☕️Coffee Every Day? Yes It’s Healthy
Rise and shine,
There is nothing like the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. Yet, amidst this comforting warmth, we ponder: is this caffeinated companion a healthy indulgence?
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Today’s Debunk: Coffee Every Day? Yes It’s Healthy☕️🍵
TL;DR It is healthy to consume up to 400 mg of caffeine in a day. For Starbucks-goers, this translates to slightly less than a Venti (410 mg) cup! However, remember to reduce your caffeine intake if you have a low tolerance or if you are pregnant.
Coffee Every Day? Yes It’s Healthy
For most of us, coffee plays a vital role in our lives. It jumpstarts our mornings, combats post-lunch drowsiness, and provides a soothing sense of calm when slowly savoured.
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Drinking coffee every day can be healthy
According to the FDA, it is safe to consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine in a day. For Starbucks-goers, this translates to slightly less than a Venti (410 mg) cup! So it might be a better idea to stick with the Tall (235 mg) or Grande (330 mg).
As long as you consume within the prescribed caffeine limit, drinking coffee daily brings with it a myriad of health benefits.
→See Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much, FDA
→See Is coffee good or bad for your health, Harvard SPH
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Coffee’s health benefits
“The overall evidence has been pretty convincing that coffee has been more healthful than harmful in terms of health outcomes”
- Frank Hu, chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
1. More energy
Caffeine is a natural stimulant to the brain and nervous system, boosting our alertness and energy levels.
2. Regular poop
Coffee stimulates our colons to contract and push poop out. This effect has helped many coffee drinkers to poop regularly. Research has shown that at least one-third of the population gets the urge to poop as soon as 4 minutes after drinking coffee.
→See Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain–Gut Axis, Nutrients
3. Keeps you away from neurodegenerative disorders
Coffee’s components, such as caffeine and chlorogenic acid, have neuroprotective properties that reduce the risk of developing various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
4. Supports a healthy heart
Coffee has been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart-related deaths. Studies have shown that caffeine reduces LDL or “bad” cholesterol, which is associated with an increased risk of heart problems.
→See How does caffeine reduce heart disease risk, Medical News Today
5. Helps metabolism
Caffeine can speed up metabolism and fat burning.
→See Four cups of coffee a day associated with modest loss of body fat, Harvard SPH
6. Other benefits
Coffee has been linked to many other health benefits, such as reducing cancer risk and boosting the immune system, among others. Coffee is also the number one source of antioxidants in the human diet!
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Watch out for
1. Your Tolerance
Everyone’s body is different, some are more sensitive to caffeine, while some are more tolerant. Ultimately, the FDA recommendation of 400 mg is only a guide, it is more important to listen to your body. If you are anxious, jittery or have trouble falling asleep, please reduce your coffee intake.
2. Pregnancy
Caffeine intake has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight. In view of these findings, both the WHO and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have advised pregnant women to keep their caffeine intake at “low-to-moderate” levels or less than 200 mg.
→See Moderate Amounts of Caffeine Not Linked to Maternal Health Risks, Penn Medicine
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Conclusion
When consumed within proper limits, drinking coffee every day is healthy! It contains caffeine and other active substances that keep us away from various medical conditions. However, remember to reduce your caffeine intake appropriately if you have a low tolerance or if you are pregnant.
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