The energy Booster

Coffee has been widely used for centuries and has now become a favorite beverage amongst people of all age groups. Due to the upshot of caffeine on the central nervous system, it is considered as psychoactive that can alter mood and behavior.

A single cup of coffee can instantly elevate blood glucose, giving the illusion of an energy boost. However, regular use of this beverage may be detrimental for health as the unnatural stimulation or high is usually followed by depression or low. Read on to find out more about the benefits and risk of drinking coffee.

BENEFITS:

Anti-Diabetes effects: coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as coffee contains chemical that lower blood sugar. It reduces one’s risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 by up to half.

Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease: a study has shown that coffee drinkers are less likely to contract Parkinson’s disease. However, the beverage seems to protect men but not women against Parkinson’s.

One possible explanation for the sex difference may be due to the fact that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolised, and estrogen captures those enzymes.

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: Coffee drinkers are significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as well as a reduced risk of developing dementia.

Reduced risk of gallstone disease: coffee has been correlated with a lower incidence of gallstones and gallbladder disease. However, a lessened risk was not seen in those who drank decaffeinated coffee.

Cognitive performance: Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short-term recalls, get rid of fatigue and sleepiness as well as increasing energy levels. In fact, it is one of the best energy boosters around.

Analgesic enhancement: The caffeine in coffee, increase the effectiveness of painkillers, especially migraine and headache medications. For this reason, many over the counter headache drugs include caffeine in their formula.

Liver protection: It also reduces the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver and has been lined to a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary liver cancer that usually arises in patients with pre-existing cirrhosis. However, the exact amount of coffee required to achieve a beneficial effect to the body is still unclear.

Cardio Protective: Coffee consumption, along with caffeine intake, was associated with a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Working as a laxative: coffee is also a powerful stimulant for peristalsis and sometimes it prevents constipation.

Grout: coffee consumption decreases risk of gout in men over 40.

Prevention of dental caries: the tannins in coffee may reduce the cariogenic potential of foods. Vitro experiments have shown that those polyphenolic compounds may interfere with plaque formation.

Risks: Gastrointestinal problems: Coffee can damage the lining of the gastrointestinal organs, causing gastritis and ulcers.

Anxiety and sleep changes: can cause “coffee Jitters”, a nervous condition that occurs when one has consumed too much caffeine. Anxiety may also result from excessive coffee intake or when the consumption is withdrawn. Coffee can also cause insomnia and narcolepsy (a disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable attacks of deep sleep sometimes accompanied by paralysis and hallucinations).

Cholesterol: A study indicates that the diterpene molecules cafestol and kahweol, found only in coffee beans, putatively raise levels of low-density lipoprotein or LDL in humans. This increase in LDL levels indicates that coffee raise cholesterol.

Effects on pregnancy: Caffeine molecules are small enough to penetrate the placenta and slip into baby’s blood circulation. The energy booster tends to linger in the fetus blood ten times longer than in adults. Just like what it does to adults, caffeine could also send the baby’s pulse and breathing rate racing and affect its sleep pattern for an extended duration. Doctors caution against excessive coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Heartburn: some people suffer from heartburn after drinking coffee. Coffee promotes gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Dehydration: The caffeine in coffee is a mild diuretic and can increase the volume of urine excreted. However, this effect can be easily counteracted by drinking extra water.

Iron Deficiency: The use of coffee reduces the non-heme iron absorption of a meal by 40 to 60%, thereby increasing the risk of anemia. Coffee also interferes with the absorption of supplemental iron.

Increase symptoms of PMS: in women, the beverage can lead to increase PMS symptoms such as irritability, headaches etc.

Coronary artery disease: A study concluded that consumption of coffee is associated with significant elevations in biochemical markers of inflammation. This is a detrimental effect of coffee on the cardiovascular system.