Living Well: How Caffeine Impacts your Body

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says about four or five cups of coffee a day is safe for a healthy adult.

However, some are more sensitive to the drug than others.

In today’s Living Well, we learn more about how caffeine affects the body.

Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors in your brain. Those receptors slow down nerve activity, which makes us feel tired. That helps explain the afternoon crash some may feel, when the effects of their morning coffee, wear off.

For most people, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says moderate caffeine consumption can be part of a healthy diet.

However, overuse can lead to side effects like insomnia, jitters, anxiousness, fast heart rate, upset stomach, nausea, headache, and a feeling of unhappiness.