Here's What Drinking Coffee Actually Does to Your Body - by Eliza Brooks
Coffee can be safely called a magical potion with millions around the globe to vouch for it.
Most people start their day with a fresh cup of coffee from "Kikos Coffee" brewed at home or a local restaurant. But have you ever thought about what drinking coffee does to your body?
No? Read on!
How Coffee Keeps You Awake
The most polarizing stimulant in coffee is called caffeine and it the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance across the globe. Caffeine acts on adenosine which is a chemical present in your brain that has sleep-inducing properties. After drinking a cup of coffee, the caffeine is absorbed into your bloodstream and then into your brain. In the brain, caffeine acts as an adenosine antagonist and binds to its molecules to lessening its sleep-inducing effects. Along with this, it triggers the release of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine which leads to enhanced firing of neurons. Caffeine peaks right away but it lingers in your system for about four to six hours after consumption.
Other Health Benefits of Coffee
Caffeine Burns Fat: Several studies show that caffeine can increase fat burning and boost your metabolic rate by 3–11%. For this reason, it can be found in almost every commercial fat-burning supplement
Improve Physical Performance: Caffeine stimulates your nervous system to increase adrenaline levels which prepares the body for intense physical exertion. It also releases fatty acids from your fat tissues and leads to significant improvements in physical performance.
Contains important Nutrients: Coffee beans are rich in Riboflavin, Pantothenic acid, Manganese and potassium, and Magnesium and niacin
Can lower the risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Several observational studies show that coffee can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is a serious condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels.
Can lower the risk of Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the death of dopamine-generating neurons. Observation studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 60% lower risk of getting Parkinson’s disease.
Can protect the Liver: People who drink coffee regularly have a much lower risk of cirrhosis, and other common liver diseases such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and many others.
Can Fight Depression: Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing depression which is a serious mental disorder that causes a significantly reduced quality of life.
Can lower the risk of certain types of cancer: Coffee appears to be protective against liver and colorectal cancer which are the third and fourth leading causes of cancer death worldwide.
Helps prevent heart diseases and can lower stroke risk: Contrary to the popular belief that caffeine can increase your blood pressure, there is some evidence that it usually diminishes over time. Coffee drinkers also have a slightly lower risk of stroke.
Source of antioxidants: Coffee is rich in powerful antioxidants, and studies have shown that many people get most of their antioxidants from coffee, making it one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.
Side Effects of Coffee
Anxiety: Caffeine increases alertness when taken in lower quantities but too much of it can lead to anxiety and nervousness. Extremely high daily intakes can cause nervousness, jitteriness, and similar symptoms in most people
Insomnia: Too much caffeine in the diet can make it difficult to get enough sleep. Observation studies show that higher caffeine intake can increase the amount of time required to fall asleep.
Digestive Issues: Coffee’s laxative effect helps bowel movements by releasing gastrin, a hormone that speeds up activity in the colon, and by increasing peristalsis, which is the contractions that help move food through the digestive tract. Therefore, large doses of caffeine can lead to loose stools or diarrhea in some cases.
Muscle Breakdown: Consumption of a large dosage of caffeine within a short period can develop rhabdomyolysis or muscle breakdown in rare situations.
Addiction: Caffeine triggers certain brain chemicals that may lead to psychological or physical withdrawal symptoms especially at high dosages.
Fatigue: Although caffeine boost energy levels, it can indirectly lead to rebound fatigue when its effects wear off.
Frequent Urination and Urgency
Caffeine has stimulatory effects on the bladder because of which high levels of caffeine can increase the urinary frequency and urgency
Written by Eliza Brooks. Eliza Brooks is an avid blogger and an informative content writer who loves to write about travel, health, food, culture, and more. She is currently working with Jakers, the leading Seafood restaurant in and around Idaho.