They say that “America runs on Dunkin”, which is extremely accurate. Most of us can’t even start the day without having a cup of coffee. What if I told you that the little energy boost might not be entirely worth it? Maybe limiting your coffee intake could ultimately be better for you and your body in the long run? 

Listen guys, I know you’re shaking your heads and laughing but trust me when I say that you need to be careful with your coffee intake because it has a larger impact on your body than just a little extra energy in the morning. Keep reading to learn more about the impact that coffee, more specifically caffeine, has on your body. 

Health Con 1: Can ruin your sleep

Drinking caffeine too late in the day can impact your ability to fall asleep and the quality of your sleep. Many people experience insomnia when they drink too much coffee during the day. It is recommended that you stop consuming caffeinated drinks after 1pm to ensure you’re able to fall asleep later that night. 

Health Con 2: Can cause anxiety

The caffeine in the coffee is known to make people jittery. It can also increase anxiety in people with anxiety disorders. I have noticed that when I drink too much coffee in one day, or even when I drink it every single day, this happens to me. I have slowly been limiting my coffee intake this summer to about 3-4 days a week maximum. I have noticed a drastic decline in feeling anxious throughout the day!

Health Con 3: Can be high in sugar 

If you’re a Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks fanatic, then I am sorry to burst your bubble with this one. In a Dunkin Donuts large iced coffee with cream and sugar there is around 35 grams of sugar… The recommended daily average amount of sugar you should be ingesting is around 25-30 grams… THAT’S A LOT OF SUGAR! Everyone knows how unhealthy sugar is for your body and how many negative effects it has on your health. Try to stop your daily Dunkin/Starbucks runs and you will slowly notice the benefits that not consuming that much sugar everyday has on your body. Trust me, me and my bestie got Dunkin constantly during the school year. This summer I have been only treating myself to it occasionally and I have never felt/looked better!

Health Con 4: Its very dehydrating 

Most of us drink coffee right when we wake up, obviously to give us the energy boost we need for the day. But coffee is very dehydrating, and when we drink it right when we wake up it isn’t benefiting our bodies at all. We just slept for 4-8 hours, without hydrating our bodies with anything. The first thing you should do when you wake up is drink a glass of water, drink it while you are brewing your coffee instead of jumping straight for your cup of Joe. You will ultimately feel much better when your body is hydrated rather than making it worse by drinking coffee when your body is already craving hydration. If you want some extra hydration in the morning other than plain water, check out my “Post-Holiday Weekend Detox” post and try out the hydrating green smoothie! It delicious and amazing for your body right when you wake up.

LISTEN GUYS! I know it seems hard, maybe even impossible, to cut out coffee every day. But once you start to limit yourself, you will feel such a difference! You won’t deal with the energy crashes once the caffeine wears off, and you will get to fall asleep easier, and might even lose a few pounds because of all the sugar you’re eliminating! I know that I always  preach about drinking lots of water, and it may seem hard at first, but you will get used to it and soon you’ll become so reliant on drinking it throughout the day. You will start to crave water more than you do coffee. Green Tea is also another great alternative to coffee, and it comes with way more health benefits (also in my Post-Holiday Weekend Detox post). Coffee will always have a special place in my heart, but it won’t have it entirely anymore.