3 Reasons Why Moms Should Have a Coffee Limit

Coffee limit chronic kidney disease CKD muscle breakdown rhabdomyolysis metabolites anxiety 400 milligrams coffee culture too much coffee

By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Dec 03, 09:42 pm

Many mothers start their day with a cup of caffeinated goodness to help them prepare for what's ahead. While coffee culture thrives in the world of moms, experts advise imposing a coffee limit as excessive drinking can lead to other health issues.

Mothers who love to indulge in drinking coffee, regardless of how it's prepared, usually need this to sustain their energy when they have to multitask both at home and work. However, other moms also relish in those short moments of coffee time, when they can enjoy a cup by themselves or with their friends, gather their thoughts and recharge from an exhausting task, and sit down to savor a delicious drink.

Yet, some moms may drink more than the recommended limit of 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. Here are three reasons why it might be time to cut back on too much coffee:

1. Coffee could raise a mom's risk for kidney disease.

In a new study from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, experts learned that some metabolites in the blood contain elements from coffee which are tied to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Among the 3,811 people who had their blood examined for the composition of metabolites, 56 percent drank coffee every day, while 32 percent had more than two cups of coffee a day.

Those with metabolites linked to CKD may experience a gradual loss of function in their kidneys that can trigger the development of other diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Metabolites work to help the body break down whatever people eat or drink.

The findings surprised the researchers since coffee is known to have many benefits, including the improvement of the kidney's functions. Although, the researchers said their findings need further studies.

According to Kidney.Org, women are more prone to develop CKD than men because of their biology.

2. Coffee can trigger anxiety.

Mothers, especially those who lack sleep, drink coffee to keep them alert and curb their tiredness. Caffeine works to block the chemicals that trigger sleepiness, but then it also allows the brain to release chemicals that increase anxiety, especially when taken in large amounts.

When mothers are anxiously high on coffee, they won't be able to sleep at night when sleep is what most moms need. Further, a study in the Cambridge Journal stated that drinking 1,000 milligrams of coffee a day, over two times the recommended amount, can lead to feelings of jitteriness and nervousness when mothers do not need these additional stressors.

3. Coffee can cause muscle breakdown.

Too much coffee raises a woman's risk for rhabdomyolysis, a condition that is characterized by a disintegration of the muscle cells and fibers. Experts have discovered cases of rhabdomyolysis in women who have nearly 600 milligrams of coffee a day, causing them to develop dark urine and frequent nausea and vomiting.

While rhabdomyolysis is treatable with fluids and medication, the recovery can take weeks or several months. Most moms don't want to be confined to treatments knowing they have a family to look after.