Following are the sets of pros and cons of drinking coffee and their effects on your body.
Coffee has a number of health benefits. However, it also has a few demerits that you should be aware of.
To clarify,
When we say coffee, we mean a basic drink with only coffee, sugar, milk or water. The coffee which you buy from coffee shops and cafes is loaded with more sugar, different creams and several artificial flavours, which makes it extremely unhealthy.
Now, let’s start with the health benefits of drinking coffee…
Pros of Drinking Coffee
1. Coffee boosts your mood and helps reduce depression.
Caffeine is a major content in the coffee which stimulates the central nervous system(CNS) and triggers the release of happy hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, which boost your mood. According to some studies, 2 cups of coffee a day have been shown to lower the risk of suicide by 50%. Isn’t it a life saving potion then?
2. Coffee reduces the risks of cancer.
Various studies have found that coffee can help prevent skin cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, liver cancer, , prostate cancer (in men) and endometrial cancer (in women). There is an opinion that certain compounds in coffee activate proteins that repair DNA in the cells, prevents them from becoming cancerous.
3. It may prevent strokes.
Research show that drinking coffee (2 – 3 cups a day) can reduce your risk of having a stroke. However, whether or not coffee is good for the heart is still debatable, with studies showing opposing results.
4. Coffee helps you stay alert.
There’s a reason why all your co-workers line up at the coffee machine every morning. Research shows that drinking moderate amounts of coffee per day can help you stay alert and focused for most hours.
5. Coffee is good for your brain.
Various researches have found that coffee protects the brain against various disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and improves cognitive functions as well.
6. Coffee helps protect your liver.
Studies show that drinking coffee not only lowers your risk of liver cirrhosis, it prevents other liver diseases as well. A review of several previous studies found that drinking 2 extra cups of coffee a day can reduce your risk of liver cirrhosis by 40%.
6. Coffee has antioxidants that keep diseases away.
Coffee has over 1,000 phytochemicals, many of which are antioxidants.
What are antioxidants? Antioxidants fight harmful free radicals in the body and prevent problems like skin ageing, cancer, heart diseases, cognitive decline, etc. However, one should drink the right amount of coffee, because drinking too much reduces the antioxidant effect.
7. Coffee can prevent gallstones.
A study in USA involving 45,000 men found that those who consumed 2 – 3 cups of coffee a day for 8-10 years had a 40% less chance of forming gallstones. The researchers believe that caffeine stimulates the gall bladder, helping it flush and remove out substances that could eventually turn into gallstones.
8. It is good for your memory.
A study found that people who drank coffee in the morning performed much better in their daily routine than they used to do before.
9. Coffee can boost your exercises and workouts.
A study by International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that drinking a cup of ‘black’ coffee an hour before a workout can boost your performance by up to 14%.
Caffeine is always linked with higher adrenalin levels, and adrenalin keeps you going for longer.
10.Coffee reduces your risk of diabetes by 25-30%.
A research published in The Journal of The American Medical Association reviewed 9 previous studies and provided that people who drank more than 3 cups of coffee per day had a 33% lower chance of getting Type 2 diabetes, as compared to people who drank 2 – 3 cups per day.
Cons of Drinking Coffee
1. Coffee can give you a headache.
Coffee is diuretic which means it dehydrates your body. The less amount of water in the body may to lead to headaches.
2. Sleep deprivation.
You’ve probably noticed that you can’t sleep after drinking coffee late in the evening or at night. While people’s sensitivity to this varies, it’s best to avoid caffeine after 3 pm, since it affects your circadian rhythm (body clock). On average, it takes your body about 6 hours to flush the caffeine out of your system.
3. Coffee may give you wrinkles.
As seen in point 1 of the cons, this is another side-effect of dehydration. Moisturised skin stays young and fresh, whereas dry skin becomes tough and wrinkly.
4. Unfiltered coffee may be bad for your cholesterol.
Coffee beans contain ingredients like cafestol and kahweol, two ingredients that raise LDL (bad) cholesterol. Filtering coffee gets rid of these compounds, so people who drink French pressed coffee should consider switching to filtered coffee.
5. Coffee may increase acidity and eventually upset stomach.
Coffee is a highly acidic beverage and can irritate the stomach. It can cause harm to people who have ulcers and hence is not recommended to drink.
6. Coffee may cause osteoporosis.
Too much coffee may cause your body to lose calcium through urination and can eventually lead to osteoporosis. A study involving almost 1,100 post-menopausal women found that drinking more coffee resulted in low bone density.
7. It may trigger arthritis.
A study in Finland involving 19,000 people found that those who consumed 4 or more cups of coffee per day were twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. The study revealed that an ingredient in coffee, especially unfiltered coffee may trigger the disease.
8. Coffee may turn your teeth yellow.
Coffee contains pigments that enter the cracks in your enamel (the hard white coating on your teeth) and can cause permanent yellow stains on your teeth. Coffee being highly acidic, brushing your teeth right after you drink it could harm or erode the tooth enamel. Rinsing your mouth with water right after you drink coffee and then brush half an hour later may prove to be helpful.
9. It may cause weight gain.
Coffee made of only water and coffee may help you to lose weight. But with excess sugar, it may lead to weight gain.
10. Coffee is not suitable for nursing and pregnant women.
Scientists are still doubtful about whether or not coffee is safe for pregnant women. Consuming coffee exposes the foetus to caffeine, and babies in the womb are highly sensitive to it. Pregnant women are thus advised to stop drinking coffee or sometimes asked to cut down their consumption. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to not drink coffee if their babies are restless when they consume coffee.