A cup of coffee a day can cause hidden health problems

A cup of coffee a day can cause hidden health problems

Coffee is a must-have drink for many people in the morning. It can refresh the mind and increase attention and concentration. However, despite the many benefits of coffee, we cannot ignore the possible health concerns.

Effects of Caffeine on the Body

The first thing to talk about is caffeine. As a natural stimulant, caffeine can quickly enter the blood and affect the central nervous system. Moderate intake of caffeine can improve alertness and reaction speed, but excessive intake may cause problems such as anxiety, insomnia and accelerated heartbeat.

In addition, in some cases, excessive caffeine intake may also cause symptoms such as headaches, stomach discomfort and irregular heartbeat. It is especially important for pregnant women to pay attention to the fact that excessive caffeine intake during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or low birth weight.

Affects sleep quality

Drinking coffee also has a certain impact on sleep quality. Due to the stimulating effect of caffeine, drinking coffee at night may cause difficulty falling asleep and waking up at night. Studies have shown that it takes about 6 hours for caffeine to reduce its half-life to half after ingestion, which means that if you drink a cup of coffee containing 200 mg of caffeine in the evening, there will still be 100 mg of caffeine in your body at 2 am.

Insomnia has long been a problem for many people. If you are prone to insomnia or have high requirements for sleep quality, it is best to avoid drinking beverages containing a lot of caffeine at night.

Increased risk of gastrointestinal problems

Another concern is that long-term excessive coffee intake may increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems. Although a short cup of strong, aromatic, bitter, refreshing and mellow taste can be pleasant and exciting, it may also lead to excessive secretion of gastric acid, irritate the gastric mucosa, and cause stomach pain, indigestion and gastric ulcers.

Coffee may also irritate the intestines, causing diarrhea or worsening existing intestinal problems. If you already have digestive health problems, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, try to limit your coffee intake.

Affects nutrient absorption

The last thing to be concerned about is the effect of coffee on nutrient absorption. Caffeine can interfere with the absorption of important nutrients in the body, such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D. In particular, drinking coffee at the same time as eating iron-containing foods can inhibit the absorption of non-heme iron (non-animal sources) in the small intestine.

In addition, in some cases, long-term and high-dose coffee intake may increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures because excessive caffeine intake increases the amount of calcium excreted in the urine and inhibits intestinal absorption of calcium.

in conclusion

Although coffee has many benefits, we cannot ignore the possible health concerns. To maintain good health, it is recommended to drink coffee in moderation and pay attention to the amount and time of intake. If you already have certain chronic diseases or special conditions, please consult your doctor before drinking coffee.