Coffee: Health Benefits and Risks of Drinking

Coffee? Some people say it is a last-minute boost to keep them up at night or a wake-up call in the morning. Coffee is a travel partner on your way to work, or it’s hard to imagine a day without it. Have you ever thought while sipping a steaming cup of Joe, where did coffee come from, is it good for you or not?

How is coffee made?

There are 15 simple steps to coffee from bean to cup-

1. A few green coffee beans are kept as seeds for the next crop of coffee trees.

2. On larger, flatter farms coffee cherries can be harvested by machines, in other parts of the world, they are still handpicked.

3. First remove debris, stones, and twigs. Berries are thrown into a water tank to remove unripe ones which float at the surface.

4. Getting rid of the skin and the pulped fruit that surrounds the beans.

5. Breaks down the sugar in the mucilage to produce acids that are responsible for the depth and complexity of the coffee.

6. Coffee beans need to be dried until the moisture content is around 9-13%.

7. In this step, coffee can be stored for several months or years depending on the temperature and humidity.

8. All other layers still surrounding the beans are being removed. Hulling and grinding are the first two steps in the grinding process.

9. Professional coffee graders classify the coffee bean quality by their primary and secondary defects.

10. Coffee is being shipped to where it’s needed in the form of direct trade and fair trade to support farmers and consumers.

11. Green coffee beans are processed at high temperatures to create roasted coffee beans.

12. To protect the beans from air and moisture and to stay firm for weeks, the packaging should be sealed well.

13. Coffee beans are ground before brewing, so fresh beans are essential.

14. The composition of the coffee grind, the temperature of the water, and the correct ratio of coffee to water are key factors to the perfect cup of coffee.

15. Whenever you’re enjoying your coffee, cold brew, or cortado, spare a thought for the amount of hard work that went into getting it to you.

How does it work?

Coffee has been known to have a central nervous system (CNS) stimulating effect, which activates muscles and the heart. It contains other chemicals that might have benefits as well.

Third cup of coffee: The caffeine in your drink may affect your metabolism, preventing you from getting the effects you want. Read on to learn more about these effects.

This ingredient is likely to cause some symptoms. Sources of caffeine include tea, coffee, energy drinks, and, at a minimum, you may feel more energetic, but over time, too much caffeine is likely to cause withdrawal symptoms.

To be a healthy adult, people should consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. In a standard 8-ounce cup, that is about 2.5 cups. If you are getting your caffeine fix at a coffee shop, it is likely from a 16-ounce cup, so you should read the labels.

If you study the same amount of caffeine on a daily basis, your body develops a tolerance to it. Caffeine tolerance is determined by a number of factors, including age, body mass, and overall health. If you want to decrease the amount of caffeine you take, it is best to decrease your consumption slowly and carefully and discuss the results with your doctor.

Benefits of drinking coffee

1. Boosts your exercise performance – Drink coffee about an hour before working out. This will improve your performance by 11 to 12%. Caffeine improves muscle performance through activation of the nervous system. it also enhances blood circulation. Adrenaline level also increases in your blood due to caffeine; adrenaline helps to prepare you for physical exertion.

2. Helps you lose weight – Caffeine increases the body’s ability to burn fat, breakdown the fat in fat cells. Caffeine helps prevent body fat breakdown and uses it as fuel for training. Magnesium and potassium in caffeine help the human body to use insulin to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the craving for sugary food.

3. Helps you focus and Concentrate – People who drink moderate amounts of caffeine every day, and who do so a few times a week, experience better mental alertness. As caffeine act as a mild stimulation to the central nervous system, helps to improve mental performance, concentration, and attention.

4. Lowers risk of death – Coffee drinker’s risk of premature death is 10% lower than that of coffee drinker who does not drink coffee. Those who drank 3 or more cups per day have a lower risk of death. Not likely to die from heart disease, injuries, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, and infections.

5. Reduces risk of cancers – Coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. A scientific study has found that coffee may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer by 20%, and endometrial cancer by 25%. People in the test group were given four cups of coffee a day. Caffeine may also help to prevent developing basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

6. Reduces risk of stroke – Coffee has antioxidants that help to lower blood pressure. People who drink coffee may likely produce fewer blood clots. Healthy consumption of coffee is associated with a lower risk of stroke.

7. Reduces risk of Parkinson’s disease – Moderate coffee consumption is associated with a 25% reduction in risk of Parkinson’s disease. There is evidence that caffeine consumption habits can cause activity in the part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s.

8. Protects your body – Coffee contains a lot of antioxidants that work as little warriors fighting and protecting against free radicals within your body.

9. Lower risk of Type II diabetes – Caffeine enhances your insulin sensitivity and inhibits your glucose tolerance, therefore reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes.

10. Helps to protect your brain – Blood caffeine levels reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It also lowers the risk of dementia.

11. Helps fight depression and lowers the risk of suicide – Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and boosts the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, which elevate your mood. There is a lot of evidence suggesting that two cups of coffee a day are likely to reduce the risk of suicide by 50%.

Disadvantages and risks of coffee drinking

1. Bad coffee can create health issues – Coffee can be contaminated and this can lead to sickness, headache, and a general bad feeling. This could happen if your coffee is made from beans that were over-roasted or otherwise ruined. Specialty coffee is an effective way to invest in your health. A single problem can ruin your entire cup.

2. Coffee can cause insomnia and restlessness – Your body absorbs caffeine but also get rid of it too easily.it processed through the liver, more sensitive people will experience insomnia as well as the side effects of nervousness and gastrointestinal upset. The maximum amount of caffeine is 400 milligrams, which is recommended to have, that’s roughly four cups of coffee. If you are sensitive to caffeine, be careful with coffee. You already know what amount and kind of coffee suits you. This amount of caffeine is more than enough for our bodies to function normally.

3. Avoid coffee in pregnancy – If you are pregnant, should limit the amount of caffeine to 200 milligrams per day. Caffeine increases slightly your blood pressure and heart rate and urine amount of your body make. Coffee may trouble your indigestion and sleep. During pregnancy, it takes longer to clear coffee from your body than usual, which makes you feel nauseous or lightheaded. Coffee affects your baby, as it passes through the placenta to your baby. If you consume caffeine while pregnant, your baby is sensitive to caffeine while they are in the womb, and caffeine will reach them.

4. Avoid coffee with high cholesterol – Coffee beans have been shown to have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Diluting the coffee reduces LDL, but cafestol and kahweol are found in espresso, Turkish coffee, and French press coffee. For people with normal cholesterol levels, the intake of coffee is not likely to increase or decrease their risk of heart disease.

5. Caffeine overdose – Caffeine is mostly found in beverages, coffee, tea, and soda. Some people have a lower tolerance for caffeine than others. It can lead to many adverse symptoms, especially in those with underlying medical conditions. Adults should limit themselves to 100mg of caffeine per day.

The amount of caffeine in the serving size of your cup-

Serving size Caffeine (mg)

Black coffee 12 oz. 50–235

Black tea 8 oz. 30–80

Soda 12 oz. 30–70

Red Bull 8.3 oz. 80

Chocolate bar (milk) 1.6 oz. 9

NoDoz

caffeine tablets 1 tablet 200

Excedrin Migraine 1 tablet 65

So, Is It Good or Bad for You?

A scientific study has found that coffee improves your longevity, helps you lose weight, and can improve your mind. A reasonable amount of coffee can be good for you if you consume 1-4 cups of coffee per day. Remember, if you drink organic coffee and brew, it with care, you can and should be enjoying coffee as it’s good for you.