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All About Coffee: Pros, Cons, Types, Nutritional Value, And More

Coffee can refer to the coffee plant, the seed or bean of the plant, or the drink made from roasted beans. Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, second only to tea. 

People usually drink coffee for its short-term benefits including increased energy and alertness, but coffee consumption also has long-term benefits including a reduced risk of disease. Coffee can be a good source of vital nutrients, including vitamins B2 and B5, and antioxidants. There are some downsides to coffee when consumed in excessive amounts, including insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues. 

There are around 30 types of coffee drinks, divided roughly into black coffees, milk-based coffees, and cold or iced coffees. Some of the best-known coffee types include espresso, cappuccino, and cold brew.

Continue reading for more on the benefits, side effects, history, and culture of coffee.

What Are The Benefits Of Coffee?

The benefits of coffee include short-term effects such as increased energy and alertness and long-term effects such as an increased life expectancy.

Some of the best benefits of coffee include:

  1. Increased energy levels
  2. Increased focus and alertness
  3. Improved physical performance
  4. Improved liver health
  5. Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
  6. Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
  7. Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease
  8. Reduced risk of colon cancer
  9. Reduced risk of stroke
  10. Longer life expectancy

-The most crucial benefit of coffee is its ability to reduce disease risk and increase longevity. Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s are all diseases with no cure. This is why it is more important to focus on preventing these illnesses from developing in the first place. Studies have shown that coffee drinkers have a 6%-8% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, 65% lower risk of Alzheimer’s, and 30-60% lower risk of Parkinson’s disease (1) (2) (3).

What Are The Harmful Effects Of Coffee?

The harmful effects of coffee are primarily due to caffeine. You can minimize the harmful effects by drinking decaffeinated coffee or reducing your regular coffee consumption.

Some of the most common disadvantages of drinking coffee are:

  • Insomnia
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Nausea and digestive issues
  • Caffeine addiction 

The stimulating effect of caffeine is what many people like about drinking coffee, but it can have adverse effects in large doses. One cup of coffee might make you alert, but too much coffee will lead to anxiety and insomnia. Caffeine doesn’t just affect your mind but also your body. Caffeine stimulates the heart to cause an increased heart rate and the nervous system to create increased blood pressure.

Some people are more sensitive to caffeine, such as children, older people, or anyone with a genetic predisposition. Pregnant women should avoid coffee as the caffeine will reach the fetus through the bloodstream.

The oils in a coffee can also cause an increase in bad cholesterol (4). These oils are present in both regular and decaffeinated coffee. If you have high cholesterol levels, you should switch to a brew method that uses paper filters, such as pour-over coffee.

What Are The Nutrients In Coffee?

Coffee contains many beneficial nutrients for your health and wellbeing, including protein, vitamins, and minerals.