Many people around the world begin their day with a hot cup of coffee. Although you might love coffee for its taste or the energy jolt it provides, you might want to take pause and consider the health issues of this beverage before you make your next brew.
Cholesterol
A regular cup of coffee raises your cholesterol by 10 percent, while a strong brew can raise it up to 23 percent. Cafestol and kahweol are the two major substances found in coffee beans that cause your cholesterol to increase. Your LDL, or bad cholesterol, and triglycerides are similarly impacted. High cholesterol is linked to an increased risk for heart disease and heart attacks. If you brew your coffee using a paper filter, you can reduce but not completely eliminate the levels of cafestol and kahweol.
Blood Pressure
When you drink coffee, your blood vessels constrict, making the heart have to work harder to pump blood through the body. This results in elevated blood pressure. The average blood pressure increase for coffee-drinking Americans is 2 to 4 mmHG. This is the same numerical impact blood pressure medications usually have when you are trying to lower your blood pressure. By eliminating coffee from your diet, you can begin to lower your blood pressure without medication.
Stomach Upset
The consumption of coffee can cause frequent stomach upsets, indigestion, acid reflux and heartburn. It impairs the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve responsible for stopping acid from going up and burning your esophagus. Coffee can also give you diarrhea.
Additional Health Issues
Coffee can contribute to osteoporosis because of its high acid content, which leaches calcium from the bones and impairs the absorption of calcium in the digestive tract. Too much caffeine from coffee can lead to insomnia, jitteriness and anxiety. Coffee beans are one of the crops most heavily sprayed with pesticides, so if you don't consume organic coffee, you will accumulate a large dose of toxic pesticides in your body, which has been linked to cancer and other health problems.
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