Coffee: Healthy or Not?

Is Coffee Healthy or Not: Coffee is undeniably one of the most-loved beverages in the world. Most people cannot start their day without a fresh coffee cup—some need coffee to get through such a long, stressful day. We cannot deny how coffee helped us in ways we could never imagine. Based on statistics, 64% of Americans drink coffee at least once a day. What more if we include those who drink two cups or more? Most of us drink coffee for pleasure, as we are also knowledgeable that it is high in antioxidants and has some nutrients that are good for the body. 

However, it does not stop us from wondering — is coffee healthy for us or not? This article will discuss the pros and cons of regular coffee drinking to find the possible balance between the positives and the negatives. 

Is Coffee Healthy or Not: Top 3 Health Benefits of Coffee 

Coffee has essential nutrients. 

Coffee is naturally rich in essential nutrients and minerals that come from the coffee beans. A regular 8-ounce cup of coffee contains Vitamins B3, B1, B2, B5, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, and Manganese. You may think these are not that many, but these nutrients multiply when you drink multiple cups a day, making it suitable for our daily nutritional intake. Moreover, coffee is rich in antioxidants, helping reduce the possible risk of several serious diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, including Alzheimer’s. 

Coffee provides a high-level of energy. 

Like what most of the employers say, coffee is always a life-saver. How come? It helps people feel less tired, and it increases the level of energy instead. Thus, drinking coffee indeed helps get most of the work done. The reason for this is because of the presence of caffeine in every cup. Caffeine is the commonly-consumed psychoactive substance to date. Therefore, after a coffee-intake, mood improvements, high-energy levels, and significant mental function are generally observed. 

Coffee helps burn fats. 

For the commercials we see online, caffeine is naturally one of the significant components for a fat-burning supplement. Studies show how caffeine can boost your metabolic rate by up to 11%; thus, it increases fat burning. However, studies also show how these effects could diminish for those long-term coffee drinkers.

Top 3 Side Effects of Coffee 

Despite the advantages of drinking coffee, there is a possibility of danger once too much drinking of coffee occurs. These side effects can be very harmful if left unattended. 

Insomnia 

The most common side effect of too much caffeine is insomnia. Caffeine is responsible for keeping a person awake for an extended period. Thus, the person finds it hard to achieve a sound and quality sleep when needed. However, not all people experience this, as several factors should be considered to find out why insomnia does not occur despite too much caffeine intake. The best possible way to avoid this is to avoid drinking coffee by early afternoon onwards. 

Digestive Problems

Coffee has a laxative effect that releases a hormone called gastrin to speed up the colon’s activity. Thus, most people depend on a cup of coffee in the morning for their daily bowel movement. However, several cups or large dozes of coffee can cause diarrhea due to caffeine’s ability to increase peristalsis, known contractions that move food through the digestive tract. Drinking too much coffee can cause stomach ulcers and triggers gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for some people. Thus, it is essential to take note of your coffee dosage to avoid this from happening. 

Addiction

Despite its nutritional benefits, it is also important to note that drinking coffee can get too addicting as well. Studies show that caffeine can trigger brain chemicals similar to what cocaine and amphetamines do to our brains. The result may not be as intense as these addictions, but it could lead to psychological dependency. Chances are, we could get addicted to the effects of caffeine in our bodies. 

The Bottom Line: Is Coffee Healthy or Not?

Yes, it is healthy. There is no question about the significant health benefits of drinking coffee regularly. Coffee can increase your energy levels, keep you away from serious illnesses, and even help you achieve longer life! Moreover, it helps increase fat burning and metabolic rate. 

However, it is crucial to note that too much or high coffee dosages can cause several side effects that could lead to severe psychological and physical illnesses. Thus, you need to take good care of yourself by checking out your coffee intake. 

The key to achieving balance is drinking coffee moderately. This way, you allow your body to fuel up from the nutrients of coffee and avoid possible harmful side effects. If you love its taste and you can handle the caffeine, then please do not stop yourself from enjoying a cup of well-deserved coffee!

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