Know the benefits and contraindications of coffee for your health

Today I want to share with you the benefits and contraindications of coffee for your health.

Coffee lovers do not need many reasons to enjoy it other than the pleasure that the simple fact of drinking it gives us. Therefore, it is important to know what is the impact that coffee has on our body, both for good and for bad.

Coffee is mainly composed of caffeine, considered a psychoactive substance that produces various effects, which we will see throughout this article.

Before continuing, I invite you to review the following comparisons so that you know which are the best coffee beans and the best ground coffees that you can buy.

The 8 main properties and benefits of coffee

Many studies have already shown the benefits of coffee for health when consumed in moderation. Experts recommend three to four cups per day.

But what kind of benefits am I talking about? Let’s see …

1. Contributes to fat burning

Caffeine is one of the few substances that naturally help us burn fat. This property is due to the fact that caffeine raises adrenaline levels and helps fat cells break down body fat, converting it into energy for exercise.

Therefore, always as a complement to a balanced diet and physical activity, coffee promotes fat burning, even more so when consumed without sugar and without milk.

2. Increases physical performance

By acting on the blood and the nervous system, caffeine keeps our body active, increases its performance and reaction times. Many athletes and gym-goers drink coffee as a pre-workout because it gives them that boost they need to maximize their results.

3. Stimulates and activates the mind

Coffee keeps us awake, attentive and focused. In addition, caffeine improves some cognitive functions, such as memory or mood, and speeds up brain processes by increasing dopamine or norepinephrine (also called norepinephrine or levarterenol).

4. Provides essential nutrients for the body

With a single cup of coffee, we are providing our body with numerous essential nutrients such as: vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and B5 (pantothenic acid), manganese, potassium, magnesium and niacin.

A study from the University of Chile states that it is the greatest source of antioxidants and that its main function is to act as small warriors against free radicals and delay the aging process.

5. Reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases

Different studies have concluded that coffee consumers could reduce the chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s by 65% ​​and those of suffering from Parkinson‘s by between 32 and 60%.

It has also been shown to help prevent the development of diseases such as cirrhosis and fatty liver, and decrease the chances of suffering a stroke.

6. Improves mood and helps fight depression

By stimulating our nervous system, it increases the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which elevate our mood.

Coffee helps our body to regulate stress and prevent it from leading to depression, according to a study carried out by the University of Navarra (Spain).

7. Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and also drinking coffee. Some studies have shown that people who consume between 3 – 4 cups (max.) of coffee per day reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 25%.

8. Promotes digestion

A cup of coffee after a meal can help us generate gastric juices and saliva, which are essential for proper digestion. 

The 3 main disadvantages of coffee consumption for health

1. It can cause insomnia

Not exceeding the maximum amount of caffeine per day is very important to avoid insomnia, loss of concentration, and energy. Therefore, the maximum consumption recommended by experts is four cups of coffee, which is equivalent to 400 milligrams of caffeine.

Note: In order to have a restful sleep, it is recommended to consume the last cup of coffee 6 hours before going to bed.

2. It can affect the fetus if you are pregnant or lactating

Drinking caffeine during pregnancy can directly affect the fetus. For this reason, it is best for pregnant women to consult their doctor, since they will evaluate, based on your medical history, whether or not it is beneficial to drink coffee and in how many daily doses.

3. It can cause nervous disorders, anxiety or tachycardia 

Everything in excess is bad, therefore when consumption is excessive it can create a dependency relationship or cause alterations such as anxiety or tachycardia. It is also not recommended to consume it in nervous or tense situations.  

So is coffee good or bad?

It depends on the person and the consumption they have. There are people who are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine or, in the case of pregnant women, they should have a moderate consumption of one cup per day or drink it decaffeinated.

Others, on the contrary, can drink without having negative effects, as long as they do not exceed the maximum recommended consumption, which is between 3 and 4 cups a day. 

As you can see, the negative effects of coffee are more associated with excessive consumption. That’s when there are more chances of having insomnia, being irritable, losing energy and concentration. But moderate consumption helps prevent diseases, stimulate the mind, relieve fatigue, among many other benefits.

Now it’s your turn!

How many cups of coffee do you consume per day? Have you noticed any of the effects mentioned in the guide? Leave me your answer in the comments.