How Much Caffeine Is Too Much Caffeine?

When it comes to the human body, every person is subtly different. While humans all have the same basic makeup, e.g., a heart that pumps blood, a brain, and digestive organs, the complex physiology of the human body means that each person has a slightly different chemical makeup. When you factor in the different environments people live in, the unique way each person was raised, and the staggering variety of lifestyle choices each person makes on a day-to-day basis, it’s safe to say that each human body is perfectly unique.

This is important to consider before we ask the question “how much caffeine is too much caffeine?”. The answer is: it is different for each individual person on the planet. Some people can eat caffeine chews all day long and still fall asleep with ease at night, and some people are so sensitive to caffeine that even one piece of chocolate will give them a caffeine buzz. This is crucial to consider when trying to find the right amount for you. For example, WebMD says that up to 400mg of caffeine, or four cups of coffee, is “likely” safe for the healthy adult. But, for a healthy adult who suffers from anxiety, one cup of fully caffeinated coffee could be enough to trigger a panic attack. And what about the person who takes energy shots and caffeine gummies all day and feels great? The only right answer here is that the right amount of caffeine is the right amount of caffeine for you, and only you can figure this out. In this article, we’ll explore what caffeine is, how it affects the human body, and signs that you’ve had too much. Hopefully, this will help you figure out what the right amount of caffeine is for you and your beautiful, unique body.  

What Is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a plant alkaloid. Alkaloids tend to be pharmacologically active and contain a nitrogen molecule. While there are many kinds of plant alkaloids, they tend to be very different in their actions. In its purest form, caffeine is a bitter, white powdered purine. A purine is a type of water-soluble molecule. Caffeine is chemically related to the molecules that make up our DNA. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and is the world’s most often consumed psychoactive drug. Caffeine is naturally occurring in over 60 different plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts, and cacao pods (which are used to make chocolate). While most people drink their caffeine in the form of coffee or tea, other forms of caffeine like energy chews, and caffeine shots are gaining popularity in today’s energy product market. 

How Caffeine Affects Your Body

Caffeine affects the heart and circulatory system, the lungs, kidneys, and the nervous system. Caffeine does a lot of different things to the body, but one of the main ways caffeine stops fatigue and gives energy is by blocking adenosine receptors in the cells. Adenosine is a chemical compound produced when the body is tired. Caffeine fills in the cell receptor sites that adenosine would normally fill, thereby preventing the sensations of tiredness and fatigue. This action of caffeine also encourages the release of energy chemicals like norepinephrine and feel-good chemicals like dopamine. Caffeine also impacts the kidneys, increases urine production, and blood flow, making caffeine a mild diuretic. Caffeine increases the heart and breath rate, which is part of how it gives you energy and reduces your response time. There are a variety of other ways caffeine impacts the human body. Caffeine might be able to offer some protection against Parkinson’s disease. However, in some people caffeine can increase sensations of anxiety. Pregnant women are encouraged to limit caffeine to 1-2 cups of coffee per day. Caffeine can also create mild dependence that shows up as withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, and sleepiness if regular consumption is interrupted. 

Signs You Might Have Had Too Much Caffeine

Since everybody is different, each person will be able to tolerate different amounts of caffeine. It’s also important to mention that not all caffeine sources affect the body the same. A poor-quality cup of coffee might be more aggravating to someone, whereas a quality source of caffeine, like the Mocca Shot energy chew, might have a better effect. Here are some of the signs that you’ve had too much caffeine for your body:

The Mocca Shot Energy Chew is a Good Source of Caffeine

Insomnia

Nervousness

Restlessness

Stomach irritation

Nausea

Increased heart rate

Increased respiration, or breathing

Headache

Anxiety

Agitation

Chest pain

Seattle Gummy’s famous energy gummy, the Mocca Shot will affect you differently than coffee. While coffee energy can be jittery, and often comes with a crash, the natural caffeine in the Mocca Shot is supported by nootropic herbs and vitamins, like Ginkgo Biloba, cacao, and B vitamins. This means the energy from the Mocca Shot energy chew is steady and calm, leaving you focused and ready to go. The Mocca Shot has the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee, and unlike coffee, the energy benefits of the Mocca Shot are available to you within minutes! Start your day with a Mocca Shot caffeine gummy and feel the difference natural caffeine and nootropic herbs and vitamins can make!