As a symbol of fashion and deliciousness, coffee is favored by countless women, but drinking coffee without paying attention to the time can actually harm the health of coffee lovers.
Coffee contains caffeine, which, once in the body, stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, thereby eliminating sleepiness, improving blood circulation, and making the body feel warm and less tired. This is the "pick-me-up" effect.
However, when the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated and excited, it has a negative effect on appetite, meaning appetite is reduced. Therefore, drinking coffee before a meal can suppress the desire to eat. Additionally, the stomach is stimulated, causing an increase in gastric acid secretion, which irritates an empty stomach and is detrimental to patients with conditions like stomach ulcers. This can be considered a negative effect of coffee. However, drinking it after a meal can aid digestion because the increased gastric acid secretion helps with this process. Therefore, drinking coffee after a meal is perfectly fine.
Furthermore, some believe that adding milk can mitigate its stimulating effects. However, a small amount of milk has little neutralizing effect on caffeine unless it's a 50-50 mix, like a café au lait or latte. For example, the coffee milk consumed at breakfast has more milk than coffee, so even when consumed on an empty stomach, it still has a moderating effect on gastric acid.
The ideal time to drink coffee is after a meal, as it is then beneficial without any harm. One of the benefits is preventing allergic reactions. Allergies, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, are caused by the excitation of the parasympathetic nervous system. By stimulating the sympathetic nervous system to suppress the parasympathetic one, it can help prevent these reactions. This is especially true for severe allergy patients, where even minor triggers can cause physical discomfort. Coupled with the psychological fear of allergies, an attack can quickly become uncontrollable. Therefore, it is recommended to use the benefits of caffeine by drinking a cup of coffee preemptively when an allergy or asthma attack is about to occur (as the patient can sense it). This has a preventive effect. Besides the stimulating effects of caffeine, the patient also gains a psychological sense of security from "having already drunk coffee," which makes an attack less likely.
Of course, "too much of a good thing is a bad thing." Even the best things should be enjoyed in moderation. Otherwise, excessive caffeine, whether consumed before or after a meal, can cause side effects such as palpitations (a very rapid heartbeat), mental confusion, and an unstable gait.
As a rule of thumb, two to three cups of coffee a day is appropriate. For most people, drinking four or five cups can lead to nausea, so one should be cautious. As a general principle, for any type of stimulating beverage, it is best not to exceed three cups per day.