Benefits of Coffee and Possible Side Effects of Over Consumption

Coffee, Risks and Rewards

Humans have consumed coffee for centuries. As far back as the tenth century, there are reports and writings on the benefits of the coffee plant. Native to Ethiopia, coffee quickly spread through trade. When Europeans started venturing to other continents they took coffee seeds with them. Today the majority of the coffee consumed worldwide is produced in South America. With that history lesson out of the way, let’s take a look into the risks and rewards associated with coffee consumption.

We are going to be looking deeper than the obvious energy boost we get from the caffeine in coffee. Though it is important to note that this may be a benefit to some and a drawback of others since different people have different levels of sensitivity to caffeine. The more sensitive consumers may experience anxiety or nervousness.

Over the years, there have been studies that have brought to light the benefits to being a coffee drinker. Let’s first take a look at these.

• Cardiovascular Health – Though it is true that coffee consumption can increase your blood pressure it will also significantly lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Some studies have shown that coffee drinkers decrease their risk for these issues by up to 24%

• Cut Stoke Risks – Between 1-3 cups a day can decrease your risk of having a stroke by up to 25%

• Weight Loss and Diabetes Prevention – Coffee consumption has been linked to better glucose metabolism in doing so it reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and promotes weight loss.

• Liver Disease – Coffee was shown to slow the progression of liver disease in people suffering from alcohol induced cirrhosis. Further, it has also had beneficial effects on patients suffering from hepatitis C and NAFLD.

It is not all positive though, there are some potentially serious risks associated with being a coffee drinker.

• Acidity – The acidity of coffee has been linked to many issues. These include chronic heartburn, indigestion, digestive discomfort, dysbiosis and tooth decay.

• Higher Levels of Minerals in your Kidneys– This may not seem like an issue in and of itself, however it can be. Higher levels of minerals in your kidneys will often lead to kidney stones. This is extremely painful and can lead to other complications.

• Medication Interference – Certain medications are hard for your body to absorb under the best circumstances, coffee can often lead to the medication absorbing even less efficiently. This will only worsen the symptoms that the medication is meant to control.

• Adrenal Issues – Typically manifesting in the form of fatigue or loss of motivation, adrenal depletion is a serious issue. Though the studies are inconclusive, coffee has been linked to complications in patients suffering from depleted adrenals.

So there you have it, coffee has been with us for thousands of years, and it is not likely that it will go away any time soon. Taking that into consideration the most important thing to remember is that moderation is the key. Even the guiltiest pleasures are acceptable in moderation and coffee is no different. If you have to have it, try to limit your consumption to less than three cups a day.