11. Nutritional deficiencies
Various nutritional deficiencies (like Vitamin D, B12, and iron) can cause our cells distress, notes William B. Miller, Jr. M.D., infectious disease expert, evolutionary biologist, and author of Bioverse: How the Cellular World Contains the Secret to Life’s Biggest Questions. “The cells of our body experience this as stress, and that stress makes you tired.” As for how to combat this, Dr. Miller says to first “substantially increase your intake of plant-based fibers. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors had a very high diet of these types of nutrients. Our modern diet is sadly deficient in fiber. Your good microbes depend on these fibers as essential nutritional elements. Also, consider adding a probiotic. These are supplemental living bacteria that can be added to boost the number of beneficial microbes in your gut.”
Dr. Miller also says to cut sugars, processed foods, and excess salt while you’re at it.
12. Too much caffeine
While this might seem counterintuitive—caffeine is supposed to give you energy, after all—it’s true. “Extra caffeine is not contributing any beneficial health effect because your cells have become overwhelmed, and that excess caffeine no longer provides any boost,” explains Dr. Miller. He does note that the amount that constitutes too much is individualized. “Excess caffeine leads to a loss of energy. It’s just the same with alcohol intake for many of us. A small amount boosts our energy. A more significant amount sends us into a tailspin. In each instance, our cells are communicating with us about their status.”
While there is a difference between drinking too much caffeine and a caffeine overdose, the signs of overdoing it are similar to those of a panic attack. Some symptoms of caffeine overdose, per Mount Sainai, include breathing issues, dizziness, changes in alertness, agitation, seizures, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, increased thirst, increased urination, and more.
What might be too much caffeine for you could be just right for someone else. Unfortunately, trial and error is the best method for figuring out your limit. But, be sure to reference Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines if you’re unsure.