A lot of caffeine is bad for your health, according to a new study, and many people are consuming too much of it.
A new report by the European Food Safety Authority says that more than 400 mg of caffeine a day, or about four cups of coffee, is linked to heart problems, insomnia and panic attacks. This safe amount of caffeine is halved for pregnant women.
Many countries recommend about this amount of caffeine intake, but the problem, according to BBC, is that people still have too much. An EFSA spokesperson gave an example to BBC: “If you have a bar of dark chocolate at 11:00 and espresso with lunch, a tea at 16:00 and vodka-Red Bull in the evening – that’s a lot of caffeine over the day.”
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Your Vote Is Safe
- The Best Inventions of 2024
- How the Electoral College Actually Works
- Robert Zemeckis Just Wants to Move You
- Column: Fear and Hoping in Ohio
- How to Break 8 Toxic Communication Habits
- Why Vinegar Is So Good for You
- Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders
Write to Tessa Berenson Rogers at tessa.Rogers@time.com