Harm and benefit of coffee

Every day, more than 2 billion cups of coffee are drunk in the world. The drink is valued not only for its rich taste and invigorating properties, but also for a certain culture of consumption: buying a cup on the way to work, sitting with colleagues or friends in a cozy coffee shop, making a drink yourself for yourself and your loved ones.

At the same time, headlines about the terrible harm of the aromatic drink and predictions of premature death for its fans very often appear in the media. Fortunately, everything is not so dramatic. Today we will talk about the benefits of coffee from a medical point of view, about the norms of its consumption and situations when it is better to refuse the drink.

What are the benefits of coffee?

Modern research shows that the harm of the drink is exaggerated, but many underestimate its beneficial properties. The pleasant aroma and taste of coffee itself improves mood and performance, and caffeine also improves long-term and short-term memory, activates thought processes. A cup of coffee in the morning is a good start to the day for a mental worker.

The drink has many preventive effects:

• reduces the risk of developing cancer due to the content of natural antioxidants;
• prevents the development of neurodegenerative processes, primarily Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases;
• slows down the progression of dementia;
• increases tissue sensitivity to insulin, thereby helping to control blood glucose levels;
• improves liver function;
• reduces the risk of developing depression
• saturates the body with B vitamins, potassium and magnesium;
• accelerates metabolic reactions and promotes the burning of fat deposits under the condition of active physical exercise.

Please note! Coffee is recommended for arterial hypotension, liver disease, cognitive dysfunction, metabolic syndrome and excess weight. But do not prescribe yourself a tasty "medicine" - first consult a doctor.

Is it true that coffee helps relieve drowsiness?

Drinking a strong cup of coffee to perk up after waking up early is a common habit, but scientists warn that most of the time the invigorating effect is based on the placebo effect. In fact, caffeine does not invigorate, but only blocks the body's signals of fatigue, allowing a person to continue doing their job without discomfort for a short time. Soon the effect wears off, and fatigue is felt with renewed vigor.

Another important point is that coffee contains not only caffeine, but also theobromine. The substance has a relaxing effect, but it begins to act later, about 30 minutes after drinking the drink. Therefore, soon after a cup of coffee, you can get the opposite effect - sticky eyes and a strong desire to sleep, even if you managed to cope with drowsiness before.

The so-called "long-distance driver effect" or "30th kilometer effect" is connected with the soporific effect of coffee. 25-30 minutes after stopping at a roadside cafe or gas station, the driver feels the theobromine effect and wants to take a nap. At this point, the risk of accidents due to inattention on the road increases sharply.

Harmful effects of coffee on health

The negative effects of coffee are most often associated with an increased risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction. However, scientists do not confirm this common opinion. With moderate consumption (1-2 cups per day), the aromatic drink does not have a negative effect on the heart in healthy people and even helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. If you drink too much coffee, the production of the hormone norepinephrine increases, blood pressure rises and heart problems may occur, especially if a person has already been diagnosed with hypertension.

Other side effects of coffee:

• causes increased production of hydrochloric acid, which is harmful for people with stomach diseases;
• relaxes the esophageal sphincter and increases the frequency of acid reflux in GERD;
• may trigger acne, as caffeine promotes the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which in excess negatively affects the condition of the skin;
• stains tooth enamel, especially if a person does not maintain good hygiene and does not undergo professional dental hygiene;
• leads to excessive loss of moisture, frequent urination and removal of trace elements, thereby disrupting the water-electrolyte balance;
• in large quantities it provokes finger tremors, increased anxiety and nervousness.

Important! Coffee lovers who drink 3-5 or more cups a day may develop an addiction. To get the usual boost of energy and vivacity, you will need a very strong drink and more frequent coffee breaks, and without another “dose” a person will feel broken, tired, unable to concentrate on work.

When we talk about coffee, we mean not only classic espresso or ristretto, but also coffee drinks: cappuccino, latte, raf, mochaccino, etc. They contain high-calorie additives (cream, milk, syrups) and are usually prepared very sweet. Excessive passion for them is fraught with weight gain, because a large cup of latte with syrup contains over 200 calories. Constant consumption of simple carbohydrates does not benefit the endocrine system - this is one of the risk factors for diabetes, especially if sweet coffee is complemented by cake.