Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. In part, this is due to the wide range of flavors and the diversity of aromas that exist, a fact that gives it a versatility that conquers almost any palate. The consumption of a cup of coffee in the morning can be the ritual of beginning of the day of many people, the fuel with which each day is started. After the many studies that coffee has been subjected to, caffeine – the main component of coffee – has been attributed multiple benefits, but there are also some contraindications. At FastlyHealwe tell you more about the benefits and contraindications of coffee consumption .
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Benefits of black coffee
Some of the advantages of drinking coffee are:
- A relationship has been found between coffee consumption and a decrease in the incidence of oral, esophageal, liver, breast and prostate cancer; but the cause has not yet been found, so this cannot be stated with certainty.
- Coffee could act as a protective factor for the development of Alzheimer’s , it has been proposed that the consumption of 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s or some other dementia by up to 65%.
- Coffee could improve circulatory function , by improving blood vessel function, activating blood pressure, and cleaning arteries.
- The risk of suffering from Parkinson’s could also be reduced by the consumption of coffee, it is proposed that coffee can increase the expression of the GRIN2A gene, a gene that has a protective effect for the development of Parkinson’s disease.
- Coffee could help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes , it is proposed that the magnesium and chromium present in coffee could stimulate the secretion of insulin in the pancreas, which could postulate the consumption of coffee, as a protective factor for the development of this important chronic disease.
- Coffee acts as a drug potentiator, it has been shown that caffeine accelerates the response of medications , in addition to potentiating their effects by up to 40%. For this reason, many medications, such as painkillers, have caffeine in their components.
- Coffee can increase the activity of the gastrointestinal tract , by increasing peristalsis (the muscular activity that directs the transit of the food bolus through the digestive tract), this action may be due to the action of caffeine in the epithelial cells, which cover all the digestive system. Also, it can increase gastrin secretion.
- Unroasted coffee (green coffee), can have a beneficial effect on vision, it is proposed that it could reduce the degeneration of the retina .
Harms and contraindications of coffee
Not everything is good, some of the disadvantages of drinking coffee are:
- Consuming more than 315 milligrams of coffee per day can increase the risk of hallucinations up to three times , compared to those who drink less. Hallucinations include: hearing things, seeing things, or perceiving things that are not there.
- Although coffee is legal, it can become addictive , the body can develop both physical and psychological dependence, and you can even suffer from coffee withdrawal syndrome.
- Coffee consumption may be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage , women who consume more than 200 milligrams of coffee per day, have twice the risk of miscarriages, than those who do not consume coffee.
- It is important to filter coffee, it has been shown that filtering coffee reduces the load of cafestol and kahaweol, two important molecules in increasing blood cholesterol levels.
- Coffee has a diuretic effect, that is, it increases the amount of urine produced, which can lead to dehydration.
- Coffee consumption can be associated with the appearance of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the stomach and intestines.
- Coffee will increase levels of irritation and anxiety , which will increase blood circulation to muscles and brain. This selective increase in blood flow will result in decreased blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract, which can increase the risk of irritation in the tract.
Currently, there is a lot of information that gives benefits and contraindications to coffee consumption, some may be true and others not. The important thing is moderation, the consumption of 3 or 4 cups of coffee can have beneficial effects, but when this limit is exceeded, the cons of the consumption of this drink may be greater.
Tips when drinking coffee
Be very careful with excessive consumption of coffee, depending on how it can have effects on the body. In addition, the following groups should abstain or take the following considerations:
- If you have chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, it is better that you consult with your doctor about the amount of coffee you can consume daily. Although it is not one of the prohibited foods for hypertensive people , you should control its intake.
- In children, large amounts of coffee should not be consumed. A good option is to accompany it with milk to dilute the coffee.
- It is better that you do not consume coffee at night, you could stay awake.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.