The Arabs spread the habit of consuming coffee to the known world in the 16th century. Despite the effects of coffee on the body, more than one million tons of coffee grains are consumed every year in the United States alone.
Green coffee, grown on the coffee tree, undergoes fermentation and roasting before use. Habitual coffee consumption provokes physical and mental dependence (an urge to take it) and has toxic ramifications; hence, coffee is viewed as a drug.
As with other drugs, such as opium, coffee’s active components (caffeine) may be helpful for a short time to treat certain conditions. Nonetheless, continual use produces addiction and, in many cases, several disorders.
Effects of Coffee on The Body: Properties and Warning
The most crucial ingredient of coffee is an alkaloid: trimethylxanthine, or caffeine, which constitutes one and two percent of the grain. It also contains an essential oil that gives coffee its typical aroma. Coffee irritates the digestive system, and caffeic and chlorogenic acids are diuretics. Moreover, distinct fatty and nitrogenated ingredients oxidize and denature during the roasting and fermentation.
As we all know, the effects of coffee on the body are the result of caffeine, an alkaloid in the same family as the xanthine group, similar to purine. Here are some adverse effects of coffee consumption:
- Effects of coffee on the body – Nervous system stimulant: After consuming caffeine, there is an increase in intellectual effort. However, on the downside, the ability to comprehend and put into practice what was learned sharply decreases. For example, after drinking coffee, typists could work quicker, but they made more mistakes. The gained mental agility and dynamics are followed by a sensation of tiredness and melancholy hours later, which most people follow up by drinking another cup.
This is because caffeine’s stimulus on the nervous system is excitant and superfluous. Consuming a cup of coffee does not provide anything nutritious the brain requires to operate at optimal levels, such as mineral salts (phosphorus, calcium, etc.), B vitamins, glucose, and lecithin. Therefore, it is safe to say that coffee does not nourish but does excite. Also, it can irritate and tire the nervous system in very high doses. - Effects of coffee on the body – The circulatory system: Another impact of coffee on the body is that it slightly increases heart contractions and blood pressure. Nevertheless, continuous consumption results in the irritability of the coronary nerves, which can cause an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). Caffeine overuse increases adrenaline levels in the blood, making people susceptible to heart attacks.
- Effects of coffee on the body – Digestive system: Coffee causes an increase in the secretion of gastric juices, which may ease digestion at certain times. Because of the irritant action of the essential oils contained in coffee, it produces excessive acid, gastritis, gastric ulcers, and colitis. Habitual use of coffee also affects the liver by overloading it.
- Effects of coffee on the body – The chronic use of coffee has been related to bladder and colon cancer and increased cholesterol in the blood.
Therapeutical use of coffee may be justified, especially in the following cases, whenever there is no other treatment with fewer effects:
- Effects of coffee on the body – Acute alcoholic intoxication. Coffee may counteract the harmful impact of liquor on the nervous system, though only to some extent. You can use coffee as a natural remedy to partially revive individuals suffering from alcohol intoxication. However, alcohol intoxication requires suitable treatment with high doses of B vitamins, among other nutrients, which coffee lacks.
- Effects of coffee on the body: Blackout, fainting due to tiredness or physical exhaustion. Coffee may provide a short-term benefit, though it does not cure. It is better to apply appropriate remedies in these cases.
- Effects of coffee on the body: Headaches, migraines, head congestion due to influenza or catarrh afflictions, and fever. Coffee “clears” the head and particularly eases influenza symptoms. The best treatment consists of applying natural agents that stimulate organic defenses and have preventative action in these cases.
WARNING! Coffee must never be used continuously, not even as a medicine, because it contains caffeine, which provokes addiction (urge to keep using it) and tolerance (need to increase the dose), as with any other addictive drug. No more than two or three cups daily should be taken when used as a medicine.
The use of coffee is not recommended in the following cases:
- Gastric and duodenal ulcer.
- Gastritis.
- Stomach acidity.
- Colitis.
- Nervousness.
- High blood pressure.
- Heart dysfunctions.
- Arrhythmia.
- Gout.
- Pregnancy (retards fetal growth).
- Breastfeeding (caffeine passes to the milk of the mother).
Coffee Tree Scientific Facts
- French: Cafetier, café.
- Spanish: Café.
- Environment: Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, it still grows widely there, though it is now farmed in tropical and subtropical areas of America and Africa, with multiple species of the coffee genus.
- Description: This shrub of the Rubiaceae family grows up to five meters high. It has white flowers and red berries with two seeds, the coffee grains.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: Seeds.
How to use Coffee
- Infusion of green or toasted fruits.
Frequently Asked Question
Can coffee impact my mood and mental health?
Yes, in complex ways. Caffeine blocks adenosine, a neurotransmitter that signals tiredness. This contributes to alertness but may also increase anxiety in some individuals. Moderate coffee consumption has been tentatively linked to a reduced risk of depression. Still, one of the main effects of coffee on the body is that excessive caffeine can worsen anxiety or depressive symptoms for those predisposed to these conditions.
Does coffee have any effect on chronic diseases?
Potentially. Studies indicate that effects of coffee on the body may lead to a reduced likelihood of emerging disorders such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and some liver ailments. However, this might be tied to coffee’s antioxidant content instead of caffeine. More research is needed for conclusive statements.
How does coffee influence sleep?
Caffeine can disrupt sleep patterns and can last for hours. Consuming coffee even in the afternoon may affect your ability to fall asleep easily or impact the quality of your sleep, leading to daytime fatigue.
Can regular coffee consumption build tolerance?
Yes. With regular use, the body adapts to caffeine. You might need more coffee over time to achieve the same level of alertness. This can create a cycle of dependence.
Does coffee affect blood pressure?
Short-term spikes are possible, but long-term effects are unclear. Caffeine induces a transient rise in blood pressure, particularly in individuals who are not habitual consumers. However, its impact on long-term blood pressure and risk of hypertension is less clear-cut.
Is coffee terrible for bone health?
There’s a small potential risk. Caffeine may slightly interfere with calcium absorption. However, this effect is generally minor and can be counteracted by ensuring adequate calcium intake.
Does coffee consumption increase heart disease risk?
It depends. Unfiltered coffee (like French press or boiled) contains compounds like cafestol that can raise LDL cholesterol. Most studies show that filtered coffee has little to no effect on heart disease risk for healthy individuals.
Is caffeine addictive?
Yes, it can be. Regular caffeine consumption can lead to mild physical dependence. Stopping abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritability.
Can coffee cause dehydration?
Mildly, but not significantly, caffeine has a slight diuretic effect, generally offset by the fluid in coffee. Unless you’re consuming excessive amounts, coffee doesn’t contribute to dehydration.
Are there benefits to drinking black coffee?
Mainly calorie control. Black coffee contains virtually no calories. Adding milk, sugar, and flavorings can significantly increase your drink’s calorie and sugar content.
DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.
REFERENCES
- George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. Vols. 1 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 178, 179. Print.[effects of coffee on the body]
- Harvard School of Public Health: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/coffee/
- Sleep Foundation: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/caffeine-and-sleep
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/blood-pressure/faq-20058543
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: https://www.nof.org/
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
- matchaalternatives.com/blogs/the-ma-blog/caffeine-fasting-tea-coffee
- scofa.com/the-effects-of-caffeine-on-sleep/
- www.fda.gov/media/152680/download
- drinkpathwater.com/blogs/news/does-coffee-count-as-water-intake
- agreatcoffee.com/how-to-counter-the-diuretic-effects-of-coffee/