Caffeine is one of the most preferred energy boosters among people all over the world. A large portion of the population is highly dependent on caffeinated drinks to get the day going and complete most of their daily activities.
Caffeine is also helpful in improving the mood of an individual and saving people from depression and sluggishness. People who drink coffee more than 3–4 times a day are also common these days.
Apart from coffee, there are also a lot of other caffeinated beverages, such as tea. Alcoholic beverages also contain caffeine in varied proportions and quantities.
However, consuming caffeine beyond a permissible amount can cause a lot of other negative results too. Hence, it is important that you keep an eye on the quantity and use it for the best results.
This article will help you understand some of the best health benefits of coffee and also some of the downsides of the same if you are addicted to it.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Coffee In Our Body?
Weight loss
Weight loss is one of the best health benefits of coffee. However, if you are consuming coffee by sweetening the same by adding refined and processed sugar, it would only bring the opposite results.
For best results, you may consume coffee twice a day without adding any kind of sugar or sweeteners. It can help in improving the bodily metabolic rate (BMR) of an individual and thereby contribute to the weight loss process.
Moreover, it is also consumed as a pre-workout drink across the world on account of its metabolism-boosting properties. There are a lot of studies that have already proven the weight loss qualities of caffeine and there are many still proving the same.
Keeps you alert
If you are someone, who is always drowsy, coffee is one of the best drinks you can consume on a daily basis. According to the experts, you may consume around 400 mg of coffee per day. It would keep you awake and alert, making you do things at a faster pace, effectively.
Moreover, having coffee for this purpose would also help in preventing a lot of cognitive dysfunctions and diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s that are highly likely to affect you, especially in older ages.
If you are in need of work late at night or during early mornings, drinking a cup of coffee, would help you stay away from falling asleep. However, if you are having it more than a permissible amount, you may eventually develop caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, and high blood pressure.
Impacts on your gut
If you are prone to acid issues in your stomach, it is better not to have coffee or caffeinated beverages on a daily basis. Many people experience acid reflux, stomach burn, heartburn, and many other similar issues after consuming coffee.
If you are experiencing the same. Make sure that you consume plenty of water daily, in order to avoid the problem. Some people may even experience ulcer attacks in their mouth and stomach with the consumption of coffee.
If you are having these issues persistently, make sure to seek an expert consultation before making coffee a part of your daily routine. Apart from that, some individuals may also feel the urge to urinate soon after having a cup of coffee or other beverages that have a high quantity of caffeine.
This is because your body cannot store the extra caffeine in it just like other nutrients. Hence it would soon get flushed out through urine after getting processed by the liver.
Cardiovascular diseases and caffeine
When you drink a cup of coffee, you will be able to notice a rise in your blood pressure levels. However, there is nothing to worry about. It is quite normal for you to have an increased heartbeat and then a rise in your blood pressure levels after the consumption.
But if you are having irregular heartbeats and increased blood pressure persistently, coffee might not be your cup of tea. Especially if you are a patient with hypertension and are taking medications for it, it is not that safe to consume coffee on a daily basis.
If you would still like to have them, consult with your doctor ask for the permissible dosage and try sticking to it.
Caffeine and reproduction
Caffeine has also a major role in the reproductive system of human beings, especially in females. If you are someone who is trying to conceive in the near future, it is better to limit your caffeine intake to 200-300 mg per day.
However, there is nothing wrong with having caffeine during pregnancy in moderation. The issue lies only in the quantity. If you consume more than a safe quantity, it may reach the placenta and increase the metabolism of the baby.
In some cases, it may also negatively affect the growth of the fetus and even lead to a miscarriage. There are also studies that prove that excess caffeine can disrupt the levels of female reproductive hormones.
Estrogen production can be significantly reduced if you are someone who is addicted to coffee or other beverages that contain caffeine in an excess amount.
Conclusion
These are some of the beneficial as well as disastrous effects of coffee and other caffeinated beverages on the health of human beings. Just like any other food items and drinks, the key to the consumption of coffee is also having it in moderation.
There is no need to completely ditch coffee from your life and stay away from that little cup of your happiness or mood-lifter. However, if you are having certain health conditions or diseases, your doctor may prevent you from having coffee.
In that case, you may switch to some other drinks with a lesser caffeine content or completely avoid caffeinated beverages. If you use coffee and other caffeinated drinks with caution, it is possible to make use of the same in the best possible manner benefitting your body to the core, with a lot of health gains.
References:
- Nehlig A, Daval JL, Debry G. Caffeine, and the central nervous system: mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic and psychostimulant effects. Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 1992 May-Aug;17(2):139-70.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1356551/ - Freedman ND, Park Y, Abnet CC, Hollenbeck AR, Sinha R. Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortality. N Engl J Med. 2012 May 17;366(20):1891-904.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3439152/ - US Food & Drug Administration. Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much? www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much? Updated December 12, 2018. Accessed April 21, 2023.
