Most people view caffeine as a 'pick-me-up' to help them get the day started, but the effects of caffeine are not just stimulating in nature. You need to make sure that you're not consuming too much caffeine in a day in order to maintain your health, and to keep your nervous system intact.

And, if you're having trouble staying awake throughout the day, coming up with alternatives to maintain your energy all day long may be ideal.

After you feel the initial effects of caffeine, such as alertness and a bit of hyperactivity, you may find that you are sluggish and tired a few hours later. You can minimize this effect by not eating extremely sugary foods with your coffee.

Most people eat things like donuts or pastries with a cup of coffee in the morning, and the combination of sugar and caffeine could send your energy crashing down before your workday is over.

So, if you love your morning coffee, try coupling it with a serving of fresh fruit or whole wheat toast in order to keep you more alert and awake throughout the day.

Insomnia is also among the effects of caffeine. Studies have already revealed that the average American adult doesn't receive as much sleep as needed, and drinking coffee may make this problem even worse.

Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep every day, and when you're consuming too much caffeine, you may find that it is hard to get to sleep at night. And even if you fall asleep right away, you may discover that you are waking up in the middle of the night, and are having a hard time getting back to sleep.

This means that you'll be tired during the day, which will affect your ability to make decisions and stay in a good mood.

Another of the effects of caffeine is anxiety and nervousness. If you are drinking too much coffee or eating too much chocolate in a day, you may find that it is more difficult to make decisions at work or school, and it may be harder for you to deal with stress.

Instead of using coffee to calm yourself down or get more energy, you could try drinking a cup of green tea or chai tea.

These beverages will provide your body with a small amount of caffeine for energy, but also contain antioxidants, which are substances that help the body to rid itself of toxins.

Drinking lots of water throughout the day will also help you to fight off some of the negative effects of caffeine, since this will maintain the moisture balance of the body and help to reduce fatigue.