Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, about which almost everything has been said, from the fact that it has beneficial properties, to the fact that it can be very unhealthy. Its stimulant properties make it, for many, essential to start the day with enough energy and it is known that in its composition there are elements that could be effective against different diseases, as long as it is taken in the right amounts.
The doubts continue because there are many studies in favor and also against this aromatic drink and if you also keep wondering if coffee is good or bad, in this article we review what is known so far, trying to find the answer.
Is it good to drink coffee or not?
- It is not possible to say with total certainty that coffee is good or bad, because you have to understand that its beneficial or harmful action will depend on two main factors:
- The characteristics (age, constitution, physical activity…) and possible pathologies that a person may present.
- It must be taken into account that coffee is a natural product, which comes from roasted and ground grains (seeds) provided by different plants, grains that contain important micronutrients, in the form of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus or magnesium, along with other alkaloid substances, mainly caffeine.
- It is precisely caffeine that is responsible for many of the effects of coffee and for the fact that, in some cases, it is considered a good thing to drink, and in others, it is not. For example, caffeine can promote good mental concentration, providing vitality and helping us to keep our nervous system active. In principle, this is good quality, but in too high amounts or in the case of a person with a tendency to suffer from insomnia or episodes of nervousness, coffee would be very unfavorable.
- For decades, coffee has been considered a possible trigger for cardiovascular diseases and accidents. This is one of the main reasons why it has been classified as ‘bad’, but, in this sense, we must point out the numerous recent studies, including those collected by the American Heart Association, which highlight the cardioprotective properties it would have coffee in healthy people. Some of these studies, in which experts from different fields of the World Health Organization (WHO) have participated, highlight that coffee, in adequate doses, could affect a reduction in mortality, being able to be beneficial to prevent (or improve) the appearance of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s and even some types of cancer.
Coffee benefits
After considering it guilty of multiple ailments and not contributing to healthy lifestyle habits, recent research has put things ‘in their place’, making it clear that coffee has a place in a varied and balanced diet as a whole, as long as there is no a previous pathology that advises against its consumption.
Among the benefits that coffee is considered to have, it should be noted:
- It is a powerful natural antioxidant capable of stopping the action of free radicals and the premature aging that they can cause at the cellular level.
- Caffeine has a vasodilator effect, something that favors the correct rhythm of blood flow, generating a cardioprotective effect.
- Coffee is a natural tonic, a drink that favors physical activity, especially important in athletes, and also mental activity.
- It is also an excellent diuretic that also causes basal metabolism to increase and with it, caloric expenditure, making it a good ally for weight loss diets.
What is the recommended daily dose of coffee?
It cannot be said that coffee is harmful to health, as long as we are talking about healthy adults, but it is true that, in doses that are too high, it could end up triggering or aggravating multiple pathologies, from nervousness, insomnia or tachycardia, to digestive problems.
The dose will always depend on each person, but, in general, experts agree that approximately 4-5 cups a day should not be exceeded, since an amount greater than 400 milligrams of caffeine would be excessive for the body. , as noted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Keep in mind that caffeine is not only in coffee but in other foods that also contain it.
The best hours to drink coffee
There is no specific time that is more or less favorable to the intake of a good coffee. Some cannot face their daily tasks without having had a good cup and others ingest it hours before bedtime without having problems falling asleep.
It is a matter of preferences and the sensitivity that each one presents to caffeine. Even so, experts point out that the ideal coffee time is not the exact moment when you wake up, but after a minimum time, approximately two hours after waking up, because at this time is when cortisol levels (the stress hormone) drop. and the one that makes us wake up). It is then when a coffee feels better and is more effective and beneficial. Of course, especially if you have insomnia problems, coffee in the afternoon must be suppressed.
