food & drink

10 Signs You’re Drinking Way Too Much Coffee

Graphic design showing a woman immersed in coffee beans

Millions of people around the world love a good cup of coffee. That’s not just because of the flavor or the customization options, but also because of how stimulating it is. Tea, you don’t even come close! However, and sorry to burst your bubble here, there is such a thing as drinking too much coffee. You may not even realize the effects, but they’re there and they may be disrupting your life a little. To help you out, here are 10 signs that you’re drinking way too much coffee and it’s time to reel it back:

You’re restless and even a little jittery

a woman sitting on a blue couch in front of a windowPhoto by Max Harlynking on Unsplash

So you’ve just had a huge cup of morning coffee or your third cup of the day and you start to feel like there’s an itch you can’t scratch or you’re agitated about something, but you have no idea what. It’s too much caffeine, that’s what! It never fails to lead to nervousness, an inability to be still, fidgeting, or pacing, and even anxiety or panic attacks. If this is relatable, it could be time to take a step back, assess how much coffee you’re having every day, and start reeling it back a bit.

Your sleep quality is down the drain

woman in black button up shirt yawningPhoto by Debashis RC Biswas on Unsplash

One of the most common side effects of consuming too much coffee is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, which means your sleep quality goes out the window. Caffeine is a stimulant that can disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake cycle, so if you’re having insomnia and restless nights, consider cutting off your caffeine consumption 6 to 8 hours before your bedtime. If you miss coffee too much in the afternoon, decaf is a thing!

You’re having heart palpitations

electrocardiogram graph displaying cardiac activity

Drinking excessive amounts of coffee can cause your heart to beat faster and irregularly, which is known as heart palpitations. So if you notice your heart racing or fluttering after drinking coffee, and there’s no other reason for it (say, stumbling upon a clip of Pedro Pascal winking directly at the camera), it may be time to cut back on your caffeine intake.

Stomach issues are a part of your personality

A woman sitting on a bed holds her abdomen with a painful expression

You know how they say that “hot girls have tummy issues”? Well, it could be because of your obsession with coffee. Coffee is known to stimulate the digestive system, but consuming too much can lead to a variety of issues. Including acid reflux, heartburn, and stomach discomfort. If you often have stomach issues and they usually flare up after you’ve had your coffee, it could be a sign that you’re overdoing it.

You can’t function without it

Two women chatting, one with a coffee cup nearby

One thing about caffeine is that you can develop a dependency on it if you don’t watch yourself. Coffee is a pleasant little pick-me-up, but if you’ve crossed the line to “I can’t function without it and my head hurts if I don’t have my coffee,” it’s time to reevaluate your relationship with it. There’s no need for a breakup, but consider building healthier habits around coffee.

Your mood is all over the place

A woman sits with her head in her hands, displaying a posture of sadness.

While coffee can initially improve your mood and make your mind feel as sharp as a knife for a while, consuming too much can have the opposite effect, leading to irritability, mood swings, and even depression in some cases. Our mood is already so unpredictable, why add fuel to the fire? Assess yourself and if you see a link between mood shifts and coffee, start reducing your caffeine consumption.

You take frequent trips to the bathroom

blue public restroom signPhoto by Yena Kwon on Unsplash

Coffee is a diuretic, which means it increases the production of urine, making you go to the bathroom a whole lot. This is why consuming too much coffee can make you feel dehydrated, so balance is important. Coffee is delicious, but you also have to remember to keep your caffeine intake at a healthy level and drink your water.

You experience muscle tremors

A woman with her back to the camera stretches her neck while massaging the muscles in her back

Excessive caffeine intake can cause muscle tremors or twitching, especially if you’re sensitive. So if you notice involuntary muscle movements after drinking coffee, like eye twitches or shaky hands, it could be a sign that you need to cut back on caffeine. Monitor your intake, which includes keeping an eye on how much tea, sodas, energy drinks, etc., you consume during the day, and find replacements so you can still enjoy a healthy dose of coffee.

You have decreased bone density

X-ray image showing the skeletal structure of a hand

Some studies suggest that consuming too much caffeine can lead to decreased bone density and an increased risk of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women. If bone health is a concern for you, controlling your caffeine intake is a must and it’s something you should discuss with your doctor. They can tell you how much caffeine is advisable for you and you can make better lifestyle choices based on that.

You get headaches often

a woman holds her head in her hands with a pained expression on her face

When you become dependent on caffeine, headaches are one of the first signs of withdrawal. If you notice that you always get a headache when you stop drinking caffeine for the day, it might be time to gradually reduce your intake. Usually, 400mg of caffeine per day is ideal for most adults, but everyone’s sensitivity level is different so you’ll have to gauge yours.

None of this means you can’t enjoy coffee; it just means you have to do so in moderation!

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opinion

Latinos Are Ready to Vote for Abortion Rights This November

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

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Diverse and Powerful: New Releases by Latina Authors

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Luz Media

If you’re looking for your next page-turner, checking out new releases is always a good option. These fresh releases from Latina authors will pull you in and give you the kind of satisfying reading experience you’re on the hunt for. Whether you’re looking for a good fiction book or want to dive deep into real-life issues to broaden your knowledge, these 5 must-read releases will deliver.

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politics

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

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