Is it safe to drink coffee?

Caffeine is the most thoroughly studied ingredient in food. The effects of caffeine on human health are well studied. Modern science knows almost all the pros and cons of caffeine, but little is known about coffee's relationship to human health. Previous studies have suggested that coffee is very harmful to human health because it contains caffeine. In almost every scientific article published on coffee, the focus is on caffeine content and the effects of refined caffeine on humans or animals. Caffeine is thought to be the main psychoactive ingredient in coffee, but this is not the case.

Today, every knowledgeable doctor, scientist, and coffee drinker can be absolutely certain that moderate caffeine intake (up to 500 mg) is safe, equivalent to the amount in 3-4 cups of coffee. Daily intake of 500-600 mg is associated with certain health risks. In 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reconfirmed its positive effects. Scientific tests have shown that caffeine in carbonated drinks has no side effects on humans. The National Academy of Sciences, the Scientific Research Council and the Office of Surgeons report that moderate caffeine intake is not associated with increased health risks. Regular coffee drinkers who suddenly stop consuming caffeine can cause mild withdrawal symptoms (such as drowsiness or occasional headaches), but no addictive behavior. Caffeine citrate is used medicinally at a dose of 20 mg/kg to treat asphyxia in premature infants. Caffeine is also used to relieve headaches and migraines after spinal punctures.

Caffeine, theophylline and theobromine are three closely related alkaloids in plants. Tea trees, which originated in southern China and are now widely cultivated in India, contain caffeine and small amounts of theophylline and theobromine. Chocolate is the seed of the cacao tree and contains theobromine and some caffeine. Theophylline and theobromine belong to xanthine and have little effect on nervous system. These alkaloids contain purine structures and are widely distributed in nature. Caffeine in human food comes mainly from coffee, followed by tea, cocoa and cola drinks. Caffeine has few nutritional effects, and most medical studies have analyzed its pharmacological effects and side effects, as well as the effects of consuming large amounts of caffeine. As a result, little is known about the potential health benefits of moderate daily caffeine intake.

Most scientists and coffee drinkers agree that caffeine is the main ingredient in coffee, but not the only one. Unroasted raw Robusta coffee beans contain more caffeine (1.6%-2.5%) than Arabica coffee beans (0.9%-1.2%), and you may be drinking more caffeine than you think, because the degree of roasting does not change the final caffeine content. Moderate intake of caffeine equivalent to 4 cups of coffee 400-500 mg per day is not harmful to human health. Rapid caffeine intake can cause a slight increase in arterial blood pressure, a slight increase in catecholamine levels, plasma renin activity and free fatty acid levels, and mild changes in urine and digestive and secretory functions. It can change brain bioelectrical activity, mood and sleep patterns.

But long-term coffee drinking had no effect on blood pressure, serum cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels or sleep. Caffeine in coffee was not associated with cardiac arrest, genitourinary cancer, pancreatic cancer, teratoma, or fibrocystic disease of the breast. There is no evidence that caffeine intake causes arrhythmias, stomach or duodenal ulcers in normal people, and there is no evidence that caffeine is harmful to human health. In fact, drinking coffee and tea is an age-old habit, and studies assessing the effects of coffee on people are recent. Coffee contains more than a thousand chemicals, some of which, like chlorogenic acid, are richer than caffeine. Caffeine is the most studied ingredient in coffee, and although studies so far have shown it to be one of the stimulants in coffee, this only partly reflects the truth.

Throughout human history, there are only a few cases of caffeine poisoning, and if we consider that a large number of people worldwide drink coffee and other beverages (cola, tea, etc.), then coffee poisoning cases are extremely rare in the world medical literature. This substance is very safe for ordinary consumers. The dose that causes death in adults is about 5-10 grams of caffeine, which is equivalent to the content of more than 100 cups of coffee and more than 200 bottles of cola beverages. Such events are rare and usually fatal after intravenous and direct oral caffeine.

However, smaller doses can also cause toxic symptoms, about 1 gram, equivalent to drinking 20-50 cups of coffee, and some people who are not used to drinking coffee every day will react immediately. Some people have a high tolerance because they drink coffee every day and poisoning occurs only after drinking a lot. The main symptoms occur in the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. Insomnia, restlessness, and increased excitability are the initial manifestations. People feel sleepless, restless, uncomfortable, and anxious, followed by tachycardia, tinnitus, dizziness, muscle tension, palpitations, etc. Vomiting, convulsions, coma and even death accompany increased doses. Some people may die from shock or pulmonary edema with atelectasis or cardiac arrest. Children are more resistant to caffeine, and although high doses can cause toxic symptoms, no deaths have been reported.

In 2007, a teenager in Britain was hospitalized after drinking too much coffee. Seventeen-year-old J.W. began hyperventilating after drinking seven double espressos at a sandwich shop and feeling feverish. The student, from County Stanley, Durham, was taken to North Durham University Hospital where doctors confirmed she had an overdose of coffee. When she recovered, she warned others about the dangers of drinking too much coffee. His father said he didn't expect her to drink so much coffee."I always stress to my children the importance of moderate coffee consumption." But J.W. is overkill. Overdoing anything can be bad for your health, including coffee, food, vitamins, money and even love.