Everyone has their favorite drink and more often than not, it is either tea or coffee. Coffee, in particular, is popular in many cultures and regions all over the world. You might be one of those that cannot begin their day with a brew in hand or perhaps you are an occasional partaker; using it to burn the midnight oil. The pros and cons of coffee have been wildly debated with everyone having staunch viewpoints. The truth is that different age groups have different sensitivity to coffee. For example, coffee is associated with bedwetting in young children and insomnia in older adults. However, it has several benefits too.
Helps in Focus and Alertness
Starting one’s day with coffee is common in school-going children or working adults. The caffeine present in coffee promotes wakefulness and mental alertness which, in turn, helps one with the mentally and cognitively demanding tasks for the day.
May Reduce the Risk of Diseases
Research has shown that drinking an appropriate amount of coffee can reduce the risk of many prevalent diseases.
- Cancer: Drinking 4 cups of coffee is linked to a 20% risk reduction in prostate cancer in men and endometrial cancer in women. Some studies show that it may help reduce the likelihood of developing skin cancer.
- Parkinson’s Disease: Coffee also causes excitation in the part of the brain responsible for Parkinson’s disease and thus reduces the chances of getting it by 25%
- Diabetes: Coffee has a demonstrated ability to increase insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance thereby reducing the risk of Type II diabetes.
Insomnia and Sleep Problems
The caffeine in coffee keeps one alert but also can make one sleep way past their bedtime. This occurs for a few reasons. Someone with high caffeine sensitivity will have more noticeable effects from caffeine than someone who is not. Secondly, if you drink coffee close to your bedtime, you are also likely to run into sleep issues.
Dehydration
Drinking coffee is naturally dehydrating. This problem is exacerbated when you replace coffee with water throughout the day. As hospitalization due to dehydration is common in people over the age of 65, care should be taken to limit intake.
Gastric Issues
Our stomach has linings to help buffer the acidity of the digestive juices. Coffee can irritate these as it, in fact, aids in the production of gastric acid. This causes ulcers and gastritis.
How Much Coffee Should You Drink?
Now that you know the pros and cons of coffee, you may be torn, should you embrace it with open arms or avoid it like the plague. Like most things in life, moderation is the key to enjoying coffee. The recommended amount of daily caffeine is 400 milligrams which translates to 4 cups of coffee. What many seem to forget is that caffeine is found in other foods like chocolate and hot cocoa. Keeping your health and wellness in mind, do check the labels of the food that you are eating. A few lifestyle changes will ensure that you enjoy the food you love.
