Core Tip: How much do you know about coffee? Is it bad to drink too much, harmless to drink a little, or good for your health? Recent research has prompted us to "re-examine" coffee, looking at its pros and cons!
Welcome to the Meitian Group topic discussion: Six Major Coffee Brewing Methods of the World
Understanding Coffee A recent study says that drinking coffee can bring positive emotions, including happiness, kindness, affection, satisfaction, friendliness, calmness, and well-being. It has always been believed that coffee is bad for the body, but it is actually healthy. Below, I will detail six advantages and two disadvantages of coffee.
Advantage One: Coffee Contains Antioxidants
Coffee beans are actually the seeds inside bright red berries, sometimes called coffee cherries. Like the fruit of all plants, the berries and their seeds are rich in antioxidants. In fact, according to recent research, coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet. This is likely because 50% of Americans start their day with a cup of coffee, and 75% of them do not meet the minimum recommended amount: five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Nevertheless, the combination of antioxidants in coffee does provide powerful health protection.
Advantage Two: Coffee Can Reduce the Risk of Diabetes
In a recent study, scientists analyzed the situation of Native Americans, whose risk of diabetes is between 40-70%. However, seven years later, compared to non-coffee drinkers, those who drank coffee regularly had a 67% lower risk, and this conclusion is supported by many other studies. To date, several studies have shown a strong link between drinking coffee and preventing diabetes, including research from Harvard.
They found that compared to non-coffee drinkers, six cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of diabetes in men by more than 50% and in women by about 30%. However, the authors of this study do not recommend drinking too much coffee every day. They believe this may be related to the antioxidant content in coffee, as antioxidants can prevent a precursor to diabetes—insulin resistance.
Advantage Three: Coffee is Linked to a Reduced Risk of Other Diseases
Studies show that compared to non-coffee drinkers, coffee drinkers have a lower risk of colon cancer, cirrhosis, gallstones, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. Additionally, many studies point out that people who drink coffee regularly have an 80% lower chance of developing Parkinson's disease, and a large body of evidence suggests that caffeine plays an important protective role. Based on this research, Parkinson's drugs containing caffeine derivatives have been developed.
Advantage Four: Coffee Can Boost Your Spirit
Several studies have shown that moderate caffeine can enhance athletic performance. Now some preliminary research indicates that muscle cells exposed to caffeine are, in essence, the same as training. Of course, this doesn't mean drinking a cup of coffee is equivalent to exercise. Scientists say this research can help explain the positive effects of coffee on promoting endurance.
After intense training, athletes who consume both carbohydrates and caffeine see a significant increase in the rate of muscle carbohydrate storage. After strenuous exercise, consuming both, compared to consuming carbohydrates alone, resulted in a 66% increase in muscle glycogen (the storage form of carbohydrates) after four hours. This increase in energy storage makes you stronger and more capable when your heart rate has adjusted and you are ready for the next workout.
Advantage Five: Coffee Can Mitigate Aging
Studies on animals have shown that caffeine can counteract the loss of muscle strength caused by aging. This effect is particularly prominent in the diaphragm and core muscles of the respiratory system, as well as in skeletal muscles.
Other animal experiments have also found that caffeine can prevent encephalitis, which is a cause of cognitive dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases, and Alzheimer's disease.
Advantage Six: Coffee Does Not Cause Dehydration—If You Are Consistent
Coffee is a diuretic, which means it promotes fluid loss. However, new research indicates that after drinking coffee continuously for five days, the body adjusts and eliminates the dehydration response. The key is consistency. In other words, if you sometimes have one cup in the morning, sometimes three, and occasionally one in the afternoon, you will feel dehydrated (headaches, dry skin, constipation, etc.).
Disadvantage One: Coffee May Increase the Risk of Certain Conditions
Natural substances in coffee can increase cholesterol levels. Drinking more than two cups a day can slow down the breakdown of caffeine in the body for people with certain genetic mutations, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease.
Additionally, if you already have high blood pressure, you need to limit your caffeine intake. The biggest problem is that high blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, so you might not even know you have this condition.
Disadvantage Two: People's Reactions to Caffeine Vary Greatly
Some people can fall asleep peacefully 30 minutes after drinking a strong cup of coffee, while others may experience indigestion, anxiety, excitement, insomnia, and headaches from just a little.
Furthermore, coffee and other stimulants can have a multiplicative effect, and even the blood pressure of healthy young people can rise to dangerous levels.
Conclusion: Moderation and Change
If you don't like coffee, there's no need to start drinking it. If you do like it, the advantages above should not give you a free pass to be unrestrained. If you continue to drink coffee, get a check-up to ensure your health is good. Stick to organic skim milk or plant-based "milks" (almond, hemp, coconut, etc.), and flavor with antioxidant, zero-calorie aromatics like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.