Many people claim that they can’t get up in the morning without the caffeine hit provided by at least one strong cup of coffee. Coffee lovers tend to top on their caffeine levels throughout the day as they drink extra cups of bitter brown liquid in the office or at their favourite café. This is especially true in countries like Australia, in which the tradition of drinking coffee is thriving. Australia’s famous love affair with coffee runs deep, with surveys revealing that coffee such as that produced by Grand Cru Coffee is the favourite non-alcoholic drink across most age groups.

While coffee is undeniably one of the most delicious substances provided by Mother Earth, drinking too much is not good for you. Here are a number of warning signs to look out for that can tell you if you need to cut down.

1.    You Are Often Tired

If you drink coffee in the late afternoon or evening, getting to sleep at night can be more difficult. Once you do actually drop off, the overall quality of your sleep also suffers, leaving you tired in the morning. Coffee also inhibits the body’s absorption of vitamin B1, which the body uses to regenerate cells. When added to a cycle of tiredness which is then remedied with yet more caffeine, abusing coffee can lead to a vicious cycle of fatigue.

2.    Your Heart Is Constantly Beating Rapidly

Although drinking coffee in moderation is associated with certain health benefits, one obvious sign that you are drinking too much is if you find your heart is racing when you have not done any exercise. Caffeine is well-known to stimulate the cardiovascular system and can result in heart palpitations.

3.    You Suffer from High Blood Pressure

Another tell-tale signal of drinking unhealthy amounts of coffee is high blood pressure. Studies have shown that drinking over the recommended daily amount of coffee can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. If your doctor tells you that you are suffering from high blood pressure, perhaps it is time to cut down.

4.    You Are Anxious

Have you ever considered that the tendency of your mind to race full of pent-up energy might be more than simply one of your own idiosyncratic personality traits? Coffee is known to cause your body to release adrenaline and cortisol, both stress hormones, into your blood.

5.    You Bruise Easily

Due to the manner in which caffeine restricts the body’s capacity for iron absorption, high levels of the substance over long periods of time can increase the frequency of which bruises appear. If you have noticed bruises appearing in places where you would not expect to find them or where you can’t remember banging yourself, it could be a sign that you are overdoing it at the coffee machine.

The amount of coffee that is safe to drink will differ and is dependent on a person’s size, weight and metabolism. It is best to follow the guidelines set out by governments and health organisations to figure out the optimum amount for you.