HOW MANY CUPS OF COFFEE DID YOU DRINK TODAY? HOW MANY CANS OF POP? AT IT UP AND IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN YOU CARE TO ADMIT. HOW MUCH CAFFEINE IS TOO MUCH? GOOD QUESTION. HEATHER BROWN FOUND OUT, THANKS TO COFFEE TALK AT A SHOP IN BLOOMINGTON LAST WINTER.. WE HAVE HERE? THIS IS OUR SON KEVIN. HE IS 4 MENTAL. Reporter: HOW MUCH CAFFEINE DO YOU DRINK THESE DAYS? [ LAUGHTER ] QUITE A BIT. Reporter: WE LOVE CAFFEINE. IT IS CLEAR FROM THE MIDDAY CROWD AT THE GRIND COFFEE AND CREAMERY. IT IS CUPS. I TRY TO STAY TO 2. I A SHOT OF ESPRESSO AND 2-3 CUPS OF COFFEE. Reporter: DR. MIKE HOWELL IS A NEUROLOGIST. Reporter: YOU ARE ASLEEP DOCTOR. YOU ARE OKAY WITH CAFFEINE UP TO –? 400 MG. Reporter: — 10 CANS OF SODA OR 216 OUNCE CUPS OF COFFEE. OR 2.5 OF THESE CANS OF ENERGY DRINK.
THAT IS MORE THAN I WOULD'VE THOUGHT. IT IS A LOT. CAFFEINE IS THE MOST COMMONLY CONSUMED DRUG IN THE WORLD. Reporter: 90% OF AMERICANS CONSUME SOME OF IT EACH DAY. PEOPLE DRINK DIET MOUNTAIN DEW OR DIET COKE. I DRINK COFFEE. YOU CALL IT A DRUG. IT IS A SUBSTANCE THAT ACTS ON OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. I AM DEPENDENT. YES. AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAY, YOUR BRAIN IS BUILDING UP A COMPOUND CALLED ADENOSINE. AS IT BUILDS UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY, YOU GET SLEEPY. CAFFEINE BLOCKS THE EFFECT OF IT ON YOUR BRAIN. Reporter: IT HAS BENEFITS. IN IMPROVES ALERTNESS AND REACTION TIME. Reporter: AND DRAWBACKS. CAFFEINE IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS IS BAD FOR YOU. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE HEART PROBLEMS OR YOU ARE PRONE TO ANXIETY OR YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP AT NIGHT.
Reporter: IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE, IS IT OKAY? IT IS OKAY TO DRINK CAFFEINE IN MODERATION. I WOULD NOT DRINK MORE THAN 3-4 CUPS PER DAY. EVEN MYSELF. Reporter: [ LAUGHTER ] TO EACH THEIR OWN. I AM HEALTHY. I WILL HAVE A LATTE. Reporter: IN BLOOMINGTON, HEATHER BROWN, WCCO 4 NEWS ..
