The Health Blog

I’ve been consuming a lot of caffeine lately, sometimes I can drink up to 2 cups of coffee a day, my usual was 2-3 cups a week. At times I think that the stimulant effects of coffee does not work for me anymore.

When I was a child, I was prohibited to drink coffee because according to my mom, it can alter my memory. That was what I believed until I learned from my biology class that it actually can increase alertness, attention and wakefulness and faciliates relevant learning. This is true, however, with the recommended 1 cup daily. Increasing the dosage of caffeine above 200 mg (about 2 cups of coffee) does not increase mental performance but may increase nervousness, irritability, tremors, and headache. Heavy coffee drinkers can develop caffeine physical dependence and may display caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, nervousness, and headache if coffee was withheld. Coffee can also induce insomnia. Studies of the effect of caffeine on sleep have shown that one strong cup of coffee, drunk 30-60 minutes before going to sleep, can cause restlessness and difficulty falling asleep, increased body movements, a tendency to be awakened more readily by sudden noises, and a decreased quality of sleep (this fact is probably helpful to students during exams, huh? :p).

Aside from its effects on the nervous system, it can also affect other bodily systems. Coffee (or caffeine) increases heartbeat, respiration, basal metabolic rate, gastroenteric reflexes, and the production of stomach acid and urine; and it relaxes smooth muscles, notably the bronchial muscle. Recent studies show that coffee can trigger heart attack and it is interesting to note that the risk was highest among light coffee drinkers (those who consumed up to one cup a day). Coffee pose other health problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or heartburn. This effect was due to the relaxant effects of coffee on the esophageal sphincter, allowing gastric acid to reflux to the esophagus causing burning chest pains. Ulcers maybe exacerbated also because caffeine enhances gastric acid secretion.

More and more studies have been conducted to prove the hazards of caffeine but there are a growing numbers of researches which prove that coffee has its beneficial effects. In contrast to the study conducted showing coffee as trigger for heart attack, a Harvard Health publication showed that moderate coffee consumption doesn’t cause harm, it’s also uncovered possible benefits. Some studies show that coffee can reduce the risk for diabetes mellitus type 2, the reason remains unclear. A study on the inverse relationship of coffee and liver cirrhosis was also conducted which that coffee may have protective effects on the liver. Coffee also is a source of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are vitamins and minerals that help prevent oxidation, a process that can cause damage to cells and may contribute to aging. The compounds may help boost immune function and possibly cut your risk of infection, heart disease and cancer, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Coffee may have its deleterious as well as good effects to the body, and to weigh these effects up, the “drink moderately” slogan should also apply to coffee drinking.