We all know an excessive amount of coffee isn’t good for your body, but has anyone ever broken down the facts for you. bFM’s Natural Ange shares her knowledge on the effect Coffee has on your Body: the good and the bad. Coffee is a much loved beverage with a strong cultural following all over the world. It temporarily increases mental perception and concentration so many use it to aid with their daily activities. This is because coffee increases the basal metabolic rate, and for this reason athletes also drink it to increase their performance.
You might be surprised to find out that the caffeine and theobromine in coffee is useful for treating asthma and hayfever! Yup, your airways dilate and sneezing decreases with caffeine intake. It’s all very well coping with the symptoms of hayfever but caffeinated coffee has negative effects on the body such as stimulating contractions of the gallbladder, releasing bile which in turn prevents gallstones (ouch). Excessive coffee intake can also worsen premenstrual syndrome and increase levels of pain.
So if you need coffee to get through the day, try having just the one in the morning and make it a good one. More than one coffee per day becomes detrimental. Due to the diuretic effects water soluble vitamins and minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and zinc) are lost. Research states that excessive coffee consumption may lead to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and strokes owing to these losses.
People with mental health disorders such as schizophrenia or anxiety are also advised not to partake in coffee. In which case, try a lovely green tea or fresh juice rich in antioxidants next time you visit a café. The ritual, relaxation and friendships gained over coffee has merit in itself but unless you know that it doesn’t suit you (for example some people find they experience anxiety, stomach cramps, and racy heart rate or migraine headaches from coffee) stick to one a day