Is coffee bad or good for us? While your answer to that question is a simple and very direct ‘good’, you may feel different once you finish reading this piece. This article is aimed to inform you of the effects of coffee in your body and what health benefits quitting coffee come with.
A lot of people take a cup of coffee every day at times several cups during the day and the reason is often the same straight forward one, to stay alert. A lot of research conducted recently will surprise you as to how that very cup of coffee is in fact doing the very opposite of that and while at it, it is also harming your body and deteriorating your overall health!
There are a lot of controversies surrounding coffee and its relation to a lot of disease which include but are not limited to Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer among others. One of the undisputed effects of coffee is on blood sugar metabolism which is something that affects more people on a daily basis. We try on a daily basis to keep our sugar levels balanced and that is by generally avoiding its triggers. Can coffee be one of its triggers?
In studies carried out between the ‘80’s and ‘90’s investigating the relation between diabetes and coffee brought attention to the fact that there is definitely an inverse dose-dependent association between coffee and a risk of Type 2 diabetes which means that there was higher insulin production which was seen to be a good thing but is it really? The body’s health system is trying to recover from insulin resistance so are greater insulin and glucose levels the best solution?
When you consider that diabetes has affected almost 1.7 billion people and that number is only growing perhaps coffee is not the appropriate solution. Coffee does have way more adverse effects which negatively affect our health which are listed below;
1. Addiction
Coffee is a highly addictive substance. It creates a dependency to it in order to function normally or even stay awake which then becomes a vicious cycle. It makes it difficult for the body to rely on its own natural source of energy.
2. Raised Blood Pressure
Caffeine often raises blood pressure a few points or even more in some people. Quitting coffee will lower your blood pressure and keep your heart from overworking.
3. Better Sleep, Mood and Decreased Anxiety
We all know caffeine reduces sleep but it also interferes with the quality of sleep. People who even choose to quit coffee after 12 noon report of better quality sleep after quitting. 5-HIA, an organic acid and component of the neurotransmitter serotonin (the happy chemical) seen in the urine tends to be elevated in coffee drinkers, which means they may be at risk for lower levels of serotonin synthesis in the brain. Serotonin is necessary for normal sleep, bowel function, mood, and energy levels. It is a vicious cycle, as caffeine can disrupt sleep and promote anxiety and depression. Quitting coffee or caffeine can make you feel less anxious, especially if you are prone to anxiety issues.
4. Increased Urinary Output
People who drink coffee tend to urinate more often as it stimulates the smooth muscles of the colon which results in them contracting hence more elimination of urine and important minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium which results in electrolyte imbalance.
5. Unhealthy Teeth
Black coffee stains teeth other caffeinated drinks result in erosion of tooth enamel which often results in tooth decay. Simple elimination of such drinks from the diet will result in whiter and healthier teeth.
6. Weight Gain
Unless coffee is drank black all other types of coffee will result in increased weight. The helpful chlorogenic acids that may delay glucose absorption in the intestine have also been shown to increase homocysteine levels — an indicator for increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which tends to be elevated in diabetes.
7. Reduced Tolerance
Regular coffee consumption increases the body’s tolerance. From one cup a day to three maybe more. With a cleanse from coffee it will definitely reduce the amount of coffee your body craves. It rests the body’s system resulting in increased reaction to coffee when you require it to.
8. Gastrointestinal Disturbance
The acidity of coffee is associated with digestive discomfort, indigestion, heart burn, GERD and dysbiosis (imbalances in your gut flora).
9. Increased Risk of Cardiac Events
Caffeine stimulates the heart muscle causing it to beat with more forceful contractions. Also, high blood sugar levels lead to arterial deterioration and increased risk of mortality related to cardiovascular disease.
10. Drug Interaction
With coffee intake, some drugs productivity is interfered with and thus they do not perform as adequately as they are expected to perform. Drugs such as levothyroxine and tricyclic antidepressants are affected by caffeine resulting in reduced action. Drug metabolism and detoxification in the liver is difficult to regulate as a result of interference by caffeine.
With these clearly bad effects of coffee to your overall health it is time to evaluate whether you need that morning cup of coffee. While quitting coffee will undoubtedly lead to withdrawal symptoms there are a lot of ways to avoid them or at least reduce their effect. An increase in your water consumption, adequate rest, regular quick 30 minute walks and a substitute with green tea should keep you productive throughout the first few days then after that a regular routine should be set to avoid a relapse.
