Although coffee remains a staple of people's diet not only in the United but throughout the world, various concerns have been voiced as to its pros and cons. You may be one of those people who relies on a couple cups of coffee to jump start your day, but what exactly does coffee and its caffeine do to your body and diet? Are there any long-term effects that you need to be cautious about?
Coffee Irritants
If you have had to exclude coffee from your daily diet because it causes heartburn or stomach ache, according to The Times of India story on the benefits of dark-roasted coffee, there is hope for you. Research on coffee sensitivity from universities in Vienna and Munich have found that certain of coffee's ingredients, such as caffeine, can cause overproduction of acids in your stomach. The study goes on to say that work is being done to process out these irritants to allow people to enjoy a cup of coffee without ill effects.
Dark Roast Coffee's Benefits
The same study unexpectedly found an ingredient in coffee, N-methylpyridium or NMP, that actually inhibits the production of stomach acid. Evidently, NMP content is increased the longer the coffee beans are roasted. Consequently, darker roasted coffees should be easier on your stomach. Also, a study from the University of Oslo has determined that dark roasted coffee contributes to a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress in your body. The study also notes that coffee is responsible for up to 50 percent of dietary antioxidants in many countries.
Increased Metabolism
Simply drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee will almost intuitively tell you that it is a natural metabolism booster. An article from the HMO-NO Diet Research Center states that one cup off coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine, resulting in a 10 percent boost in your metabolism. This metabolism boost causes your body to burn more calories without having to increase your physical effort. Although this article promotes coffee's weight loss possibilities and other benefits, make sure to monitor the effects it has on you and practice moderation in consumption.
Coffee and Exercise
With this increase in metabolism from drinking coffee in mind, it is important to note that coffee and caffeine have long been noted to be performance enhancers when it comes to exercise. The article "Caffeine, Physical Performance and Sports" states that research has shown that caffeine can actually prolong the time to exhaustion for an athlete performing especially longer bouts of exercise for 30 to 120 minutes. Evidently, coffee's effects reduce the rate the muscles burn fuel, reduce fatigue and increase alertness. The one negative effect on the exerciser is the danger of dehydration from coffee's diuretic effect.
Use Caution
As with anything you consume, remember to use coffee in moderation. Although coffee may have positive results for you, the next person may have adverse reactions to it. Through experimentation, find out what works for you and determine how much coffee you can safely consume to achieve positive bodily results.
Member Comments