Coffee is one of the drunkest drinks globally with multiple benefits, but how many coffees can you drink per day to stay healthy? Not a simple drink but a natural institution, especially in Italy. Every moment is good to drink one: in the morning as soon as you wake up, on a break with colleagues, after lunch “because it helps digestion,” in the afternoon with your mother or friends.
We are talking about coffee, one of the world’s most loved and consumed drinks. Some prefer it bitter and narrow, while those who cannot swallow it if not accompanied by a generous teaspoon of sugar.
Espresso, American, macchiato, or with ginseng, there are many variations now available on the market, to the point that one ends up not taking into account how much is consumed daily. While it has been scientifically proven that drinking coffee can bring benefits to the whole body, on the other hand, it is clear that it should not be abused. What, then, is the recommended dose beyond which the benefits turn into contraindications? In this article, we find out how many coffees per day you can drink to avoid unwanted effects and what impact this drink has on our bodies.
Coffee And Benefits: Is It All About Caffeine?
It seems hard to believe, but a single cup of coffee can offer many benefits to the human body. Coffee beans are rich in substances with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and energizing properties. Among these, caffeine is the most abundant and is the main responsible for the benefits produced by the drink. Caffeine is an organic substance belonging to the family of alkaloids found in some plants and coffee, including cocoa and guarana. One of the main effects it produces is arousal. Once it reaches the brain and nervous system, caffeine promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, activating neurons.
In addition to having an energizing effect, caffeine, and therefore coffee, positively affects memory (improves concentration), mood, and, in general, all brain functions. Several studies have also shown that regular caffeine consumption would decrease the possibility of developing diabetes, and protect against the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Finally, this sweet drink’s emotional and social implications should not be underestimated. Very often, drinking coffee in the company is the best way to cultivate relationships and surround yourself with the dearest affections.
When Is Coffee Terrible? Recommended Doses And Contraindications
“Too much is too good” is also a valid principle – unfortunately – for the consumption of coffee. Drinking too much can give rise to contraindications for health, especially that of the heart. Due to its stimulating effect, too much caffeine increases the risk of developing cardiovascular and nervous system diseases. The habit of drinking a lot of coffee a day can lead to tachycardia, insomnia, hypertension, and nervousness.
However, the stimulation of gastric secretion produced by caffeine can damage the digestive system on the gastrointestinal level. Coffee is terrible for those suffering from digestive system disorders, such as ulcers, gastritis, and reflux. How many coffees can you drink a day, then, to stay healthy and enjoy all the benefits that caffeine offers? According to science, 3-4 cups are not to be exceeded for espresso coffee. It should be considered that each type of coffee contains different concentrations of caffeine. The classic espresso has 50 to 70 mg, the American about double, while the decaffeinated just 8 mg.
Regardless of the cups, glasses, or cups of coffee drunk, it is important not to ingest more than 400 mg of caffeine per day to avoid running into problems. In this regard, therefore, we must also consider that taken through other foods, such as chocolate, tea, coca-cola, and energy drinks. Finally, especially pregnant women should pay particular attention to these indications. During pregnancy, the amount of caffeine consumed should be halved. Therefore the allowed coffees are 1-2 per day, including what you drink, for example, in the morning with a cappuccino.
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