An old Chinese doctor talks about the impact of long-term coffee drinking on the body and the health risks

Coffee: A double-edged sword for global beverages and health issues

Coffee, once a drink limited to a few cultures and regions, has now become a part of daily life around the world. Whether it is a busy office worker or a morning jogger, coffee has long been integrated into the daily habits of modern people. According to statistics, more than 200 million people around the world drink coffee every day, and caffeine has become one of the most consumed psychoactive substances in the world. Whether it is tasting rich black coffee or sweet latte and mocha, the diversity of coffee meets the taste needs of different people and has become a "good companion" for people to refresh their minds and stay awake.

However, as coffee consumption continues to rise, more and more health issues have also attracted attention. We often hear about the short-term benefits of coffee, such as refreshing, improving concentration and enhancing physical strength, but are people really aware of the potential health risks of long-term excessive coffee drinking? Do the caffeine and other ingredients in coffee have potential negative effects on our bodies? These questions are worth our deep consideration.

This article will explore the possible effects of long-term coffee drinking on human health from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and in combination with TCM theory. As a valuable asset of traditional medicine, TCM focuses on the overall health and harmony of the human body through the balance of yin and yang and the five elements. Through the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, we hope to provide a new understanding of coffee drinking for modern people and remind everyone how to enjoy the vitality brought by coffee while avoiding the potential health risks it may bring.

The “warming and drying” properties of coffee and the imbalance of yin and yang in the body

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, the nature and flavor of food and drink are the basic descriptions of their effects on the human body. Coffee, as a widely consumed beverage, has the characteristics of "warming" and "drying" from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. According to traditional Chinese medicine, "warming" refers to the effect of stimulating and promoting blood circulation, while "drying" means that it easily consumes body fluids. The caffeine and other chemical components in coffee give it this "warming and dry" property, which is one of the reasons why long-term coffee drinking may lead to insufficient Yin fluid in the body.

According to the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the human body depends on the balance of Yin and Yang. Yin fluid represents the moisture and nutrients in the body, which is essential for maintaining the normal functioning of the body. Coffee, as a warm and dry product, is easy to consume the Yin fluid in the body, especially when consumed excessively for a long time, it is more likely to cause Yin deficiency in the body. When the body is Yin deficient, symptoms such as dry mouth, constipation, and insomnia often occur, which are all manifestations of insufficient body fluid.

In addition, long-term excessive intake of coffee may also lead to imbalance of Qi and blood. In traditional Chinese medicine, the smooth flow and fullness of Qi and blood are the basis of good health. The stimulating effect of caffeine may temporarily make people feel refreshed, but in the long run, excessive drinking will aggravate the "dryness" in the body and affect the biochemistry and flow of Qi and blood. Therefore, long-term excessive dependence on coffee may lead to Qi deficiency and blood weakness, and even imbalance of Yin and Yang in the body.

Potential harm of coffee to kidneys and imbalance of yin and yang

In traditional Chinese medicine, the kidney is called the "innate foundation" and is the foundation of vitality and health. The kidney stores essence, controls growth, development and reproduction, and maintains the balance of qi and blood and the harmony of yin and yang throughout the body. Therefore, the health of the kidney is closely related to the overall physical condition. As a stimulating drink, long-term drinking of coffee may put a lot of pressure on the kidneys, especially in the case of excessive drinking. Its potential health risks cannot be ignored.

The caffeine in coffee has an excitatory effect, which can promote the secretion of adrenaline and accelerate metabolism. It may make people feel refreshed in the short term, but long-term excessive intake of caffeine can easily lead to insufficient kidney qi. People with insufficient kidney qi are prone to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness in the waist and knees, which is what Chinese medicine calls "kidney qi deficiency". When kidney qi is insufficient, the body's self-healing and metabolic abilities decrease, and the immune system may also be affected, leading to a variety of health problems.

In addition, long-term coffee drinking may aggravate kidney yin deficiency. Kidney yin deficiency refers to insufficient kidney essence, which is often manifested in symptoms such as insomnia, dry mouth, and hot sensation. Since coffee has the property of "drying and hot", it easily consumes body fluids and yin fluids, which may further aggravate the rise of false fire and imbalance in the body for people who already have kidney yin deficiency.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, kidney health depends not only on daily living habits and dietary conditioning, but also on maintaining internal and external balance and harmony. Long-term reliance on coffee to refresh may affect the filling of kidney qi and the nourishment of kidney yin, ultimately causing an imbalance of yin and yang in the body and leading to the occurrence of various chronic diseases. Therefore, coffee drinking should be moderate to avoid unnecessary burden on the kidneys.

The acidity of coffee can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and cause spleen and stomach disorders

As a naturally acidic beverage, long-term drinking of coffee may cause certain irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. The organic acids and caffeine in coffee can promote gastric acid secretion, especially when drinking on an empty stomach, the irritation is more obvious. When gastric acid is secreted excessively, it is easy to cause indigestion symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, and acid reflux, and may even aggravate gastric ulcers and gastritis. In modern medicine, this phenomenon is attributed to the excessive stimulation of gastric acid secretion by coffee, but from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, it is more related to dysfunction of the spleen and stomach.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen and stomach are the "foundation of acquired constitution", responsible for digestion, absorption and nutrient supply, and are the basis of human health. When the spleen and stomach are weak, the digestion and absorption of food will be affected, and problems such as abdominal distension, loss of appetite, and diarrhea are prone to occur. Coffee, as a cold and sour drink, can easily damage the yang energy of the spleen and stomach, leading to a weakening of the spleen and stomach's transportation and transformation functions, which in turn aggravates indigestion and stomach discomfort.

In addition, the acidic components in coffee may also affect the gastrointestinal mucosal protection, causing direct damage to the stomach wall. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the stomach is the "home of the spleen". People with weak stomach qi or insufficient stomach yin are prone to symptoms such as excessive stomach acid, reflux, and stomach pain after drinking coffee. This may aggravate the deficiency and coldness of the spleen and stomach, leading to health problems such as loss of appetite and indigestion.

Therefore, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the impact of long-term coffee drinking on the spleen and stomach cannot be ignored. People with weak spleen and stomach, especially those who are prone to stomach problems or indigestion, should drink coffee with caution to avoid excessive stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract. For those with weak spleen and stomach, they can replenish the spleen and stomach yang by adjusting their diet and appropriately increasing mild foods and drinks to avoid further damage to the spleen and stomach function.

Caffeine's stimulating effect on the nervous system and its regulation by traditional Chinese medicine

Caffeine is one of the main active ingredients in coffee and has a significant excitatory effect. It stimulates the central nervous system and promotes the activity of the cerebral cortex, making people feel refreshed and improving their attention and alertness in the short term. However, long-term excessive intake of caffeine may lead to a series of nervous system problems, such as insomnia, anxiety, palpitations and other symptoms. These problems are usually caused by caffeine's continuous stimulation of the nervous system, resulting in excessive nerve excitement and imbalance of yin and yang in the body.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, excessive caffeine intake is believed to disturb the human body's "mind". Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the heart governs the mind", the heart stores the spirit, and is responsible for regulating emotions and mental state. When the body's yin fluid is insufficient or the heart fire is too strong, it is easy to cause insomnia, anxiety and other mental problems. Long-term coffee drinking may lead to kidney yin deficiency and strong heart fire, which will affect the peace of mind and lead to excessive excitement of the nervous system.

The stimulation of caffeine may also aggravate the body's "dryness and heat" state. According to traditional Chinese medicine, dryness and heat can easily disturb the mind, causing restlessness and anxiety, which in turn affects sleep quality. Especially when drinking coffee at night, the stimulating effect of caffeine can easily make it difficult for people to fall asleep. If this continues for a long time, it may even develop into chronic insomnia symptoms.

When treating such symptoms, TCM usually balances the yin and yang in the body by "nourishing yin and clearing heat" and "calming the mind and settling the spirit". For example, it recommends an appropriate amount of yin-nourishing and heat-reducing foods, such as wolfberry, chrysanthemum, lotus seeds, etc., to help relieve the dryness and heat caused by caffeine, and uses acupuncture, massage and other methods to soothe nerves and regulate the mind. For people who rely on coffee for a long time, adjusting their daily routine, gradually reducing coffee intake, and cooperating with TCM conditioning can effectively alleviate its negative impact on the nervous system.

Health risks of long-term coffee drinking for women and the traditional Chinese medicine health concept

As the main ingredient in coffee, caffeine can refresh the mind and relieve fatigue, but for women, long-term coffee drinking may cause a series of health problems, especially in terms of endocrine and menstrual cycle. Modern medical research has found that caffeine may affect women's hormone levels by stimulating the nervous system, leading to irregular menstruation and menstrual disorders. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, women's health is closely related to the balance of "qi and blood" and "yin and yang", and the impact of coffee on these physiological functions cannot be ignored.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, a woman's menstrual cycle is closely related to the body's Qi, blood, and kidney essence. Excessive coffee consumption, especially high-concentration coffee, may lead to "Qi stagnation and blood stasis" in the body, which in turn affects the normal menstrual cycle. The caffeine component in coffee has an excitatory effect. Excessive caffeine can cause abnormal circulation of Qi and blood, which may lead to irregular menstrual cycles, excessive menstrual flow, dysmenorrhea, and other phenomena. These problems reflect the imbalance of Yin and Yang and the deficiency of Qi and blood in the body, and may require conditioning to restore the normal physiological state.

In addition, the impact of caffeine on women's endocrine system is also worth paying attention to. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the kidney stores essence and controls reproduction, and women's health cannot be separated from the nourishment of the kidney. As a "hot" product, long-term intake of coffee may consume the body's yin fluid, leading to kidney yin deficiency, which in turn affects women's physiological functions, manifested as dry skin, pale complexion, irregular menstruation and other symptoms. Especially for menopausal women, excessive coffee consumption may aggravate endocrine instability and affect the normal fluctuation of hormone levels.

Traditional Chinese medicine advocates that women should focus on "nourishing yin and blood" to maintain the balance of qi and blood in the body. For women who drink coffee for a long time, especially those with irregular menstruation or endocrine imbalance, it is recommended to reduce coffee intake appropriately and adopt mild dietary therapy methods, such as eating wolfberry, red dates, longan and other foods that have the effect of nourishing qi and blood. At the same time, acupuncture, massage and other conditioning methods can help restore the balance of yin and yang in the body and promote the smooth flow of qi and blood.

An old Chinese doctor recommends regulating the physical condition of long-term coffee drinkers

Long-term coffee drinking may lead to imbalance of yin and yang in the body, affecting the health of the spleen, stomach, kidneys, nervous system and other aspects. When regulating the physical condition of people who drink coffee for a long time, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners often emphasize the use of diet therapy, medicinal diet and acupuncture to help the body restore balance and alleviate the negative effects of coffee. First of all, Chinese medicine believes that "harmony of yin and yang" is the basis of health. For a body that is stimulated by coffee for a long time, it is necessary to focus on regulating yin fluid, nourishing the spleen and stomach, and soothing the nerves.

In terms of diet therapy, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners recommend foods that nourish yin and the kidney, such as wolfberry, black wolfberry, yam, longan, etc. These foods help nourish the yin fluid in the body and relieve the kidney yin deficiency caused by coffee. In addition, blood-tonifying foods such as red dates, longan, and longan can improve symptoms such as fatigue and insomnia caused by insufficient qi and blood. For people with weak spleen and stomach, some mild foods, such as millet porridge and yam porridge, can be added to help the spleen and stomach function to return to normal and reduce coffee's stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract.

In terms of medicated diet, Chinese medicine often uses some medicinal materials that have the effects of nourishing qi and blood, calming the mind, such as ginseng, astragalus, licorice, etc., and is combined with appropriate medicated diet for conditioning. Especially when long-term coffee drinking leads to problems such as nervous excitement, insomnia, anxiety, etc., medicated diet can be used to soothe the mind and promote sleep. For example, you can soak longan meat and lily in water, which has the effect of nourishing the heart and calming the mind, and helps relieve insomnia caused by excessive stimulation of caffeine.

Acupuncture and massage are also important means of conditioning in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture can stimulate key meridians such as the kidney meridian and spleen meridian, promote the circulation of qi and blood, and help the body restore the balance of yin and yang. Acupuncture has a good conditioning effect on symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia caused by coffee, especially for acupuncture points such as Baihui and Shenmen, which can effectively balance the mind and relieve excessive excitement of the nervous system.

Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine's Views on Coffee and Possibility of Combining Them

Modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine have different views on the effects of coffee on the body. Modern medicine focuses on the direct physiological effects of caffeine, emphasizing its excitatory effects on the nervous system and cardiovascular system and the possible health risks. For example, modern research shows that caffeine can increase alertness and improve attention and memory in the short term, but excessive consumption may cause insomnia, anxiety, gastrointestinal discomfort and other problems, and even long-term and large-scale consumption may increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and other diseases.

In contrast, Chinese medicine focuses more on the properties of coffee and its overall impact on the body. Chinese medicine believes that coffee is a "warm and dry" product. Long-term excessive intake will deplete the body's yin fluid, leading to problems such as yin deficiency, hyperactivity of fire, qi stagnation and blood stasis. Chinese medicine focuses on regulating the balance of yin and yang in the body, and believes that through methods such as diet therapy, medicated diet and acupuncture, it can help adjust the physical constitution and reduce the negative effects of coffee. In particular, Chinese medicine has unique insights and methods in regulating the spleen and stomach, nourishing yin and kidney, and calming the mind.

These differences between modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine are reflected in the understanding of the effects of coffee. From the perspective of modern medicine, coffee is a substance with a short-term refreshing effect, but excessive dependence may lead to a series of health problems. Traditional Chinese medicine pays more attention to the impact of coffee on the long-term yin and yang balance of the human body, emphasizing the regulation and restoration of harmony in the body.

Although the two have different views, modern dietary habits and TCM health care theories are not incompatible. Modern people often rely on coffee to stay awake in a fast-paced life, and TCM can provide methods to regulate this habit, such as helping the body reduce the burden of coffee and restore the balance of qi and blood through appropriate diet therapy and medicinal diet. In addition, modern medicine can also use the conditioning concept of TCM to provide more comprehensive health advice for coffee drinkers, helping them to enjoy the vitality brought by coffee while avoiding its possible negative effects.

Drink coffee wisely to maintain a healthy balance

As a widely consumed beverage in modern society, coffee can indeed bring a certain refreshing effect, helping to improve work efficiency and mental state. However, long-term excessive drinking of coffee may also have a negative impact on physical health, including stimulation of the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, etc., and may even lead to imbalance of yin and yang, insufficient qi and blood, etc. Therefore, it can be seen that properly controlling the amount of coffee consumed is the key to maintaining good health and energy.

When enjoying the benefits of coffee, we need to follow the principle of moderation. Modern medicine advocates that daily caffeine intake should be kept within a certain range, usually no more than 400 mg, to avoid health problems caused by excessive intake. At the same time, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, excessive caffeine can easily lead to insufficient yin fluid in the body, qi stagnation and blood stasis. Therefore, when drinking coffee, in addition to controlling the amount, traditional Chinese medicine conditioning should also be used to help the body restore balance.

Traditional Chinese medicine conditioning methods such as diet therapy, medicated diet and acupuncture can effectively alleviate the negative effects of coffee on the body. Appropriate foods that nourish the kidneys, nourish the blood and calm the mind, such as wolfberries, longans, and red dates, can help alleviate the dryness and yin deficiency caused by caffeine. In addition, acupuncture and massage can promote the smooth flow of qi and blood, regulate the function of internal organs, and help the body restore its natural balance.

In short, drinking coffee in a reasonable way combined with TCM health-preserving methods can help us enjoy the refreshing effect of coffee while avoiding its potential health risks. Through scientific drinking methods and TCM conditioning, we can maintain the best physical and mental state and ensure the coexistence of health and vitality.