Benefits and Harms of Coffee
Benefits of Coffee
Coffee, which helps improve the general health condition, especially spiritual and cognitive functions, with the help of the beneficial components it contains, is also very effective in avoiding many diseases. It is known for its effects such as awakening the mind, increasing alertness and energy levels, and providing vitality. However, the advantages of coffee are not limited to this alone.
Coffee is one of the food types that is frequently subject to scientific research regarding its benefits and effects on diseases. Coffee, which is widely consumed as a beverage both in our region and around the world, is a type of plant that is also frequently included in skin care products. We can list the most important benefits of coffee on our health as follows;
Increases Energy Level and Strengthens the Mind: The ingredient called caffeine, which is abundant in its content, mixes with the blood and reaches the brain in a short time after consumption. It increases the level of alertness and increases the level of energy by blocking (inhibiting) the neurotransmitter called adenosine, which is produced here and causes sleepiness. In this way, it prevents fatigue felt throughout the day.
It also improves work performance and focus by opening the mind. There are many scientific studies showing that this effect on the brain also improves mental state, memory, reaction time and cognitive functions in general.
Increases Fat Burning Rate: Coffee is a very valuable type of food that can help individuals who aim to lose excess weight achieve their goals. This is because it significantly increases the metabolic rate and accelerates fat burning. It helps break down fats in the body and the resulting free fatty acids take part in energy production. In addition to these positive effects, it also has almost zero calories when consumed plain. For this reason, healthy people who follow a weight loss diet can drink up to 2 cups of black coffee a day to support their diet and increase their weight loss rate.
Increases Physical Performance: The caffeine it contains causes a significant increase in the production of the adrenaline (epinephrine) hormone. This hormone is a hormone that increases in times of fear and excitement and prepares the human body for extreme physical exertion. In this way, there is a remarkable increase in physical performance after consumption.
Likewise, since it increases the rate of fat burning, it contributes to increasing the energy level the body needs for training. It is beneficial for healthy people who are involved in sports activities or fitness to consume black coffee approximately half an hour before going to the gym.
Contains Important Micronutrients: Coffee is a food with high nutritional value and valuable micronutrients. One cup provides approximately 10% of the daily vitamins and minerals required. For this reason, it is possible to say that it is as nutritious as it is healthy.
It is effective against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's: Neurodegenerative diseases that are frequently seen in individuals aged 65 and over around the world; We can list them as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Dementia. In these diseases, which do not have a clear treatment, healthy nutrition and regular intake of certain types of food are much more important than many other types of diseases.
Those who regularly drink coffee, which is known to be very effective in preventing neurodegenerative disorders, are less likely to experience these diseases. There are scientific studies showing that the probability of Alzheimer's disease decreases by up to 65% and the probability of Parkinson's disease decreases by 30 to 60%. Effective Against Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases: Coffee is a food rich in antioxidant content. There are scientific studies showing that the risk of developing many types of cancer, especially liver cancer and colorectal cancer, is greatly reduced in people who consume it regularly. It prevents excessively unbalanced and uncontrolled proliferation by protecting the cell structure. In addition, it can be said that it increases life expectancy by helping to protect against diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Benefits of Turkish Coffee
Although it does not grow in agricultural areas in our country, Turkish coffee, which has spread from our geography to all over the world with its special cooking method, is a very popular food type with its health benefits as well as its taste. Turkish coffee, which does not involve any straining or filtering process due to its cooking technique, helps you benefit from the benefits of coffee in much greater amounts than other varieties. When drinking filter coffee, some of the coffee cannot pass through the filter, so it is one step behind in terms of its benefits. Since soluble coffee types are also involved in some kind of fabrication processes, it is possible to say that one of the healthiest and most natural coffee types is Turkish coffee. Consuming 1-2 cups a day is very beneficial for people who do not have any illnesses and do not use medication.
Benefits of Black Coffee
- It contributes to an energetic life.
- It accelerates metabolism.
- It helps you get the necessary food items.
- It eliminates the risk of diabetes.
- It is effective against depression.
- It serves as protection against the risk of cancer.
- It strengthens heart health.
Benefits of Coffee with Milk
- It eliminates the desire for sweets.
- It gives a feeling of fullness.
- It contains very few calories.
- It contributes to weight loss.
Harms of Coffee
Although coffee is a healthy and beneficial food in most cases, its consumption can lead to some negative situations for individuals with certain diseases or taking medications, and its excessive consumption for healthy people. Coffee consumption may cause palpitations, especially in individuals with blood pressure, arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder), tachycardia and other heart conditions. This negativity can also occur in people who do not have any heart disease as a result of excessive coffee consumption. In people with blood pressure, coffee consumption may cause an increase in blood pressure.
As with all foods, coffee consumption should be moderate. There are scientific studies showing that consuming more than 3 cups of coffee a day can negatively affect fertility, and consuming more than 5 cups of coffee causes osteoporosis. Again, the harms of too much coffee can be listed as negative effects such as sleeping problems, being tense or irritable, and sensitivity.
In individuals with anemia, excessive coffee consumption may aggravate anemia as it reduces the absorption of iron from foods. It is recommended that these people consult their doctor about coffee consumption, and limit their consumption to one cup and not 45 minutes before or after meals.
Among the harms of Turkish coffee can be considered diabetes, which occurs as a result of constant consumption of the sugar served. In addition, it is recommended to consume coffee black or with only milk added. Since the fat and sugar content of coffees with syrup or instant milk powder (such as Nescafe) is very high, consumption in this way will cause more harm than good. Coffee, which also has diuretic properties, increases urine output. Because of this effect, it can cause fluid loss (dehydration) in individuals who do not drink enough water and electrolyte imbalances in individuals with kidney and heart diseases.
If you care about your health and nutrition, you can strengthen your health and avoid diseases by adding coffee to your diet. If you do not have any health problems, you can drink 1 or 2 cups of filter or Turkish coffee a day. However, if you have any health problems or are taking medication for any reason, you should remember that it may be harmful for you and consult your doctor before you start drinking coffee.
Vitamins and Minerals Found in Coffee
We can list the vitamins and minerals that make up a large part of a cup of coffee as follows;
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 11% of the daily amount.
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid): 6% of the daily amount.
- Potassium: 3% of the daily amount.
- Magnesium: 2% of daily amount.
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 2% of the daily amount.
- Copper: 1% of daily amount.
Nutritional Values of Coffee
1 cup of coffee (20 g) contains an average of 68 calories. It contains 3g of protein, 13g of carbohydrates and 0.02g of fat. (All values are approximate and may increase depending on the additional nutrients added to the coffee)