Coffee is ever-present in our present time and has been around for centuries. Today, coffee is one of the products that are mostly consumed by people. And being a staple drink, we most likely have grown to drink it every day. But this popularity nevertheless means that coffee is healthy. Of course, there are pros and cons of coffee consumption. But what are the scientifically proven pros and cons of drinking coffee that we know of today?
The widely known component of coffee is caffeine which is a psychoactive substance that is one of the most extensively consumed in the world. There are thorough studies that examined the valuable effects of coffee on the human body. Although as a whole, coffee is an elaborate beverage with thousand varying components. There are studies, however, that claimed the similar health effects of caffeinated and decaf coffee, and that caffeine is not the component behind most of its health benefits.
While there are still ongoing efforts to know more about the pros and cons of coffee consumption, here is an enumeration of what we have known so far.
Pros in drinking coffee
1. Improves physical performance.
When you plan of going for a workout, drinking a cup of black coffee an hour before can boost your physical performance by about 12%. This is because caffeine escalates your blood’s level of your adrenaline. It is this “fight or flight” hormone that helps you get ready for physical labour or exertion.
2. Enhances concentration and mental alertness.
When being consumed in moderation, say one to six cups a day, coffee can help your concentration as it also enhances your mental alertness.
also studies showing that people who drink coffee to start their day usually carry out cognitive endeavours better than those who do not. They are also expected to learn and retain new information more effectively. When coffee is combined with sweet snacks, parts of the brain that are responsible for memory and attention will also be activated, making it even more effective.
3. Helps in weight loss.
Among the components of coffee are potassium and magnesium. These facilitate the body’s utilization of insulin that regulates the sugar level in the blood and your yearning for sweets. This will aid you in losing weight.
4. Burns body fats.
With caffeine, fat cells are spurred in breaking down body fat to be used as energy for your training.
5. Lessens the risk of premature death.
Coffee drinkers, according to some studies, are 25% less at risk of premature death than non-coffee drinkers.
6. Reduces risk of cancers.
There is a study showing the effect of coffee in reducing by 20% the risk of getting prostate cancer in men, and by 25% of developing endometrial cancer in women. Caffeine may also prevent a person from developing basal cell carcinoma which is the most widespread skin cancer type.
7. Lowers the risk of stroke.
There are also studies showing that when a person reasonably consumes coffee of about two to four cups a day, his chances of having a stroke are lowered.
Cons in drinking coffee
1. Can lead to restlessness and insomnia.
The caffeine in the coffee may cause restlessness and insomnia. The recommended maximum amount of caffeine consumption is 400 milligrams. This can be reached by consuming roughly four cups of coffee. And you should be extra careful in coffee consumption especially if you are caffeine-sensitive. When you are, please be conscious of the amount and kind of coffee that is appropriate for you or does not fit you.
Since sleep loss is a reality for those who drink too much coffee, one must be reminded that ordinarily, coffee leaves your body system after about six hours. Therefore, do not drink coffee after 6:00 PM. Switch to decaf if you really want to drink coffee beyond 6 PM.
2. Can lead to osteoporosis.
Coffee consumption causes the body to throw off calcium since this is immoderately carried out by urination. In the long run, a person who drinks too much coffee is at higher risk of conditions like osteoporosis. The bones will become less compact and more breakable. You may avoid this, though, by adding two tablespoons of milk to your coffee.
3. Is not safe for pregnant women and fetus.
If you are pregnant, do not drink more than one cup of coffee a day. This is because some studies show that coffee can affect your fetus, although these studies remain controversial to date. But certainly, if a pregnant woman will drink coffee, the fetus will also obtain caffeine, and remember that babies are very sensitive to this. So if you are really a heavy coffee drinker even if pregnant, at least limit your coffee consumption to one cup daily.
4. Can be toxic.
Quality coffee is fine. But a bad one contains a lot of impurities that can cause headaches, sickness, or a general awful feeling. Bad quality coffee is usually made from over ripped or ruined beans. Your cup of coffee becomes toxic even just by having one ruined bean.
After citing some pros and cons, can you now say that coffee is good or bad for you?
Some people should be more conscious of drinking coffee especially if they are pregnant, caffeine sensitive, have high cholesterol, or a child. But for others, drinking coffee in moderation can be beneficial.
If you want to be sure whether or not drinking coffee is appropriate for your condition, or if you want to know the amount or kind of coffee that best suits you, you can visit an online walk-in Clinic Edmonton. A professional medical assessment is always of help.