As I sat down to write this article, I wondered when the last time I went a day without coffee was, and honestly couldn't remember. Like most people, coffee is a part of my regular routine. Millions of Americans rely on that caffeine boost to get them going in the morning and many continue drinking coffee throughout the day.

Coffee is America's favorite beverage, but are we drinking too much? A recent article from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota explains how much you can safely consume in one day and the answer might surprise you.

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How Much Do You Spend on Coffee Each Year?

One of my coworkers makes a Starbucks stop every single day and I secretly wonder how much she makes because those drinks aren't cheap. She's not alone though many people frequent Starbucks or Caribou or their favorite local coffee shop.

The Perfect Brew released a ton of java facts last year and found that women about $2,327 per year on their coffee habit, while men spend $1,934 per year.

Is Coffee Bad for You?

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
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There have been conflicting reports about the impact coffee has on your health for as long as I've been alive.

This Mayo Clinic article from Dr. Donald Hensrud says recent studies say there actually might be health benefits.

Hensrud says coffee may offer some protection against things like Parkinson's disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver disease, liver cancer, heart attack, and stroke, but does say the caffeine does create risks like elevated blood pressure and warns women that are pregnant or breastfeeding to be careful.

Mayo Clinic Experts in Minnesota Reveal the Amount of Coffee You Can Drink Daily

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Canva
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Mayo Clinic says up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's around 4 cups of coffee.

That's way more than I thought it would be! I was expecting this report to make me feel bad about my daily drinking habits.

The experts are careful to point out that while "caffeine use may be safe for adults, it's not a good idea for children" and encourage you to cut back on your daily consumption if you experiencing symptoms like:

Headache

Insomnia

Nervousness

Irritability

Frequent urination or inability to control urination

Fast heartbeat

Muscle tremors

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