If you’re among the 95 million coffee drinkers in the UK, you may have already had your morning cup and already planning your next fix. Drinking coffee is on the rise, and we have its many superpowers to blame for it!
So, apart from tasting fabulous, what are those superpowers?
While a cup of Black Tea contains 14-70 milligrams of caffeine, most commercial coffee brands contain 95-200 milligrams of caffeine per cup. In short, more caffeine means more potent effects on the brain.
Caffeine works by counteracting against adenosine, a biological substance which slows down cell activity. Because the brain’s receptors have less adenosine than usual, it becomes more attentive.
Of course, some people are moderating their intake due to health reasons. But there is little evidence that drinking three to five cups of coffee is harmful to the body. In fact, the worst that could happen to anyone who drinks more than five cups a day is caffeine dependence.
Caffeine addiction is real and it can lead to serious issues
Because caffeine is a stimulant, regular amounts can result in mild physical dependence and withdrawal if the user is deprived for a period of time. According to WebMD, symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and inability to focus. Therefore, if you find it hard to function without coffee surging through your veins, consider laying off it for a while or substitute it with a milder drink, such as black tea.
Coffee can also be truly beneficial
But before you accuse us of slandering this magical brew, rest assured that in moderation, coffee can be truly beneficial. It’s even believed to be helpful in addressing health issues such as asthma and dementia.
In addition, there is a study from the University of Southampton which reveals that drinking coffee reduces a person’s risks of getting heart problems. It’s also claimed that it can lower the risk of liver disease and cancer, mainly because of its antioxidant content.
Drinking coffee induces “neuron firing” as well, a phenomenon that the brain’s pituitary gland interprets as an emergency situation. As a response, the gland produces adrenaline, which makes you more alert. It speeds up your heart rate, increases blood pressure while decreasing blood flow to the stomach, and makes the liver release more sugar for energy. How Stuff Works also notes that coffee induces the release of dopamine, triggering the brain’s reward system and improving mood.
Coffee is linked to weight loss, too. Caffeine speeds up the rate of metabolism, which is a side effect of increased levels of adrenaline. The hormone signals the body to break down fat tissues and release them into the bloodstream for energy.
Drinking coffee makes you feel full through stimulating thermogenesis, or the production of heat in the body. That’s why there are people who substitute a cup of sugarless coffee for a meal, most notably in the morning. This is also why it’s infused with other appetite-suppressing additives to create slimming coffee. Lean n Green Coffee, for example, has high levels of Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA), an organic chemical that has this effect. That being said, coffee’s weight loss-inducing properties are still best combined with a proper diet and regular exercise. As we have previously discussed here on Healthy Life Essex, optimum fat-burning is best done with high-intensity exercises on an empty stomach.