If you wake up early in the morning and feel sleepy, you might instantly reach for a cup of coffee to help you wake up. Many coffee lovers think of the drink as a godsend. However, it might also cause many problems in other ways. For instance, it can stain your teeth, raise your blood pressure, cause changes in your sleep patterns and make it more difficult to absorb certain minerals and vitamins. Of course, there are benefits of drinking coffee: it can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, cancer, strokes, gallstones, boost your energy, etc. Did you know that caffeine can make aspirin and other painkillers more effective?
An ideal dose of coffee is hard to determine since people’s perceptions of a cup of coffee vary as widely as coffee mug sizes do. Many of the pros of drinking coffee are associated with around two to four (8-ounce) cups a day.
Pros of drinking coffee
Brain gains.
Studies suggest that coffee drinking (1-5 cups daily) may help reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Its antioxidants may boost the effects of neurotransmitters involved in cognitive function and prevent some brain cell damages. Some researchers also show that as tea or coffee intake rises, the incidence of glioma tends to drop.
Defeating diabetes.
4 cups per day or more can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Coffee’s antioxidants (guides and chlorogenic acid) may boost cells’ sensitivity to insulin, which actually helps regulate blood sugar.
Hearty benefits.
Some studies show that those who drink 1 to 3 cups of coffee a day have lower rates of strokes than non-coffee drinkers, as antioxidants in the coffee may help quell inflammation’s damaging effects on arteries. The compounds might boost activation of nitric oxide – a substance that widens blood vessels. The habit of more than 5 cups a day is associated with higher heart disease risks.
Liver lover.
The more coffee you drink, the lower your incidence of cirrhosis and other liver diseases. Some researchers show that every 2-cup increase in daily coffee intake was associated with a 45% lower risk of liver cancer.
Cons of Drinking Coffee
A sleep-stealer.
If you are having insomnia it might help to cut down on coffee or to drink a cup or two only early in the day. Generally, it takes about six hours for the caffeine to clear your system.
Coffee Can Actually Cause Weight Gain.
The blood sugar fluctuations that caffeine produces can contribute to cravings. Coffee is almost always connected to food – for instance, we pair coffee with dessert.
Cholesterol caution.
Unfiltered or boiled coffee contains higher levels of cafestol, which can actually increase blood levels of LDL cholesterol.
Coffee Causes Wrinkles.
If you drink too much coffee, it can cause wrinkling on your skin. This is a result of dehydration which can be the worst thing for your skin. The best thing you can do is to pair your cup of coffee with water.