Are you consuming too much caffeine?
Caffeine is probably the most used supplement in the world, being found in everything from coffee, to energy drinks, to gum, to waffles (yes, waffles), and of course preworkout. Its main purpose is to increase our energy levels to get through the day, however it has several other benefits.
Studies have shown that caffeine in proper doses can improve our mood by making our brains use serotonin (the “feel good” hormone) more effectively. It can also help us feel mentally sharp by stopping the use of chemicals that make us feel relaxed and tired. Despite all these benefits, however, caffeine does have its drawbacks.
As a stimulant, caffeine puts stress on our bodies. When stressed, we enter a “fight or flight” mode that gets us ready for action; our heart rates increase, our blood pressure goes up and our body preps stored fuel to be used quickly.
While this “fight or flight” mode is a handy trick for quick bursts of immediate stress (ex. being chased by a sabre tooth tiger in prehistoric times), it can become damaging when too much stress accumulates and it becomes chronic. Chronic stress can lead to the following health problems:
- Increased anxiety
- Poor sleep quality
- Poor digestion
- Increased irritability
- Suppressed metabolism
Most people already have a lot of stress from their daily lives, and too much caffeine can significantly add to this. To make things worse, most people tend to increase their caffeine intake when under increased stress, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to escape.
So how can we avoid chronic stress? One way is to limit our caffeine intake to manageable levels. For most otherwise healthy men, this limit is around 400mg of caffeine per day; for most otherwise healthy women, it is about 300mg per day.
One simple way to reduce your caffeine intake is to choose a preworkout supplement with smaller amounts of caffeine. A lot of preworkouts on the market today can have upwards of 400mg of caffeine per serving, which could be pushing you over a healthy amount of caffeine intake and contributing to chronic stress!Â
This is the reason that our preworkout, Vertex, caps caffeine at 125mg per serving, almost one quarter of what a lot of other brands include. This allows you to get the benefits of caffeine while helping to reduce your total daily intake to manageable levels.
Try Vertex today to start getting the most out of your workouts!