There's also negative effects to it, when it's better or worse for You probably depends individually... how acclimatized one gets to it.
I've had the same problem (with the level of consumption), so I'm seriously keeping it in check nowadays.
I try to just have a cup "to wake up", and then a 2nd if feeling tired later in the day - and that's it.
This is what numerous past-two-decades studies indicates (bad stuff):
* Can raise blood pressure and stress hormone levels.
* Possibly increased risk of stroke, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
* Above average consumption can lead to heart palpitations, jitters and nervousness & calcium loss (not good while aging...).
* Can interfere with the body's ability to keep cholesterol and homocysteine leveled (thus cardio & vascular problems with time).
* Pregnant women risk having miscarriage at worst, and birth defects at best, if consuming more than two cups (8-ounce) daily.
* There's a risk of (over time) the body picking up pesticide contamination.
I also have reasons to suspect (personally) that it messes with the brain's serotonin & dopamine levels, in a bad way of course.
It's enough to have nutritionally added sugars (and for some nicotine use as well) messing around with those, to have caffeine doing it also.
To that I should add that I've been prescribed SSRI medication (Celexa), and that lots of coffee drinking, with sugar, probably *primarily* caused the need for it.
So You might wanna think about that, even if there's medical help later on for You if it would cause slight depression symptoms as it did for me.
Just don't drink more than average, which is 2-3 cups a day, to reap the benefits rather than risking Your health.
