Caffeine is often considered the world’s most widely used psychoactive substance, and its effects on the body can be significant, according to Dr. Dimple Jangda, a holistic health expert. Even though caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages, is generally safe in low-to-moderate amounts, high levels of consumption can cause unpleasant and even dangerous side effects.

"Caffeine is delicious; it makes you addicted to it. But I would never recommend it to my patients,” Dr. Jangda told her followers on Instagram.

Both tea and coffee are incredibly healthy beverages but are packed with caffeine, which boosts your mood, metabolism, and mental and physical performance. While studies have shown that it is safe for most people when consumed in low-to-moderate amounts, high doses can have unpleasant and even dangerous side effects.

Three reasons, according to Dr. Jangda, why you must avoid caffeine include:

"Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it restricts the blood flow to your brain and your skin. And when the effect of caffeine wears off, it creates brain fatigue,” she said.

Studies say the long-term consumption of caffeine at high doses can cause vascular resistance, leading to arterial stiffness and cerebral vasoconstriction. Regular consumption of two to four cups of caffeine each day is known to reduce cerebral blood flow by 22-30 per cent.

In the long run, drinking too much caffeine in a day can contribute to a dull complexion over time.

Caffeine is extremely dehydrating in nature. "What it does is dehydrate your skin, making the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles more prominent,” said Dr. Jangda. Caffeine is a mild diuretic so it increases urine production and causes fluid loss.

When consumed in large quantities, caffeine passes through your gut and into the bloodstream, and eventually, it reaches your liver, where it’s broken down into several compounds that affect how organs like your brain function. It then has a diuretic effect on your kidneys, especially in high doses.

In your skin, dehydration due to caffeine causes skin redness and inflammation.

Caffeine also disrupts your circadian rhythm—the 24-hour natural cycle of physical, mental, and behavioural changes your body goes through. “If you have caffeine after 11 or noon, it deteriorates your sleep quality and accelerates ageing process,” said Dr. Jangda.

Studies say caffeine contributes to premature ageing by increasing cortisol levels, which can break down collagen and elastin in the skin. This can lead to wrinkles, fine lines, or breakouts.

A few other horrific side effects include:

Too much caffeine in your system works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a brain chemical that makes you feel tired. At the same time, it triggers the release of adrenaline, the “fight-or-flight” hormone associated with increased energy, causing extreme anxiety and nervousness.

While caffeine can stimulate your bowel movements, large doses can lead to either loose stools or diarrhoea in some people and even constipation or ulcers.

Excessive caffeine in your system causes rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which damaged muscle fibres enter the bloodstream, leading to kidney failure and other problems. Common causes of rhabdomyolysis include trauma, infection, drug abuse, muscle strain, and bites from poisonous snakes or insects.

In addition, there have been several reports of rhabdomyolysis related to excessive caffeine intake.

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