New app helps people manage caffeine intake
People who regularly include caffeinated drinks in their daily diet plans may benefit from a new app, which is designed to help them manage their intake.Many people drink coffee to gain a mental 'boost', but drinking it at the wrong time of day could lead to sleep problems, nausea and nervousness.
Now, scientists at Pennsylvania State University have developed a software app that takes details on a person's caffeine use and produces graphs of how they will be affected over time.
Dr Frank Ritter, a professor at the university, explained that many people do not understand how the caffeine levels in their bloodstream go up and down.
"It's important to understand the effect that caffeine can have at these various levels," he claimed.
The professor suggested that shift workers may find the app particularly useful, as their sleeping and waking patterns vary each day.
"If they, and others who drink coffee to stay awake, drink too much coffee on one shift, they may have trouble sleeping. So the next day, they'll drink even more coffee and have even more trouble sleeping," he explained.
Research shows that it is perfectly safe for most people to drink four to five cups of coffee a day, according to the British Coffee Association.
