In most cases, it’s best to stick to a cup or two of coffee to maximize the potential health benefits without going overboard on caffeine.
“For performance benefits8, 2-6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight is recommended,” says Jones. To put this into perspective, if you’re 150 pounds, this translates to around 204-408 mg of caffeine, or around 2-5 cups, per day.
Keep in mind that more is not always better when it comes to caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration9 recommends capping your caffeine intake at around 400 milligrams per day, which equals about 4-5 cups.
Too much caffeine can cause a slew of negative side effects, including anxiety, digestive issues, jitters, and insomnia. (It can even contribute to weight gain in some cases.) Certain people may also need to dial their intake back even further, including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or extra sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
