The sport icon says he tries avoid the drink after it reaches a specific time of day
Rory McIlroy, who is set to make a cameo in the long-awaited Happy Gilmore sequel, has shared one strict rule he has to improve his overall health – including sleep and energy levels. Making this small sacrifice could boost his physical and mental health, too.
He told Golf Digest: “My caffeine intake is probably a little higher than I would want it to be, but I try not to have any caffeine after 2pm. I feel like if I drink a lot of caffeine, the effect it has on me isn’t quite the same as someone who doesn’t drink it a lot.”
He added: “I probably have, on average, two double espressos a day. Usually one in the morning and then one after lunch.”
Whilst it may not sound like much, there’s quite a bit of caffeine in just those two small drinks. A double espresso typically contains around 120-150 milligrams (mg) of caffeine (depending on factors like the bean type and brewing method).
So, doubling that again means the 35-year-old would be knocking back around 240-300mg daily. According to the NHS, up to 400mg is generally safe, but personal tolerance varies from person to person.
This means that McIlroy is getting as much as three-quarters of the recommended level from two drinks – not including any other forms from his diet. But what benefits can you expect from cutting back your caffeine fixes?
Reducing caffeine can improve sleep, reduce anxiety and potentially lower blood pressure. You might also notice other benefits, like weight loss and healthier teeth.
Whilst it might help to perk you up in the morning, caffeine does the exact same if you drink it at night. It acts as a stimulant that can interfere with sleep, so drinking coffee in the afternoon might not allow your body enough time to flush it out of your system before going to bed.
Caffeine keeps you up because it blocks the receptors in the brain, preventing a chemical called adenosine from binding and promoting your natural sleep and tiredness cycle. If being wired on coffee isn’t keeping you awake, then the fact that it is a diuretic might.
This means it can increase your desire to go to the toilet, potentially disrupting sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night to dash to the bathroom. Getting a good amount of quality sleep at night can stop you feeling tired when you first wake up, and throughout the rest of the day.
Caffeine can also trigger anxiety and jitters in some individuals, especially with regular consumption. Cutting back on caffeine may lead to a reduction in anxiety and an overall improvement in mood and emotional regulation. Some studies suggest that caffeine can increase lactic acid, which may contribute to anxiety.
While some experts believe it shows little change, others suggest that reducing caffeine intake may slightly decrease blood pressure. Dropping your blood pressure can help decrease your chance of potentially fatal health problems like heart attacks, strokes and organ failure.
Some research suggests that caffeine can increase cortisol levels, which can contribute to belly fat storage. Reducing caffeine intake may help regulate cortisol levels and potentially aid in weight management.
Although it has nothing to do with caffeine itself, cutting back on drinks like coffee and cola can improve your smile. This is because most drinks are dark-coloured and can lead to teeth staining.
