Effects of coffee on the body
Coffee is now one of the most popular drinks for millions of people across the world, statistics show that over 166 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee were consumed globally in 2020/21. But is it good for you?
What is coffee?
Most people are familiar with coffee beans. The beans grow inside a casing called a cherry, which grows on a tree. What many people don’t realise is the tree is a flowering tree. Ah nice!
Health benefits
There are many health benefits associated with coffee consumption. The benefits come from the wide array of nutrients packed inside those little beans. Some of the key ingredients of coffee include caffeine, acids, oils, and various other compounds. Health benefits include:
- Coffee has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties - Caffeine in coffee reduces the chances of developing many diseases including
- Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
- Kahweol in coffee has been shown to have anti-cancer properties
It’s not all good…
As with everything when it comes to diet, excessive consumption can lead to adverse effects on the body. Some of the negative side effects of excessive intake include:
- Increased levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Increased levels of anxiety and insomnia (the inability to sleep)
- Digestive issues including diarrhoea and reflux
How can an osteopath help?
As with all things diet related, your trusty osteo can provide you with advice and help you to work through any diet-related issues you may be having. We understand the body and its intricate workings. You may come to us here at Body@Boronia for a pain-related problem, but our job is never just about pain. If you’re in pain, but have also been experiencing anxiety, digestive dysfunction and are having trouble sleeping, our thorough questioning process can help to open doors to some of these issues (however, some of these may require a doctor referral… but we can also help with this). We look at every patient as a whole being, so just looking at the muscle that is sore would be doing you a disservice. Diet plays a huge part in the way you function as a human. Coffee being one part of your overall diet.
Here’s a tip… try to balance out your coffee intake with plenty of fresh water throughout the day as water helps to purify the body, and keep your intake of coffee to moderate levels – Research shows 3-5 cups a day can be beneficial for the average adult.
Want tips for a healthy diet? Osteopaths are full of great nutritional advice. Contact Melbourne-based Body@Boronia today to start a discussion and schedule your appointment!
References
- Statista. 2021. Coffee consumption worldwide from 2012/13 to 2020/21. [Online]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/292595/global-coffee-consumption/. [Accessed 10 May 2021]
- Gokcen, B. and Sanlier, N. 2019. Coffee consumption and disease correlations. Critical re-views in food science and nutrition. 59 (2). 336-348. Available from: https://openaccess.biruni.edu.tr/xmlui/bitstream/handle/20.500.12445/619/1-sayfalar-2-14.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=n
- Healthline. 2018. The effects of caffeine on your body. [Online]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body. [Accessed 10 May 2021]
- Healthline. 2017. 9 side effects of too much caffeine. [Online]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects. [Accessed 10 May 2021]
