The reason why coffee is so popular is not only because of its unique taste, but also because it can bring a sense of pleasure and refresh the mind. Coffee contains caffeine, tannic acid, fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and trace amounts of lime. It is the interaction of complex components that causes different types of coffee to exhibit varying degrees of sweetness, acidity, richness, and purity in taste.
Caffeine, as the most critical active ingredient in coffee, is also the main source of bitterness. It is a xanthine alkaloid compound that, when consumed in moderation, can stimulate the central nervous system, help people stay alert, and enhance their attention and thinking abilities. The bitterness of coffee also comes from the taste of caffeine. In addition, coffee also contains various mineral components such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, and chromium, which greatly benefit the body's metabolism and various physiological functions.
The health benefits of coffee are all based on moderate consumption, so how much is considered moderate?
This mainly depends on the caffeine content in coffee. Generally speaking, if a normal person consumes more than 400 milligrams of caffeine at once, the risk of experiencing discomfort symptoms will significantly increase. Therefore, it is recommended that the daily intake of caffeine should be controlled below 400 milligrams. Taking instant coffee as an example, the caffeine content per serving (usually referring to a small packet or cup) is 50-70 milligrams, so it should not be consumed more than 6 servings per day. For hand brewed coffee, the caffeine content per cup is about 100 milligrams, so drinking 3-5 cups per day is more suitable.
In addition, there is a certain correlation between daily coffee consumption and factors such as personal weight and coffee type. People with lighter body weight are advised to reduce their consumption accordingly; If you are drinking Italian espresso with high caffeine content, you should also reduce your consumption appropriately. In addition to coffee, many daily drinks such as cola, tea, milk tea, etc. also contain caffeine, so after drinking these drinks, it is also important to remember to reduce the amount of coffee consumed.
After drinking coffee, the heart rate increases. Is this heart disease?
After drinking coffee, the heart rate increases, which does not directly indicate heart disease, but this phenomenon still needs to be taken seriously. The caffeine in coffee can stimulate the central nervous system, leading to a significant increase in heart rate, enhanced myocardial contractility, vasodilation, and increased blood flow velocity. It also increases respiratory rate and gastrointestinal motility. The degree of these physiological reactions varies from person to person, influenced by an individual's tolerance to coffee and the concentration of coffee consumed. For example, people who frequently drink coffee may not feel anything about it, but those who are intolerant to caffeine may feel palpitations, dizziness, and discomfort. Moreover, the higher the concentration of coffee, the more obvious the symptoms will be. Therefore, when enjoying the refreshing effect of coffee, it is also necessary to pay attention to one's own physical reactions and drink in moderation.
Can drinking too much coffee really trigger heart disease?
Moderate consumption of coffee usually does not increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but long-term excessive consumption may increase the risk of cardiovascular system diseases.
On the one hand, excessive intake of caffeine can increase the burden on the heart and may trigger cardiovascular disease. This is because high doses of caffeine can significantly increase heart rate and blood pressure, putting pressure on the cardiovascular system and increasing the risk of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. The increase in heart rate can lead to an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption, and arrhythmia may also cause insufficient blood supply to the heart, which can increase the risk of developing diseases such as coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction.
On the other hand, excessive coffee intake can also cause blood vessels to constrict, leading to insufficient blood supply to organs. Some acidic substances in coffee and caffeine have a vasoconstrictive effect, which may reduce blood flow to major organs of the body, leading to ischemia and hypoxia, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In addition, excessive coffee consumption may also accelerate atherosclerosis and increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
Does drinking coffee cause osteoporosis?
Drinking coffee is only a risk factor for osteoporosis, not a direct pathogenic factor. Moderate consumption of coffee does not directly lead to osteoporosis. Although caffeine and oxalic acid in coffee may affect calcium absorption and increase calcium loss, this effect is relatively limited. There is a dynamic balance in calcium metabolism in the human body. When the amount of calcium excreted through urine and other pathways increases, the intestinal tract will correspondingly increase the absorption rate of calcium to compensate for the loss. Therefore, as long as you maintain a balanced diet and drink coffee in moderation, it will not lead to calcium deficiency.
Is coffee really addictive?
Coffee does have some addictive properties, but its withdrawal symptoms usually do not have long-term effects on the body and mind. Long term consumption of coffee can lead to a mild dependence on caffeine in the body, as caffeine can stimulate the brain to produce mild pleasure and bind to adenosine receptors in the brain, allowing neuronal activity to "not decay" and providing a feeling of relief from fatigue. When the daily intake of caffeine exceeds 100 milligrams, the body may become dependent. If caffeine intake is stopped for 12-24 hours, symptoms such as headache, fatigue, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating may occur, known as "caffeine withdrawal". But this reaction is different from the persistent reactions that occur during withdrawal from drugs and psychotropic drugs, and most people can recover within 2-3 days.
Who is not suitable for drinking coffee?
Although coffee can bring physical and mental pleasure, it is not suitable for all people. For children and adolescents who are in an important period of physical and neurological development, as well as those who are sensitive to caffeine, suffer from long-term insomnia, gastrointestinal diseases, and osteoporosis, it is not recommended to drink coffee. Coffee may also affect the absorption of iron in food, so patients with iron deficiency anemia should also avoid drinking it. Pregnant women should also be cautious when drinking coffee, and it is recommended not to exceed 1 cup per day. Coffee should not be taken together with ephedrine cold medicines to avoid symptoms of "overdose".
In addition, it is unrealistic for people who frequently stay up late and work overtime to try to "prolong their lives" by drinking coffee. Coffee can only provide brief brain stimulation, and blindly increasing the amount of coffee can not only lead to caffeine dependence, but may also exacerbate mental anxiety and insomnia. Therefore, it is recommended to consider from a long-term perspective and give the brain and body sufficient rest.
Author: Zhang Yu, Researcher and Master's Supervisor at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Reviewed by: Fu Rui, Chief Physician of Beijing Century Altar Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
