Do you drink too much coffee? 12 facts you need to know about caffeine – the benefits, the downsides and when to stop

It’s fair to say we love our tea and coffee, says dietitian Orla Walsh. But we might be consuming more caffeine than we think

We often underestimate the amount of caffeine we consume. Getty Images

Orla Walsh

Irish people love their tea. There’s no doubt about that. If someone calls in, you switch on the kettle. If you hear bad news, tea is made. However, coffee has been a growing phenomenon among the Irish for some time, with about three in four people stating they drink coffee, and seven in 10 drinking more than one cup a day.

If you consider the caffeine we’re consuming from tea and coffee as well as colas, energy drinks and chocolate, it really adds up.