Today, coffee is the most popular drink. Most people consume this beverage every day to start off the day. This drink has a great taste and flavor hence people drink it a lot as a habit or to get energy. It is derived from a type of bean that contains polyphenols and phytonutrients which are known for their antioxidant properties. Other elements that make up coffee are potassium, niacin, caffeine, vitamins B2 and B5.
How excess coffee affects you
Drinking coffee late in the day can cause insomnia or worsen the situation if you have it already. This is why taking coffee sometime close to bedtime keeps you up. Caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that causes nervousness, dizziness, and alertness which will disturb your sleep and lead to insomnia. It is important to refrain from the use of substantial caffeine six hours before bedtime.
Raises your cholesterol levels
Unfiltered coffee can increase both the total cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels in your body. Coffee if unfiltered, contains kahweol and cafestol which are cholesterol-raising substances. Cafestol is known to be one of the most potential agents of dietary cholesterol elevation.
Excessive consumption of coffee is also harmful to your bones. Coffee is known to raise the risk of developing osteoporosis which is brittle bones. Excess caffeine interferes with the metabolism as well as absorption calcium thus contributing to thinning of your bones. Caffeine also increases the rate of bone loss especially in senior women if taken in excess. Research shows that consuming four cup or more increases risk of bone fractures especially in people with low intake calcium.
Another effect that excess coffee intake is heartburn and acid reflux. This is because reduces the pressure in the esophageal sphincter hence causing gastroesophageal reflux which leads to heartburn or worsens heartburn if you have it already. Coffee also speeds up gastric emptying making acidic contents of the stomach to be passed to the small intestines rapidly. Quitting coffee is one way to solve acid reflux and heartburn.
Affects the unborn
High amounts of coffee are not suitable for pregnant women since high caffeine content is a stimulant that affects the baby’s heart rate. Caffeine may also raise the risk of miscarriage or make babies be born with low weight. Caffeine increases your metabolism thus making you more alert as well as the fetus. This may cause the baby in the womb to be unsettled after having a cup as well as causing dehydration to the unborn child.
When taken in the right amount, coffee has a lot of health benefits. However, if you become addicted to coffee, it becomes a potential cause of many health problems.