Harm of coffee: good reasons for refusing a drink
Coffee is one of the favorite drinks of our time, which is popular among all segments of the population. A huge selection of varieties allows each person to choose the best option for themselves. However, along with its unique taste and properties, coffee carries a certain threat to human health.
Chemical composition and calorie content
Coffee beans include a huge amount of complex organic substances that are still not fully understood. Scientists are trying not only to determine the chemical composition of the product, but also to identify its possible negative effects on the human body. Coffee beans contain a small amount of caffeine, as well as protein and trigonelline. In addition, grains contain fiber and coffee oil, so the drink is effective in losing weight.
People who watch their figure may not worry about drinking this drink, because it contains practically no calories. Moreover, it is recommended to drink it for those who want to lose weight. A distinctive feature of coffee is that it speeds up metabolic processes in the body, which has a positive effect on weight.
The principle of action on the body
Even though coffee affects everyone differently, there are basic principles of its influence on the human body:
- quick awakening from sleep, as well as the activation of thought processes;
- increased pressure and acceleration of the heartbeat, which is caused by a rapid rush of blood to the brain;
- more intense work of the gastrointestinal tract and increased appetite;
- stimulation of the excretory systems of the body, getting rid of toxins;
- acceleration of metabolism.
When does it hurt?
With the correct use of this drink, it will have a positive effect on the body, but if you abuse it, you can harm your health.
Nervous system
A distinctive feature of coffee is that it increases the heart rate, and also causes hunger and a desire to drink. Too much of it leads to an overdose and unnecessary stimulation of the central nervous system. Among the symptoms of such intoxication, sleep problems, frequent urination, problems with the digestive tract, etc. can be distinguished.
Of course, our body quickly adapts to any thing, and coffee is no exception. If a person drinks this drink for a long time, then even after 5 cups a day he can calmly go to bed. However, this does not mean that the product does not have a negative effect on the nervous system. After some time, such thoughtless drinking of coffee will definitely make itself felt.
Heart and blood vessels
It should be noted that coffee does not directly affect the cardiovascular system. It can be said for sure that in the process of taking this product in reasonable quantities, it definitely will not cause heart disease. However, if they already exist, the drink can cause them to appear more quickly.
The main disadvantage is that caffeine, once in our body, has a stimulating effect on the work of the adrenal glands, which are responsible for the production of the stress hormone. Too much adrenaline is thrown into the body, causing the heart to beat too fast and contract more. This brings some discomfort and can lead to pain in the chest area.
It is noteworthy that even the strongest man can quickly beat his heart after drinking a cup of coffee.
In addition, when using coffee, you need to be extremely careful in the following cases:
- during stressful days at work;
- after a night without sleep;
- if it is necessary not to sleep for a long time;
- if such a strong drink has not been consumed for a long time;
- after heavy exertion.
Most people believe that green coffee does not cause any harm to the cardiovascular system and drink a lot of it. However, in practice, it includes the same amount of caffeine, as a result of which the damage is equivalent.
If there are various kinds of heart disease, then you should refrain from using the soluble version, as it has an extremely negative effect on the vessels. Doctors advise adding cardamom to coffee, which has a good effect on the state of the heart. It is not recommended to drink hot coffee, as this forces the blood to move even faster, which makes the heart beat much faster.
Liver
It is worth noting that the opinions of doctors about the dangers of this drink for the liver are divided. Some believe that coffee beans are a real poison, while others tend to assume that this product has a preventive effect on the condition of the liver.The positive effect of the drink on the body can only be argued if it was properly prepared, and only natural grains were used in this process. In addition, you need to monitor the amount of product consumed. For example, if we are talking about the Robusta variety, then you can drink it no more than 2 cups a day, and you can drink 3 cups of Arabica. A negative effect on the liver has an instant drink, which includes a huge variety of harmful antioxidants. It is not the grains themselves that have a bad effect on the state of the body, but the dyes and additives contained in them. The constant use of instant coffee can cause serious damage to this organ.
In order to minimize the negative effects of coffee on the liver, you must strictly follow the following rules:
- you can drink a drink at least 6 hours before bedtime;
- you can not drink it hot;
- never drink coffee on an empty stomach or mix it with alcoholic beverages such as beer.
Scientists argue that too frequent use of this drink can cause serious changes in the liver or exacerbate existing diseases. Among the main problems that can affect the liver due to coffee, we can note:
- development of an ulcer due to too frequent intake of a drink or its use on an empty stomach;
- disruption of the liver cells;
- a rapid increase in the concentration of sugar in the blood, this is possible in cases where the drink is taken with a fatty meal.
If you experience any pain in the liver or even slight discomfort, you should immediately abandon this aromatic drink.In addition, it is best to drink only good coffee, because the use of a low-quality product causes even more damage to the liver.
Patients who have certain problems in the gastrointestinal tract should completely stop drinking coffee.
To whom is the drink contraindicated?
This drink has a number of negative characteristics, so it is contraindicated for many categories of people. Women are not recommended to drink this drink in the following cases.
- Pregnancy. A distinctive feature of coffee is that it removes calcium from the body, and its lack can interfere with the formation of the baby's bones. In addition, coffee retains fluid, which often causes swelling.
- Climax or endometriosis.
- During menstruation. Water retention often leads to pain in the lower abdomen.
Drinking coffee is also prohibited in the presence of the following diseases.
- Problems with the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, gastric ulcer, pancreatitis. This drink includes a huge amount of substances that increase the level of acidity in the body.
- Heart problems. Coffee leads to vasoconstriction, and also increases blood pressure, so this drink should be abandoned to people suffering from hypertension, arrhythmia, etc.
- Anemia. This product impairs the absorption of iron by the body.
- In diseases of the thyroid gland, as coffee depresses her work.
At the moment, scientists disagree about the use of this product in diabetes. It should be noted that the product itself does not in any way affect blood sugar levels, but the use of supplements may adversely affect it.If a person suffers from high cholesterol, then you need to consult with your doctor about the possibility of drinking a drink.
Negative combination with other products
One of the most beloved morning drinks can not always be combined with other foods. Scientists say that with the wrong combination, you can harm your health.
- First of all, you can not combine this drink with fatty foods, since such a combination can lead to a significant increase in blood sugar. If this is done too often, it will lead to obesity and diabetes. This happens because saturated fats do not allow for the rapid absorption of glucose.
- Coffee is not recommended to be combined with cheese. According to nutritionists, such a combination of products interferes with the absorption of calcium, and cheese contains a fairly large amount of it.
- Oddly enough, but most people like to drink coffee with milk, although such a combination is medically wrong. Recent studies have shown that such a combination causes serious harm to health. Daily consumption of coffee with milk can lead to the development of tumors in the gastrointestinal tract.
- It is also better not to combine the drink with cigarettes.
What are the dangers of uncontrolled use?
The harmfulness of coffee is that its uncontrolled use can cause many problems with the body. First of all, it will negatively affect the appearance and condition of the skin. Experts believe that the optimal dosage is no more than 2 medium cups of the drink per day (the total volume is approximately 300 ml). Among the most common signs of a coffee overdose are the following symptoms.
- A change in the color of urine to a darker one, which indicates that the body does not have enough fluid. This can negatively affect the functioning of the kidneys.
- Sleep disturbance. Caffeine affects the nervous system about 6-8 hours after drinking. That is why it is recommended not to drink such drinks in the afternoon.
- Feeling anxious. If you feel too frequent heartbeat, then it is safe to say that you have drunk too much coffee. Under the influence of this drink, the activity of the adrenal glands is activated, which “throw out” a huge number of stress hormones into the blood.
- Heartburn. Another consequence of consuming too much caffeine is thought to be relaxation of the esophageal sphincter. Hydrochloric acid begins to strongly irritate the gastric mucosa.
So, coffee is one of the most popular and favorite drinks, along with tea. With proper and dosed use, it will not harm the body. If, for health reasons, this drink is contraindicated, then it is better to refuse it, otherwise you can cause irreparable harm to the body and worsen its condition.
For information on how to drink coffee correctly, see the next issue of the "Live Healthy!" program.