Our eight misunderstandings about coffee

More and more people start drinking coffee, but there are many misunderstandings about coffee. Let's take a look at the truth:

Misunderstanding 1. Coffee can be addictive.

There is some truth in this statement, but it depends on your understanding of "addiction". For the central nervous system, coffee is an irritant, often drink coffee, the body can have a slight dependence on it. But coffee is not as harmful to physical and mental health as other addictive drugs. But if you suddenly stop drinking coffee, you may have symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression and lack of concentration, but these symptoms only last for a few days.

Misunderstanding 2. Coffee can cause insomnia.

The body will absorb caffeine as soon as possible and digest it quickly. Caffeine has a short half-life. It usually takes only 4 to 5 hours to consume half of the coffee in the body, and 8 to 10 hours later, 75% of the caffeine in the body is consumed. So if a person drinks coffee in the morning, his sleep at night will not be affected. But if you drink coffee in the evening, your sleep may be affected. Most people drink coffee six hours before going to bed without affecting their sleep. However, based on the different metabolism of each person, the sensitivity is also different, the amount of coffee drunk is different, the impact is also different. After drinking coffee, people who are too sensitive will not only have insomnia, but also have nervousness and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Misunderstanding 3. Coffee increases the prevalence of osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer

Generally speaking, 300 milligrams of caffeine or 3 cups of coffee a day are harmless to your health. But the situation may be different for sensitive people, such as patients with high blood pressure or the elderly. Look at the following facts:

Osteoporosis and caffeine: consuming large amounts of caffeine increases the amount of magnesium and calcium in the urine. But recent research has found that if bones are not affected, just add a spoonful of milk to your coffee. However, coffee can cause hip fractures in the elderly because they are more sensitive to coffee. So, if you want coffee, discuss with your doctor to see if you can reduce your daily caffeine intake to 300 milligrams or less.

Cardiovascular disease and caffeine: people who are sensitive to coffee may have a slight increase in their heart rate and blood pressure as a result of caffeine intake. But studies have shown that caffeine does not lead to an increase in irregular heartbeat and cholesterol levels or an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. If your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor about an appropriate amount of coffee.

Cancer and coffee: studies have shown that coffee does not cause cancer, and it has a protective effect against some cancers.

Myth 4: women who want to get pregnant should not drink coffee

Studies have shown that a small amount of coffee has nothing to do with pregnancy, miscarriage, birth defects, premature delivery and low birth rates. However, for women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, it is best not to consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, as large amounts of caffeine can lead to miscarriage.

Myth 5: coffee has a dehydrating effect

Coffee will give you the urge to urinate, but the loss will be made up for. Although coffee acts as a mild diuretic, studies have shown that coffee does not cause dehydration.

Myth 6: coffee is harmful to children

The survey shows that children between the ages of 6 and 9 are safe to eat 22 milligrams of coffee a day. But many children are sensitive to coffee and have temporary anxiety or irritability. And most of the caffeine consumed by children comes from carbonated drinks, energy drinks or sweetened tea. These drinks are rich in sugar, which can lead to obesity in children. So, even if caffeine is harmless, coffee drinks are not good for children.

Myth 7: coffee wakes people up

People stubbornly think that coffee will wake people up, so they drink coffee with wine, but it turns out that their reaction time and judgment are reduced. Research shows that college students who drink alcohol and coffee at the same time are more likely to have car accidents.

Myth 8: coffee is not good for health

In fact, the potential benefits of coffee are interesting. Anyone who drinks coffee regularly will tell you that coffee can increase vigilance, focus, energy, clear your head and give you a sense of social belonging. Scientific research has also confirmed these findings. There are even studies that have shown that coffee can slow down cognitive decline. And the anti-inflammatory effect of coffee will strengthen the immune function and relieve allergic reactions. Other studies have shown that coffee can reduce the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, liver disease, intestinal disease and type 2 diabetes. But remember not to eat too much caffeine.