One of the most sought-after and relished beverages in the world, coffee has been around for ages. People drink it in all forms - black, with milk and sugar, Latte, Espresso, and more. Of these, black coffee is reported to have incredible health benefits. But is it true that too much of it can be harmful?
So, those who cannot do without this drink should consider the following information carefully.
Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep and cause anxiety
Research indicates that caffeine can help treat severe conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. But it is also true that intaking too much of it, especially in the evenings, can cause unpleasant side effects such as insomnia. When your sleep patterns become irregular, it harms your overall well-being.
Moreover, an overdose of caffeine can lead to extreme anxiety or jitteriness. In turn, this can cause heart palpitations and panic attacks. This happens because caffeine promotes the release of adrenaline, which can become a lot more pronounced in high doses. It makes the body unusually alert at the wrong time, causing sleep deprivation and stress.
Bad quality coffee can be toxic
Not checking the quality of coffee you buy can lead to some dire consequences. For instance, you could end up with a contaminated or impure product which could be potentially dangerous to your health. Consumption of subpar coffee products can cause migraines, nausea, irritability, and an upset stomach, among other things. So, ensure to buy only high-quality coffee as even one ruined coffee bean can make the whole cup toxic.
Pregnant women should not drink too much
There are certain black coffee disadvantages that many people are perhaps unaware of. One such negative is that pregnant women should not take too much of it. Ideally, around two to three cups a day, or even less, is considered a safe amount. But if they exceed four cups, it could be dangerous for the baby. That’s because high caffeine consumption is linked to a greater risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or even premature birth.
Furthermore, caffeine can be transferred to breast milk, and a high intake by new mothers can lead to sleep deprivation and irritability. It could also lead to heightened bowel activity in infants. Therefore, nursing mothers are advised to monitor the amount of coffee they take every day carefully. It is advisable to keep it to a minimum of one to two cups, or not at all.
It can be addictive
When people consume caffeine for a long time and steadily increase their daily intake, they can become addicted to it. So much so that missing a couple of cups may lead to withdrawal symptoms akin to other addiction-related ones. These include headaches, hypersensitivity, exhaustion, and a general ill-temper. A lot of people choose decaffeinated coffee to avoid leading to addiction issues.
The bottom line
While the above disadvantages are unpleasant, they should not put people off coffee completely. That’s because the potential benefits of black coffee outweigh the negatives by a large margin. For example, it can treat anxiety, stress, chronic pain, prevent cancer, etc. The only critical thing is to buy good quality beans and not to consume too much every day.
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