The secret behind coffee: exploring its harmful effects from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, coffee has hidden dangers. Coffee contains caffeine. Excessive drinking can lead to excessive yang energy in the body, causing insomnia, palpitations and other adverse effects. Long-term drinking may also affect the digestive system, lead to spleen and stomach weakness, and reduce appetite. Caffeine may also stimulate the nervous system, affect emotional stability, and even cause neurasthenia. Coffee should be consumed in moderation, and combined with one's own physical condition and living habits, to avoid excessive dependence.

In this fast-paced era, coffee has become a must-have drink for almost every working person and student. The refreshing effect it brings makes people feel dependent on it. However, Chinese medicine has a different view on coffee. What are the harms of coffee in the eyes of Chinese medicine? Let's explore it in depth.

We need to understand the nature of coffee. Coffee is a drink containing caffeine. Caffeine can indeed refresh the mind, but its mechanism of action is to stimulate the central nervous system and put people in an excited state. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the balance of yin and yang. Any excessive stimulation of the body will break this balance and lead to a decline in body function.

Excessive consumption of coffee will affect the quality of sleep. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "the unity of man and nature", that is, people's work and rest and diet should conform to the laws of nature. The caffeine in coffee will stimulate the brain and affect sleep. Long-term drinking will lead to insomnia or decreased sleep quality, which is contrary to the health-preserving principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

Coffee has a certain impact on the spleen and stomach functions. According to Chinese medicine theory, "the spleen and stomach are the foundation of acquired constitution", that is, the spleen and stomach are important organs for human digestion and absorption. After the caffeine and acid in coffee enter the human body, they will stimulate the gastric mucosa. Long-term and excessive drinking can lead to diseases such as gastritis and gastric ulcers. Caffeine also has a diuretic effect, which will cause the body to lose water, which is not conducive to the normal functioning of the spleen and stomach.

Long-term coffee drinking may also affect a person's mood. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, emotions are closely related to visceral functions. The stimulating effect of caffeine can put people in a state of continuous excitement, which can easily lead to mood swings, irritability, anxiety and other problems, which is extremely detrimental to physical and mental health.

For special groups, such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with weak constitutions, the harm of coffee is more significant. Pregnant women drinking coffee may affect the development of the fetus, while children drinking coffee may affect the normal development of their nervous system. The functions of various organs in the elderly body decline, and the stimulation of coffee may cause a greater burden on them.

In today's society, coffee seems to have become a culture and a fashion, but we should realize that every food and drink has its reason for existence and its applicable occasions. Chinese medicine advocates that "food and medicine have the same origin", that is, food and medicine are equally important. Choosing the right food and drink for you is the key to staying healthy.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, coffee is not completely useless. Drinking it in moderation may help refresh the mind, but when choosing to drink coffee, we should pay more attention to the hazards behind it, especially the long-term effects. We should make rational judgments and prudent choices based on our own physical constitution and living habits.

In this age of complex information, we should have the ability to think independently and not be swayed by external public opinion. When it comes to coffee, we can maintain an open but cautious attitude, understand its possible benefits and harms, and make the most suitable choice for ourselves. Only then can we maintain physical and mental balance and health in a fast-paced life.

To avoid the use of words such as "summary" and "in conclusion" at the end, we should have a comprehensive understanding of coffee, neither relying on it too much nor denying it altogether. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, we should pay more attention to the potential risks it may bring, and enjoy life in a moderate, reasonable and scientific way.