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Doctors warn that consuming too much caffeine can trigger palpitations and disrupt sleep, particularly in people with heart disease, rhythm disorders, hypertension or iron deficiency, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Medical experts say daily intake should stay below 400 milligrams, about four cups of Turkish coffee, and that caffeine should be avoided after 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. They also say the type of coffee and tea, how it is prepared and when it is consumed all affect health.
Dr. Cihangir Uyan, a professor and the administrative and education supervisor at the cardiology clinic of Umraniye Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, told AA that caffeine causes no health problems when consumed in moderation.
Uyan said: "The daily caffeine limit is 400 milligrams. When a person exceeds this amount, palpitations and other troublesome effects can appear."
Coffee types other than filter coffee may raise cholesterol, while cream, sugar and sweeteners may raise cholesterol and blood sugar, Uyan said. He described both as major risk factors for cardiovascular disease that can speed up arterial calcification and plaque formation, leading to narrowed arteries, chest pain and heart attacks.
Uyan said filter coffee should be preferred because the filter traps fat, cholesterol-raising substances, and some caffeine. The clinic advises patients to drink one cup a day and get a regular six hours of sleep for heart health, he said.
He does not recommend coffee and tea to patients with anemia or iron deficiency because the drinks can reduce iron absorption. Pregnant women should stop caffeine if it triggers palpitations, he said, and children should not be accustomed to it.
"Everything in excess is harmful in every respect. Therefore, the wisest course is to continue our lives by consuming it in moderation," Uyan said.
Dr. Servet Emir, an internal medicine specialist at the hospital, said caffeine acts on adenosine receptors, which suppress sleep.
Emir said: "It does not actually remove our tiredness, but it prevents us from feeling it. Caffeine's half-life is about four to six hours, so it stays in our blood for a long time and needs to be cleared.
Quality sleep is needed for cell renewal and recovery. Therefore, caffeine intake should be cut off around 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. so that it does not disturb our sleep pattern in the evening."
Emir said theophylline, found in caffeine and tea, can reduce iron absorption, so people with iron deficiency should watch the timing of their consumption. High caffeine intake can also cause blood vessel constriction, palpitations and a rise in blood pressure, he said.
Excess coffee can lead to daytime drowsiness, Emir added.
Two to three cups a day of Turkish coffee or espresso made from coffee beans can protect against fatty liver and fibrosis, Emir said.
One to two cups a day of sugar-free and cream-free coffee, prepared from quality beans produced under healthy conditions, would have a healthy and protective effect when consumed in moderation, he added.
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