How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • The amount of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee can range from forty to almost one hundred and eighty milligrams of caffeine, with some varieties having even more.
  • The average healthy individual can probably get away with two to four cups of coffee a day without adverse side effects.
  • While some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others, it usually depends on your tolerance.

Caffeine (coffee, in particular) is quite a staple in today’s society.

The amount of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee can range from forty to almost one hundred and eighty milligrams of caffeine, with some varieties having even more.

Coffee is a great source of caffeine.

However, some people do not like the taste of coffee even with plenty of cream and sugar.

According to the MayoClinic, too much coffee or caffeine can be bad for you.

While most healthy adults can consume two to three hundred milligrams of caffeine per day there are some circumstances that warrant limitations.

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When Should I Watch My Coffee/Caffeine Consumption?

The average healthy individual can probably get away with two to four cups of coffee a day without adverse side effects. However, those who drink more than four cups of coffee a day should be careful.

More than four cups of coffee per day can push you over three hundred milligrams of caffeine consumption. This can cause the following side effects:

  • Muscle tremors
  • Increased heartbeat
  • Insomnia
  • Upset stomach
  • A feeling of irritability
  • A feeling of nervousness
  • A feeling of restlessness

While some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others, it usually depends on your tolerance. This tolerance is in correlation to how much caffeine you consume per day. Those who don’t drink as much caffeine as others may also see adverse side effects with little consumption.

There are other factors that can contribute to adverse side effects. These include age, body mass, medication use, and health conditions — particularly anxiety disorders. Studies have also shown women to have more of a tolerance to caffeine than men.

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How Much Caffeine Is in Certain Foods and Drinks?

According to the ABC website What’s Your Poison, the average cup of coffee contains around eighty-five milligrams of caffeine. Tea contains less caffeine with a cup averaging twenty-seven milligrams per cup.

The range of caffeine per cup of tea is anywhere between eight and ninety-one milligrams. One ounce of chocolate can contain anywhere between seventy-five to one hundred fifty milligrams of caffeine.

Also according to What’s Your Poison, 54% of the amount of caffeine ingested worldwide comes from coffee, 43% comes from tea, and the remainder of caffeine ingested is in the form of chocolate products, cocoa, or soft drinks.

How Does Coffee Affect Women?

There have been studies that show women who drink more than one cup of coffee per day have a harder time conceiving a child than those who drink one cup or less per day. The odds decrease even more if women drink more than two and a half cups of coffee per day.

Compared to those who don’t drink coffee at all, women who drink two and a half cups per day are five times more likely to not conceive a child. There still is limited information on the relationship between an unborn fetus and mother’s caffeine consumption.

What has been shown is those future moms who drink two to three cups of coffee per day have an increased chance of having a child with a low birth weight. Some studies even go as far as claiming that caffeine consumption during pregnancy can be associated with poor neuromuscular development and reflexes along with prematurity in babies.

It is believed that caffeine can cross the placenta easily. Those mothers who continue to ingest coffee or caffeinated beverages on a daily basis are giving their baby as much caffeine as they give themselves.

Because of these findings, many doctors encourage women who are trying to conceive, who are pregnant, or who are breastfeeding to consume no more than one cup of coffee per day. There are findings that say up to three hundred milligrams of coffee are fine for pregnant or breastfeeding women, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

There are some studies out there that show caffeine consumption can improve mental speed in task completion. However, these studies also show that caffeine can have a negative effect on complex reasoning tasks.

While coffee can give you more energy in the form of caffeine, a healthy diet and exercise can also help with energy levels. To find a workout plan that fits your goals and fitness level, sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan today!

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