All about the most insidious drink of our time
Where does your morning start? If from a cup of coffee, without which you cannot wake up, then it’s time to think about how the drink consumed by many of us in excessive quantities affects your body.
There are many myths associated with the most important food “doping”, but how to understand whether coffee is harmful or beneficial for you personally? Together with a nutritionist we tried to understand what happens to the body when you give up coffee.
WHAT IS COFFEE
This drink is made from roasted seeds (grains) of several types of plants, and the strength of the drink depends on the degree of their roasting. By the way, by a cup of coffee we mean a drink prepared in a coffee machine, brewed in a Turk or freshly ground in boiling water, without the addition of milk or cream (this is already food, not a drink). Instant coffee does not belong here, because its strength is lower than grain, moreover, aromatic compounds and almost all useful substances are lost in it due to the lengthy processing process.
MAIN CONS OF COFFEE
- Coffee should not be drunk on an empty stomach because it stimulates the production of the hormone cholecystokinin, which triggers digestion. And if there is no food in your stomach, then there is nothing to digest – this process leads to heartburn and signs of gastritis.
- Coffee increases the acidity of gastric juice, blood pressure and disrupts sleep.
- There are so many preservatives in coffee that negatively affect metabolism, provoke the appearance of cellulite (so it is better to use it as a scrub).
- The invigorating effect also has a downside: an hour after drinking coffee causes increased efficiency. And after an hour there will be drowsiness.
- Coffee should not be consumed by pregnant and lactating women. Caffeine accumulates in the blood of pregnant women, penetrates the placenta, leads to a decrease in the amount of iron and other mineral elements in breast milk.
- It is addictive: coffee abuse leads to dehydration, so when you drink too much of this drink, the water balance is very difficult to restore.
MAIN BENEFITS OF COFFEE
- Coffee contains antioxidants – they remove free radicals from the body that contribute to aging.
- Coffee antioxidants help fight cancer, some heart diseases, both types of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease;
- Some studies prove that real natural coffee reduces the likelihood of developing colon cancer, stimulates the activity of the digestive tract.
- Coffee reduces or completely relieves headaches, as it dilates the vessels of the brain.
WHY IS IT BETTER NOT TO DRINK COFFEE IMMEDIATELY AFTER WAKING UP?
The key hormone our body produces throughout the day is cortisol, which helps us wake up in the morning and fall asleep in the evening. Hormone levels are highest in the morning, and if you drink coffee at this time, the drink will block its production, which means that after a while we will want to sleep again. Typically, cortisol production occurs from 6 to 9 am, and the peak occurs at 8-9 am, so it’s best to drink coffee at 10 o’clock or in the afternoon.
WHAT WILL CHANGE IF YOU STOP COFFEE?
Your body will learn to absorb vitamins better
Caffeine “kills” vitamin B, reduces the content of iron, potassium, zinc, and calcium in the body. And one cup of 150 ml inhibits the absorption of calcium for as much as three hours. Moreover, caffeine leaches calcium from the body, and as a result of coffee abuse, the bones become brittle.
You can lose excess weight
As we have said, caffeine increases the production of cortisol and affects the functioning of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands work in conjunction with the thyroid gland, which takes care of the metabolism – because of coffee, it slows down and you gain weight.
Your immunity will increase
Caffeine is not our immune system’s best friend, again because of the thyroid gland. The limited performance of the thyroid gland leads to a weakening of the immune system, which causes diseases. If you feel susceptible to various diseases, it is worth staying away from coffee, at least until you feel better.
You won’t have liver problems
Coffee is not digested in the best way. Your liver is working to produce the enzymes that break down coffee and metabolize it. So when enzymes are needed for other harmful chemicals, the liver can suddenly get lazy. Many people who drink coffee constantly have a “lazy” liver.
You will become more energetic
Even though coffee makes you feel energized, eventually it stops working. Coffee causes the body to produce adrenaline, and if you drink it constantly, then you need more and more caffeine each time in order for the body to respond to it with the same efficiency.
Your libido will increase
And again about the thyroid gland. This part of our body is responsible for the hormones that control our libido, such as testosterone. So once you stop pressuring your thyroid with caffeine, you will notice improvements in your sex life.
