Over the two decades, several studies have been conducted to examine the impact of coffee on one’s health.
Medical experts noted that moderate daily caffeine intake, about 300 to 400 mg or about three to four cups of coffee is not harmful.
Caffeine, the main ingredient in coffee, is a substance that is predominant in coffee beans and it can also be found in some other sixty plants species, among them are kola nuts, cocoa beans and tea leaves. It is considered as diuretic, because it induces any coffee drinkers to produce urine.
Moreover, according to studies, caffeine is commonly used for the treatment of migraine, drowsiness and fatigue. It is also said to boost the action of pain relievers.
However, it has been claim by medical specialists that for people with heart disease, drinking coffee, cola drinks and eating chocolate can aggravate a heart condition known as Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC) or even palpitation (rapid heart pounding.
As an alternative, experts advise to take decaffeinated coffee instead or non cola drinks and better yet fruit juices. It is also advised that pregnant women has to avoid drinking coffee because it affects the birth weight and central nervous system stimulation of the baby inside the womb.
In excessive amounts, coffee can cause nervousness, jitters and rapid heartbeat. Two or three cups a day are not harmful if you get sufficient calcium in your diet.
On the lighter side, caffeine in coffee enhances physical endurance or raise an athlete’s metabolic level, protect against cirrhosis of the liver, a disease causing damage and scarring of the liver tissue and progressive decrease of liver function.
Caffeine may also protect against Parkinson’s disease, a progressive nervous disease that destroys dopamine producing brain cells which results to tremor, slowing of movement, weakness and facial paralysis.
Study had shown that the risk of Parkinson’s decreased gradually as the daily consumption of coffee rose from four ounces to more than twenty four ounces daily.
Research also had shown that those men who drank four to five cups daily of caffeinated coffee cut the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease nearly in half compared to men who consume little or no caffeine per day.
Coffee also has trigonelline which is responsible for giving anti adhesive and anti bacterial properties which help prevent dental cavities from forming.
Aside from caffeine and trigonelline, coffee is also loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols which according to studies, may reduce the risk of cancer, coronary heart disease and lessen premature aging.
Coffee which contains large quantities of antioxidants, minerals and magnesium, is beneficial for diabetics. All of those components have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
Coffee is still far more beneficial than it is harmful. Very little bad comes from drinking coffee, but a lot of good can be derived and yet coffee is not for everyone as one medical specialist has concluded in a statement.
