Drinking Coffee: A Good Habit or Bad Habit?

Have you ever woken up to the refreshing smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee? There is absolutely nothing like it in the entire world, which is probably why the beverage is one of the most popular in the world. And it even has a special day – i.e., National Coffee Day, which is September 29th of every year – dedicated to it! But how healthy is it to drink coffee? This is what you will find out by the time you read this article to the end.

The Remarkable Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee

According to dozens of medical studies conducted in the United States, about 64 percent of Americans from 18 years and above drink nothing less than one cup of coffee a day. That is astounding, given the fact that there are several warnings about the dangers of consuming too much caffeine.

For many years, doctors warned many to avoid drinking too much coffee as it increases the risk of cardiac or heart disease and can also stunt growth. This was done in a bid to prevent people from becoming addicted to the high amounts of caffeine and energy provided by coffee, as this could lead them to become tolerant to high amounts of caffeine. It was also believed that coffee had severe damaging effects on the digestive tract, which may result in heartburn, stomach ulcers, and so on.

But coffee also has a bucket-load of health benefits when consumed moderately. It is very high in natural antioxidants. Some medical studies have also revealed that caffeine has some positive effects on the human body when ingested in moderate amounts. Some of these effects include:

A significantly reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

Minimize risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Lower rates of specific types of cancer

Coffee is also very rich in several of the nutrients that are naturally found in coffee beans. A 240ml cup of java contains the following:

Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 2 percent of the DV

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 11 percent of the DV

Vitamin B3 (niacin): 2 percent of the DV

Vitamin B5(pantothenic acid): 6 percent of the DV

Magnesium: 2 percent of the DV

Folate: 1 percent of the DV

Potassium: 3 percent of the DV

Phosphorus: 1 percent of the DV

Manganese: 3 percent of the DV

Moderation is Key

It is highly crucial for you to fully grasp the effects of caffeine on the human body, especially when consumed in excess. Caffeine is a bitter alkaloid, a stimulant that is capable of triggering some parts of the nervous system. When it is in action, you will be more focused and alert. Caffeine can also speed up your heart rate as well as your blood pressure. Although caffeine is not associated with any cardiac or heart diseases, you should always take into cognizance the amount of caffeine you ingest.

Excessive consumption of caffeine can pose a lot of health risks, and this include:

Heartburn

Anxiety

Jitters

Digestive issues

Caffeine is also potent enough to disrupt the quality of your sleep. Overdosing on caffeine is possible, especially when consumed from multiple sources within a short period. This is why you should always be mindful of whatever you drink or take in.

Healthy Habits to Adhere to When Drinking Coffee

Okay, so how much caffeine can be considered “too much?” Healthcare experts state that healthy amounts of caffeine can be obtained when you drink up to 4 cups of coffee, which translates to approximately 400 milligrams of the stimulant. Therefore, always ensure that the caffeine you consume daily is below average. This is the only way you can reap the benefits of caffeine, and this will not have any adverse effect on the state of your health.

Another vital point you should take note of is that although coffee itself is healthy, not all the additives are. Healthy coffee is black; therefore, do your best to avoid the use of high-calorie and sugary concoctions as they can significantly add lots of calories beyond your recommended daily intake.

If you ignore this warning, you will end up gaining a lot of weight as a result of the added sugar you consume with coffee. If you must use creamers, make sure you go for natural options made from whole ingredients. You can also spice up your coffee by adding cinnamon or nutmeg.

The #1 thing you should bear in mind is that everything about life has to do with balance. You can enjoy your java responsibly. Don’t use it as a crutch due to a lack of sleep. This can easily result in excessive consumption, thereby ruining the health benefits you should have obtained from coffee.

Our primary goal is to ensure that you enjoy a happy and super healthy life so feel free to ask us any questions relating to health.

Yours in health,

Dr. Brian Wallace