Caffeine, one of the most active constituents of coffee beans, has been named one of the most commonly used drugs by university researchers in Melbourne. The statements of Australian researchers are by no means groundless, since excessive and prolonged consumption of coffee can cause physical and mental dependence, and if the daily allowance is exceeded, nausea and tinnitus.
Coffeemania has become a real attribute of modern man. This statement is especially relevant in relation to residents of megalopolises and cities. For them, the 5-10 minutes that they spend drinking their favorite drink become, in their opinion, a way to escape from everyday hustle and bustle and an extra reason to enjoy the bitter-tart aroma and taste of coffee. Years of this habit lead to it being associated with relaxation, but this is far from being the case. And in this article, we will introduce you to the reasons that should prompt you to opt for and refuse coffee and caffeinated drinks.
Why do people think drinking coffee is good for health?
Advertising paints an image of successful people who drink coffee.Caffeine is often called a soft drug, and it's hard to disagree with this statement. We all know that a cup of strong aromatic coffee can evoke in us:
- a surge of strength and passion for physical activity;
- elimination or smoothing of pain;
- normalization of mood;
- sharpening of attention, intellectual abilities and memory.
That is why many people believe that coffee is a healthy and necessary product in their daily diet.
An important role in the popularization of this invigorating drink belongs to advertising. Endless viewing of videos with images of beautiful and successful people with a cup of coffee in their hands, broadcast on television or on the Internet, numerous printed advertisements listing the beneficial properties of this drink - all this is deposited in people's subconscious, and they begin to buy this product with pleasure in stores, without thinking about the fact that it harms our health.
With prolonged use of coffee, we notice that this “ritual” becomes an integral part of our lives, and without a morning dose of an invigorating drink, our mood deteriorates and everything falls out of our hands. Such dependence is not observed in those who clearly follow the "daily intake of the drink", and in such cases, drinking coffee does not harm health.
What dose of coffee is considered normal?
One liter of coffee brewed in the traditional way contains about 1500 mg of caffeine. A day for the human body is considered a harmless dose of this substance that stimulates the nervous system, which is no more than 1000 mg. When it is exceeded, depletion of nerve cells is observed and after a while a person develops dependence.
Most of the studies done on the effects of coffee on the body show that the maximum allowable dose of caffeine per day is 500-600 mg (i.e. no more than 5-6 cups of coffee), and for children and adolescents it is even lower. With the development of addiction or an overdose of caffeine, a person develops the following symptoms:
- headache;
- irritability;
- fatigue;
- drowsiness;
- muscle pain.
The appearance of these symptoms should always be a reason to refuse another cup of coffee and reconsider your attitude to this invigorating drink!
Why is coffee bad for health?
Harm to the nervous system and mental health
Abuse of coffee leads to exhaustion of the nervous system. Prolonged stimulation of the tissues of the nervous system leads to the fact that it is constantly in an excited state and experiences excessive stress. Such hard work causes depletion of nerve cells, and they cannot ensure the coordinated work of all systems and organs.
In addition to the negative impact on the physical functionality of the nervous system, coffee has a devastating effect on mental health and can cause insomnia. Constant overexcitation of the cerebral cortex can lead to the development of:
- unmotivated aggression;
- psychoses;
- paranoia;
- epilepsy.
Harm to the cardiovascular system
Overexcitation of the nervous system causes the activation of the vasomotor center, and the person's pulse quickens and, since the heart begins to contract faster, and the vessels narrow. Despite the short duration of such exposure to caffeine, in coffee drinkers who drink coffee often, the constant hard work of the cardiovascular system leads to an increased risk of developing arterial hypertension and.
It is especially harmful to drink coffee for those people who suffer from various diseases or have a predisposition to them.
The greatest harm to blood vessels and the heart is caused by coffee prepared by brewing, and not in a coffee maker.
Damage to metabolism
Coffee consumption leads to a violation of the absorption of such trace elements and vitamins:
- sodium;
- magnesium;
- vitamin B6 and B1;
- calcium.
As a result of a lack of trace elements in a person, teeth begin to deteriorate, develop, and frequent pains in the neck and back appear. A lack of magnesium and vitamins B6 and B1 causes a disturbance in the circulatory system, and a person may experience headaches, irritability and other symptoms of cerebrovascular accident.
Harm to fertility
Caffeine can stimulate an excess release of adrenal hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. An increase in their level leads to hormonal imbalance, and women will experience a lack of such an important hormone for the onset and successful completion of pregnancy as progesterone.
That is why the refusal of caffeinated drinks is recommended for all women and pregnant women. It is especially harmful to drink this invigorating drink after the 20th week of pregnancy and in the last months of gestation. Studies confirm that drinking even 4 cups of coffee a day increases the risk of premature termination of pregnancy in 33% of women.
Harm to fetus and unborn child
Pregnant women should refrain from drinking coffee. Excessive coffee consumption during pregnancy can cause such disorders in the development of the fetus:
- the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies;
- delayed physical and mental development;
- the birth of a child with caffeine addiction;
- tooth growth at a later date.
Harm to normal weight
Excessive consumption of coffee leads to the appearance of extra pounds. This conclusion was reached by many scientists who studied the effects of caffeine on the human body. The reason for the appearance of excess fat is a hormonal imbalance, provoked by excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Because of this, it begins to function incorrectly, and a person slows down all metabolic processes, and more fat appears under the skin.
Harm to the immune system
Caffeine contributes to insufficient production of thyroid hormones, and due to their lack, malfunctions in our immunity appear. As a result, a person becomes more susceptible to the development of various infectious diseases, and he needs a longer time to recover.
Harm to skin and hair
An insufficient amount of thyroid hormones and disorders in the absorption of trace elements and vitamins lead to the appearance of symptoms that are unpleasant for both women and men:
- dryness and peeling of the skin;
- coarsening of the skin on the elbows and soles;
- fragility and dullness of nails;
Harm to the liver
The opinions of some doctors about the harmful effects of coffee on the liver diverged. Some of the hepatologists recommend that patients with developing with or with alcoholism take a small amount of this drink with the addition of milk. In their opinion, coffee is necessary to slow down the development of scarring (fibrosis) processes in the liver tissues. However, it should be noted that excessive consumption of this drink can harm this vital organ.
The liver is a real "laboratory" for decontamination and removal of toxic substances from the body. And in the cultivation of some varieties of coffee and the production of such a drink as decaffeinated coffee, pesticides and other toxic substances - ethyl acetate and methylene chloride - are used.
They have a toxic effect on the liver, and it spends a huge part of its resources processing these poisons. In addition, the liver is involved in the production of enzymes necessary for the breakdown of substances contained in coffee and their metabolism. As a result, the liver of coffee drinkers is under increasing stress, depleted, and a person has an increased risk of developing hepatitis.
Harm to teeth
Coffee contains a lot of tooth-pigmenting substances that cause darkening of the teeth and contribute to the formation of tartar. Dental plaque accumulates a greater number of pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause the development of various inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity and loss of teeth.
Harm to the development of children and adolescents
In addition to all the health problems that caffeine overdose causes in adults, coffee consumption by children can cause such disorders in their development and health.
When you can not resist the fifth mug of coffee, the question of the benefits involuntarily creeps into your head. The debate about the coffee drink does not subside - someone believes that the content of large amounts of caffeine and theophylline in grains cause significant damage to the body, and someone thinks that the drink is absolutely harmless.
Peter I himself could not resist the magic of fragrant grains - having fallen in love with the drink, the ruler forced his subjects to drink it daily.
Despite the huge number of coffee trees (about seventy species), Arabica and Robusta are the main ones - they supply humanity with a natural source of energy.
The surge of vivacity largely depends on the quality and proper roasting of coffee. Different heat treatment technology allows you to create the necessary strength and richness of taste. For Scandinavian coffee, the beans are only lightly roasted; for Viennese coffee, they are roasted to medium. The strongest degree of roasting is Italian.
The benefits and composition of coffee
The natural drink contains few carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but a sufficient amount of such vitamins and minerals as:
- Calcium;
- Potassium;
- Magnesium;
- Phosphorus;
- Iron;
- Sodium;
- Essential oils;
- Tannin;
- Cafeol;
- Vitamins of group B, PP.
Organic chlorogenic acid normalizes the functioning of the digestive tract, disinfects the oral cavity (prevention of caries), restores the intestinal microflora. The rich coffee aroma is due to the alkaloid trigonelin, which, when roasted, produces nicotinic acid. Polysaccharides affect the functioning of the brain, and caffeine makes the heart beat faster, improves metabolic processes, reduces stress and gives the necessary burst of energy in the morning.
Coffee has a beneficial effect on blood vessels - doctors advise drinking a drink with heart failure.
In small doses, coffee can relieve headaches, produces a hormone of happiness (serotonin), which relieves depression. The drink dulls the feeling of hunger, removes toxins and toxins from the body, which is very important for girls on a diet. According to scientists - coffee beans slow down the development of cancerous tumors, stimulate memory, reducing the amount of proteins in the brain in older people suffering from Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Substances in coffee beans regulate the level of bile juice, reduce the formation of kidney stones, and reduce the occurrence of diabetes. In men, frequent consumption of a coffee drink can affect libido, reduce sexual desire (the level of the female hormone estrogen increases). The opinions of scientists on this issue differ - professors from Brazil are sure that coffee, on the contrary, causes increased sexual desire, acting as a natural aphrodisiac. True, the drink is completely powerless if a man has impotence.
Harm and contraindications
In order not to cause harm to health, it is enough to control the consumption of the drink: the allowable rate of coffee per day is 3-4 mugs, 120 ml of water goes to one glass. The number of grains depends on the concentration. The addition of milk helps to remove tannins - a characteristic bitter taste. Minus - gradually, caffeine is addictive, and a person begins to drink mug after mug, without even thinking about the possible consequences.
Pregnant women are advised to temporarily refrain from coffee - the drink tones not only the muscles, but also the uterus, which negatively affects the development of the fetus in the womb. With excessive use (5-6 cups at a time), a person may faint. Caffeine in high doses leaches calcium from the body, can increase blood cholesterol levels and provoke atherosclerosis.
Excessive love for coffee leads to tachycardia, insomnia, stress, neurosis, poor absorption of vitamins, and gastritis if drunk on an empty stomach.
Dehydration of the body due to the diuretic action leads to rapid aging of the skin. To restore the water balance, you need to drink twice as much water.
Coffee is contraindicated for people with diseases such as :
- Hypertension, hypertensive crisis;
- Heart disease (ischemia, arrhythmia);
- Gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer;
- pancreatitis;
- Prostatitis;
- Inflammation of the thyroid gland;
- Anemia.
Instant coffee is an order of magnitude worse than natural beans. Why, it’s not difficult to guess - soluble granules are made from cheap robusta, recycled materials, coffee crumbs with the addition of dyes, and the caffeine content in freeze-dried powders is much higher.
Preparing a daily cup of coffee, we do not even think about how this drink affects our body. Well, except for being invigorating. But daily use in one way or another affects the organ systems. But caffeine brings benefit or harm - we will talk about this in the article.
What is in a coffee bean?
Before we analyze the effect of coffee on the human body, let's see what a coffee bean is.
The composition of coffee beans includes over 2000 different substances, including:
- iron;
- magnesium;
- pyridine;
- calcium;
- quinic acid;
- oxalic acid;
- vitamins of different groups;
- tannins;
- nitrogen;
- mineral salts, etc.
Leading the way is caffeine. This substance belongs to alkaloids, depending on dosages, caffeine can have both a tonic effect and depress the central nervous system.
caffeine in medicine
Caffeine is used in medicine as a psychostimulant. It is indicated for diseases that are accompanied by depression of the functions of the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system, with bedwetting, to increase the overall tone.
Caffeine is available in 100mg and 200mg tablets. One cup of coffee usually contains about the same amount of caffeine. Adult patients are prescribed two or three times a day from 50 mg to 100 mg. From this it follows that the permissible dose of coffee consumption is up to 3 cups per day. We will talk about the effect of coffee on the body with specific diseases further.
How does coffee affect various human organ systems?
You may have noticed that along with increased efficiency after morning espresso, heartburn comes to you, as well as frequent urge to urinate. Have you ever wondered if it could be due to caffeine? Let's figure it out.
The effect of coffee on the heart and blood vessels
Under the influence of caffeine, the heart rate increases. For a young, healthy heart, as well as elastic vessels, this effect is positive at moderate doses. But for people who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, a rapid heartbeat can cause complications: lack of oxygen in the heart muscle, hypertensive crisis. And for people with coronary heart disease, high doses of caffeine can trigger arrhythmias and even heart attacks.
Effects of coffee on the stomach
The effect of coffee on the stomach and gastrointestinal tract is not so much due to caffeine, but to the acids contained in the drink. Their action is to stimulate the work of the gastric secretion, which entails the acceleration of the digestion of food and the activation of the production of gastric juice. If there are no pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, and coffee is not consumed in excess of the norm, then the drink will help to improve digestion and stool. But for people with gastritis, a stomach ulcer, this can harm, so you should give it up and switch to herbal teas and cocoa.
Effects of coffee on the liver
There is a lot of controversy about the effects of coffee on the liver. Some doctors say that the drink is useful, others are inclined to believe that it is harmful. It is important to note that when drinking natural coffee, a person with a healthy liver is not in danger. But instant coffee is generally not recommended to anyone.
As for the benefits, we all know that the liver cleanses our body. And since caffeine promotes the release of gastric secretion and improves metabolism, the purification processes are accelerated. It should also be said that coffee beans contain components involved in lipid metabolism. This reduces the risk of fatty liver disease. And the drink helps to prevent the formation of scar tissue, which contributes to the rapid regeneration of the organ.
It is better to consult with your doctor about whether it is worth drinking coffee for liver diseases.
The effect of coffee on the brain and nervous system
Regular consumption of coffee improves cognitive abilities, reaction, logical thinking, reduces the effects of stress and the occurrence of depressive states. However, abuse and excess doses leads to depression, lethargy, insomnia. Therefore, you can drink no more than 3 cups a day and no later than 14:00-15:00.
The effect of coffee on the kidneys
About 10% of caffeine is excreted unchanged from the body by the kidneys. With constant use, most diuresis increases, which means that a person often goes to the toilet in a small way. This entails increased fluid loss, disrupting the metabolic processes of electrolytes and minerals. Along with this, calcium and sodium are washed out of the body. Together, these processes can lead to the formation of kidney stones. Therefore, after each cup of coffee, it is recommended to drink a glass of clean water to replenish the water balance.
The effect of coffee on a woman's body - is it possible to drink a drink for pregnant women?
We hope that now you will be more conscious about drinking coffee and listen to your body. And if you are looking for a coffee machine to drink a quality drink, we offer you to rent a coffee machine on favorable terms. We work in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.
Coffee is surrounded by many contradictions: some attribute extraordinary harm to it, while others talk about the usefulness of this drink. There are more than enough coffee lovers in modern society. However, most likely, none of them ever seriously thought about how caffeine affects. What effect does coffee actually have on the human body, is it possible to use it every day and are there any indications for its use?
How coffee works
The effect of caffeine on the human body is primarily expressed in the excitation of the nervous system. Caffeine stimulates brain activity. The vessels expand, and blood begins to circulate through the central nervous system at a faster rate. For this reason, the processes that take place in the central nervous system begin to accelerate and cheerfulness comes to a person. In addition, a cup of coffee can increase sensitivity by increasing nervous excitability.
That is why most people like to drink coffee in the morning, because after waking up, brain activity has not yet gained momentum and is at a low level. After sleep, the nervous system is at rest and it needs either time to get used to being awake, or the boost that caffeine can give. However, this drink is not suitable for everyone and it often happens that a person feels bad after coffee.
Drinking coffee is appropriate for those whose work requires special care and sobriety of the mind, as it improves mental activity. Older people especially praise this drink, because it increases efficiency and gives strength.
How does coffee affect the human body?
- improves brain activity and increases efficiency;
- accelerates processes in the cerebral cortex and thus has a stimulating effect on the human body;
- coffee speeds up the digestion of food and increases appetite;
- raises blood pressure and increases heart rate;
- most importantly - it has an invigorating effect, removes fatigue and lethargy, increases alertness and activity.
Of course, it is natural coffee beans that have a more tangible effect, which is brewed according to technology and not brought to a boil. The instant drink sold in supermarkets does not have such an invigorating effect, and many can easily fall asleep soundly after drinking a cup. But after properly brewed natural coffee, drunk in the evening, you can not close your eyes all night.
Drinking coffee without measure is quite dangerous, because it is fraught with various undesirable reactions. It is especially risky to drink a natural drink, as it contains a large amount of caffeine. An overdose of coffee threatens the appearance of the following symptoms:
- panic attacks, depressive states, irritability, causeless fear, dizziness and headaches;
- palpitations, arrhythmia, increased pressure;
- after coffee shakes, disorientation appears, severe overexcitation, exhaustion;
- discomfort in the stomach from the constant secretion of gastric juice;
- the inability to relax and fall asleep, and if a person falls asleep, then he is half asleep. Delirium appears, which constantly interrupts sleep, sharply withdraws from it.
One or another of the above reactions are often observed in coffee lovers who are used to drinking one cup of natural coffee after another. In acute caffeine poisoning, its effect on the body is manifested in the following symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- frequent intermittent breathing;
- delirium and convulsions;
- tachycardia and arrhythmia;
- redness of the skin.
Obviously, death from a coffee drink overdose is a rare occurrence, because in order to get a lethal dose of caffeine, you need to drink a hundred cups, which is unrealistic. However, if you do not take action and continue to take this drink in the presence of the above symptoms, then they may be followed by coma, collapse and even death.
Coffee contains many organic acids, namely: citric, acetic, malic and oxalic. Due to their impact in the stomach, there is an increased secretion of digestive juice and a person feels hungry. Roughly speaking, this drink speeds up the process of digestion of food, and if you drink a hearty breakfast with it, it will be absorbed by the body much faster. And this, of course, is a positive property, provided that a person does not have any serious diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
The pleasant fact is that scientists have recently determined that coffee is good for the liver. It is believed that a coffee drink restores the liver at the cellular level, and this is not surprising, because medicine has proven that bitterness is good for the liver. How it affects this organ is not known for certain, but, according to statistics, people who drink about three cups of natural coffee a day are not threatened with diseases such as cirrhosis, fatty liver, and even liver cancer.
Unfortunately, nothing good can be said about the soluble version, except that it still gives some vigor. Its action is inversely proportional to the action of natural. Regular use of this surrogate can result in an exacerbation of chronic diseases, and it has a destructive effect on the liver, so the question of whether instant coffee is harmful can be answered with a firm yes. Replacing natural coffee with this drink is like eating soup on a bouillon cube: it tastes like real chicken broth, but there is no benefit.
With increased acidity, coffee can have a negative effect and exacerbate the problem due to the presence of organic acids in its composition. Therefore, before drinking this drink with such a disease, you should definitely get the advice of a specialist. In addition, if coffee is bad, only a competent gastroenterologist will tell you what to do and whether it can be consumed.
How coffee is involved in metabolic processes
Caffeine accelerates many processes in the body, including metabolic ones, so coffee is indicated for people who want to lose weight. Despite the fact that a coffee drink increases appetite, coffee is not prohibited by nutritionists, but, on the contrary, is included in the diet menu, as it helps to break down fat reserves.
Oddly enough, but this drink is also useful for diabetes, and all because its action is aimed at accelerated absorption of glucose. Therefore, people suffering from this serious disease can safely afford to drink a cup in order to cheer up without worrying about the consequences.
Contraindications for use
Taking into account how strongly coffee affects the human body, it becomes clear that this invigorating and exciting drink is contraindicated for some, as it can harm. Here are diseases in which coffee consumption should be minimized or completely eliminated from your diet:
- instability of the nervous system, neuroses;
- serious mental illness;
- hypertension and coronary heart disease, arrhythmia;
- erosion and ulcers of the duodenum or stomach, gastritis, hyperacidity.
As for cardiovascular diseases, in almost all cases, a coffee drink is banned, since in the presence of a serious diagnosis, caffeine is unsafe for the heart and blood vessels. Only a specialist can determine whether it is sometimes possible to drink coffee with such ailments and whether its effect will be detrimental to the body in one case or another.
There are many opinions on the subject of whether coffee is possible during pregnancy. Since coffee excites the nervous system and acts as a diuretic, the expectant mother should not lean on it. It is better to completely abandon its use, because it can also affect the fetus, and nervous excitement even in the womb can result in various consequences.
Considering that coffee invigorates, we can conclude that it is an indispensable drink for a person who leads an active lifestyle. Everyone has moments when it is urgently necessary to get together, and fatigue overcomes. If you drink coffee once or twice a day and do not become addicted, then it will only have a positive effect on the body, and it is better to refuse an instant drink altogether.
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