the issue that caffeine affects people in different ways so what may cause a health issue in one person will not affect another. In pregnant women the guidelines are also very clear.
What About Caffeine During Pregnancy
Way back in 2008, the Food Standards Agency warned that too much caffeine consumed by pregnant women could result in miscarriage or babies with lower birth rates. The daily recommended caffeine intake for pregnant women is 200mg, which very roughly is two mugs of coffee per day or 4 cups of stronger coffee.
The concern for pregnant women is that caffeine does cross the placenta freely and can therefore easily enter the unborn child’s body. Whilst the degree to which this transfer takes place, it's something you may wish to think about if you're pregnant.
What About Everyone Else?
But the general advice is less clear. Coffee is said to make us more alert by stimulating the central nervous system. Drinking coffee is said to help combat depression and has been linked in the battle against certain cancers. So what are we to take from this?
Maybe the best advice is that it is all about moderation. The very general advice is that 400mg of caffeine each day should be the limit. This equates very roughly to 4 or 5 cups of coffee a day. The Food Standards Agency concur that moderation is probably the best approach, accepting that people are different and will react differently, so responding and knowing your body is all important.