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Why Coffee Is Bad For You – Negative Effects Of Coffee Explained

is coffee bad for you

Even if most of us can’t function well without a cup of coffee first, too much of anything can be dangerous, and coffee is no exception. Similar to a lot of food that we consume daily, too much coffee intake can cause severe health problems, most especially in our stomach.

Some studies have shown that four 8-ounce cups can be considered safe, but anything more than that is likely to be dangerous. For many years already, health practitioners have warned people to avoid drinking coffee as it increases the risk of heart and stomach diseases.

However, we should keep in mind that caffeine is the enemy and not coffee itself.

Some studies suggest that caffeine stunts growth. It is a known fact that caffeine can be an addictive substance, and people who drink more than 4 cups of coffee per day may become addicted to the high levels of energy which they get from drinking caffeinated coffee.

This will encourage them to crave for more and more cups because of their tolerance to high amounts of caffeine increases, too. Apart from that, too much coffee in your system may lead to extreme panic attacks, severe heart palpitations, anxiety, and jittery movements.

Coffee, on its own, can mess with your organs, especially your digestive tract. If you have problems with hyperacidity or heartburn, it’s highly advisable that you avoid coffee or tea altogether. But more than the negative effects it has in your stomach, coffee also presents these risks in the following organs of your body:

Effect Of Coffee On The Heart

According to a study made by health practitioners in Oregon, the negative effect of coffee in your cardiovascular system is rather mild, short-term, and is more focused on quantity more than the source of caffeine itself. However, coffee can still affect the heart in many different ways, such as:

• Increases the blood pressure of those who don’t take coffee frequently exposing them to a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke

• Stimulates the heart’s contractions

• Causes abnormal heart rhythms

If you already have present heart conditions, it may not be a good idea to drink more than 3 cups of coffee per day.

Is coffee bad for you and your brain?

Coffee contains caffeine, and caffeine is a drug. It is actually one of the most commonly used psychoactive drugs in the world, but we never think of it as such because we rarely mention this fact about coffee.

The caffeine in your coffee presents psychoactive effects, which ushers changes in your feelings and your interactions with people and situations around you. While coffee may make you feel alert for quite some time after drinking it. The negative effects it has on your brain can linger longer. Some of these concerns are:

• Caffeine found in coffee hijacks the natural process of adenosine, the molecule that helps you go to bed at night, making us feel more awake and alert.

• Coffee pumps up your adrenaline, making you feel more irritable.

• Taking more than the safe number of coffee cups per day may trigger anxiety and panic attacks even for people who don’t have any mental issues.

Being too dependent on caffeine is also not good for your brain. As you have read in the first part of this article, you develop caffeine tolerance, and the good effects of coffee on your brain will require a higher amount of caffeine intake if you start being “addicted” to it.

Effect Of Coffee On Your Kidney

Your kidney plays a vital role as an organ in the regulation of water in your body. It also plays a crucial part in the elimination of waste products.

Of course, to make a cup of coffee, you will need water, and any liquid substance you intake will be processed by the kidneys, turning it to waste. While there are already a number of studies proving that coffee can be good for your kidney health, these facts about the effects of caffeine in your kidneys are often overlooked:

• Some people who take a dangerous amount of coffee develop kidney stones and oxalate stones.

• Coffee induces high blood pressure, making people prone to kidney diseases.

• Too much coffee can cause kidney failures, especially to people with diabetes, obesity, and genetic metabolism diseases.

While a lot of researches has proven coffee to be a healthy beverage for the kidneys, moderation should still be followed so as to avoid any kidney complications in the future.

is coffee unhealthy

Effect Of Coffee On The Digestive Tract

Have you ever found yourself rushing to the bathroom after a warm cup of strong black coffee? Have you ever asked yourself, is coffee bad for you?

That sudden urge to relieve yourself after drinking coffee is not all in your head. Coffee can cause your bowels to be moving. More so, it can upset your digestion in many different ways. Some effects are subtle, and some are not.

The effects of coffee in your stomach can both be good and bad. but if you’re wondering what negative effects it has on your digestive tract, here’s what:

• Caffeine acts as a laxative, making your metabolism and digestion move quicker than usual.
• Coffee is considered a diuretic and may cause constipation in some individuals.
• Too much coffee can cause chronic gut inflammation and extreme hyperacidity leading to heartburn.

Drinking coffee will certainly affect digestion, but controlling it can reduce the likelihood of developing any digestive disorder while you enjoy the benefits it gives your body.

How To Avoid The Negative Effect Of Coffee On Your Organs?

It is really harder to find a list of the negative effects of coffee on your organs and body compared to the positive ones. However, you should always keep in mind that not being able to manage your coffee intake may result to be an out of control issue.

Remember that the caffeine in your coffee is a drug, and it can affect different people in different ways, just like any other addictive substance.

It is important that you understand what it does to your body. Fortunately for you, the coffee industry spends millions and millions of money to fund studies and find ways on how to maintain caffeinated products healthy and safe for consumption.

what happens if you drink too much coffee

Is coffee bad for you?

If you’re taking more than what your body can take, then probably, it is. If you’re taking it in moderation, then you’re good.

If you are looking for new and exciting ways on how to oppose the negative effects of coffee on your organs, you may follow the simple tips that we present below.
Here are tips on how to contradict the short term effects of coffee in your body:

Eat first before you drink coffee. Eating before drinking your usual cup of coffee may be able to counteract the effects it can have on your body. Coffee produces an acid that may cause severe stomach ache when you drink a cup on an empty stomach.

It’s just proper to have something before indulging your way to that cup of cappuccino. Most people are lucky enough to get rid of the jittery feeling when they eat small meals before coffee consumption. Take food rich in protein, whole grains, and Vitamin C. A couple of eggs with bread and an orange or lemon may do the trick. Flush your system with water. Staying hydrated after coffee drinking will also help you decrease the jitters.

Consuming 1 -2 glasses after a cup of coffee will definitely help you steer away from feeling jumpy. It is not right to assume that you are getting the right amount of hydration when you down 8 cups of coffee each day.

Improving your hydration means being able to still take a decent amount of plain water on top of any fluid you are drinking. It does not matter if it is a warm cup of cafe Americano or your favorite hot chocolate or your warm slimming tea! You must still drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day.

how to make espresso coffees

Replace your lost electrolytes from coffee consumption. As we have mentioned earlier, coffee may cause quick metabolism, which can lead to diarrhea and loose bowel movement. When you experience those adverse effects of coffee, you are not only losing water but electrolytes. You will definitely feel weak and uneasy when this happens. You may also not be able to move properly or experience extreme stomach pain, too.

What you can do is replace your lost electrolytes with drinks or fluids that are considered as electrolyte replacement solutions.

Most of this can be bought over the counter in your nearest pharmacies. Walk to calm your high energy levels.

Coffee spikes your energy up, and it is not easy to tame those adrenaline levels down. If you are feeling too energetic after drinking a cup of coffee, it is best to take a walk to calm down. Taking a walk will allow you to expel the excess energy you have in your body. However, if you notice something unusual in your body as you do so, you should stop. A sudden increase in your heart rate can be one of the most common things that will happen if you decide to take a walk. If that happens, you must end your activity right away.

Avoid drinking a cup of coffee before you go to sleep. As the caffeine in your coffee induces sleep deprivation, avoiding drinking coffee before bedtime is one of the best tips you can follow, so you do not have to stay alert and awake.

Drinking a cup of coffee before bedtime will definitely mess up your body clock. If you don’t want to be wide awake from morning til’ night, you must avoid the habit of coffee-drinking before bedtime. Instead of having a caffeine-induced cup, you should replace it with plain warm water or a warm cup of milk!

However, if you’re looking for tips on how to avoid the bad effects of coffee on your long-term health, below are some measures to remember:

Slowly cut down on coffee consumption. People who have been heavy coffee drinkers may experience severe caffeine withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking coffee abruptly. It is not advisable for people who take more than 5 cups a day to stop drinking coffee all at once.

The body, as it became dependent on caffeine for energy, will not be able to adjust in an instant. It is important to slowly cut down your caffeine consumption. Doing so may decrease your chances of experiencing headaches, nausea, muscle pain, and fatigue. These symptoms of caffeine withdrawal may begin 12 to 24 hours after your last cup of coffee. Unfortunately, they can last somewhere between 9 to 12 days.

Try to understand your body’s caffeine requirement.

Is coffee bad for you?

Well, what is important is for you to know how much caffeine your body can really take. Just like what we have said earlier, too much of anything can be dangerous to your health.

One tedious but extremely helpful way on how to know your body’s caffeine tolerance is by monitoring how much caffeine you drink each day. Do note that caffeine is not found in coffee alone; some teas and energy drinks also contain this substance.

You should also look for it in other fluids you take. Keeping track of how much coffee you drink and when you feel the need to drink will help you decide on how much caffeine from coffee, your body can take.

Try a different drink as an alternative for your coffee. If you are looking to quit your unhealthy caffeine habit, it is advisable to look for a healthier alternative drink that you can consume daily.

You will surely have a lot of other options available in the market, and most of the time, they can be just as healthy as coffee or maybe, even healthier. However, if you do not want to stop drinking coffee, you can opt for decaffeinated ones, and instead of ordering your usual large, maybe you can consider downsizing a bit.

You have a lot of options to consider, so you have to choose wisely. You can opt to choose fresh fruit juices or pure black coffee if you can. Choose espresso shot over your cappuccino.

harmful effects of coffee

The negative effects of coffee are not caused by coffee alone. Again, you should remember that caffeine is your enemy and not coffee itself. Caffeine is what causes all these adverse effects in your body. It is what causes the jitters and the sleeplessness.

It is what causes the wanted pent-up energy. For those who are really coffee-lovers out there, a shot of espresso is better than your cup of cafe latte as it contains less caffeine. A shot of espresso is also better than a cup of green tea, even.

What we are trying to do here is to decrease your caffeine and not your coffee intake.

Let everyone know that you’re deciding to cut down your caffeine intake. Having your friends, families, and co-workers know that you are cutting down on your caffeine intake will help them understand why you’ll suddenly become a little absent-minded for a few days.

You don’t want people to think that something deeper is happening with you when all that’s showing is your mind and body adjusting to the decrease in caffeine that is happening.

You will feel a little sluggish and irritable too. If these people know that you are in the process of detoxifying yourself from caffeine, they might be able to help you be successful too.

Is coffee bad for you? Or is coffee good for you?

The health effects of coffee are controversial. It is one of the most debated topics in history, and no single study can show a definite answer.

There are studies that show that coffee is a healthy drink, and there are studies that claim coffee as a killer. It is impossible for one person to experience the same effect as another. That is why; the effects of coffee in ones’ body differ per individual.

The way that the coffee is prepared also plays a vital role in deciding if coffee is good or bad for you.

how to make an espresso shot

It is not fair, though, for us to only talk about the bad and ugly side of coffee drinking because coffee also has a good number of positive effects on our body.

There are many health benefits we can get when we drink coffee. When taken with caution and moderation, coffee can work the following wonders too:

• Coffee is rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients. Most of the time, there is a higher percentage of antioxidants in your espresso shot compared to your fruits and vegetables.
• Coffee can protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
• Coffee drinkers have lower chances of contracting type 2 Diabetes.
• Coffee drinkers have lower chances of getting liver diseases.
• Coffee can help reduce depression and suicide.
• Coffee allows your body to process sugar better.
• Coffee boosts your physical performance.
• Coffee can help you burn fat.
• Coffee can make you happier.
• Coffee makes your DNA stronger.
• Coffee reduces your chances of getting colon cancer.
• Some studies suggest that coffee drinkers live longer than those who don’t.

How much is enough coffee to get these benefits without exposing yourself to the negative effects of drinking your brew?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that 3 to 4 cups of coffee per day is enough as long as the caffeine intake will not be more than 400 milligrams. If you’re wondering how much caffeine there is in an 8-ounce cup.

It usually ranges from 90 to 95 milligrams depending on what kind of coffee you are drinking. You may also opt to go for the lighter roast coffee to keep your caffeine levels safe. Dark blends usually have more caffeine content than the lighter ones.

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There are a lot of different ways on how you can maximize the good benefits of coffee to your body. One of the most vital things to do is not to add a lot of sugar in it.

If you are brewing coffee on your own, a paper filter will help you decrease the cafestol – a substance that increases cholesterol levels in your body. Sugar is practically bad for your health, and anything with too much sugar in it is not healthy.

If you’re pregnant or with health conditions that limit your caffeine intake, the story will be very much different. Remember that caffeine tolerance is different from one person to another.

Others may not experience any side effects of caffeine, but others will immediately feel them. You should also remember that whatever you add to your coffee makes a ton of difference in how healthy your beverage will be.

Is coffee bad for you? Final Answer

Well, it depends. Coffee can be potentially harmful to your body, but it doesn’t have to be. Coffee is not at all unhealthy on its own. When properly consumed, coffee is one of the healthiest foods you can take. It also has a lot of benefits for your body.

Again, moderation is the key to maintain a safe amount of coffee intake. Moderate coffee intake is a part of a balanced diet.

It is important to keep in mind that the different studies and researches made about coffee are subjective and observational.

Results may differ from one set of respondents to the other. But also, you have to keep in mind that with the strong evidence found by researchers about the health benefits of drinking coffee, it indeed may play a positive role in your overall well-being.

Coffee is a very popular drink in all parts of the world, and there are different kinds of and ways to prepare it. While it may present a few negative effects that can practically be fatal when ignored, the number of the positive effects of coffee outshines the latter.

Is coffee bad for you? Coffee is only one part of your lifestyle. Eating a healthy balanced diet and keeping your body fit by exercising will greatly contribute to maintaining your health and well-being. As long as you maintain that safe amount of caffeine content, go grab yourself a cup of rich espresso now. If you’re looking for more coffee guides, we have the types of coffee makers guide, and salt in coffee guide!

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About David Dewitt

Hi, my name is David and I come from Columbus, Ohio. I am a amateur photographer, and a coffee lover. I love to write, and don't mind me a cup of joe!