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The Truth About Coffee: How Much is Too Much?

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UVA chapter.

“Only three cups a day?!”

You can’t deny it. Even just the sound of the word “Starbucks,” awakens those warm, fuzzy feelings inside of us. And there’s no need to feel guilty. In fact, plenty of studies show that drinking coffee is, in fact, a good thing! According to Harvard Women’s Health, coffee helps reduce the risk of certain cancers and brain illnesses. It’s only when you start to over consume coffee that the nasty effects like insomnia, high blood pressure, heart and stomach problems, and addiction kick in.
 
So how do you weigh the costs and benefits? The key is moderation. If you’re a one-cup-a-morning type of person, then you’re golden. If, on the other hand, you’re chugging three cups per day, chances are you might need to cut back a little. But don’t worry! Here are my top three alternatives that will keep you energized and healthy.

  • Green or black tea – you still get a little caffeine, but you also get a whole lot of antioxidants. Plus, who doesn’t feel a little sophisticated drinking tea?
  • Decaf – if you don’t dwell on the fact that there’s no caffeine, the smell and taste will remind your body so much of the real thing, that the psychological effects will be as good as caffeine!
  •  Morning routine – instead of relying on a substance to wake you up, do it yourself! Play music to get you energized when you wake up and jump up and down to get your blood flowing. Soon your morning routine will be all you need to start the day.

 The moral of the story? Coffee = three cups a day (max!) = healthy. Enjoy your mornings!
 
Sources
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/coffee_health_risk
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6631177/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/how-much-caffeine-too-much/#.Tpgd5RxStCc
http://www.mycaffeineaddiction.com/top-10-coffee-alternatives-avoid-the-negative-effects-of-caffeine/
http://www.herbcompanion.com/health/Exploring-coffee-alternatives.aspx

Francesca Lee is a fourth year majoring in sociology with a minor in media studies at the University of Virginia. This summer, she developed a passion for TV production after interning at WETA, the public television station for DC and the greater metro area.  Throughout the summer, Francesca researched, wrote and produced several WETA Around Town segments about the local arts programs and graffiti murals in DC.  As the new campus correspondent for Her Campus UVa, she is working to create video content for the UVa branch to supplement the written content.  This spring, she hopes to study abroad in Denmark and expand her knowledge of international broadcasting and advertising. Francesca also gives historical and admissions tours to visitors and prospective students at UVa and is a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.