Today I am going to talk about something that I really love: Coffee!
The phrase “would you like a cup of coffee?” sounds like music to my ears. I will always answer, yes!
All right. I have to admit it: I am completely addicted to coffee. But there are worse addictions. Am I correct? However, as a heavy drinker, and because I know that many people share that pleasure with me, I decided to know what the benefits and harms of black coffee are!
According to Nutritionist Claudia Lima, a partner of the blog Sport & Health, the excess of coffee can irritate the stomach lining (it increases gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid). If consumed after meals (that delicious coffee after lunch), it may reduce the absorption of some minerals such as iron for example, and the intake of coffee early in the evening can cause insomnia, anxiety, etc, in some individuals.
There is no optimal amount of coffee you can drink. It will vary from person to person.
But 4 coffees (small cups) daily, in single doses, normally, won’t do any harm. It would represent less than 320 mg of caffeine. Whew! It began to get better! Coffee is not “essential” to our body, but according to a publication in 2010 (MJ Glade Caffeine – Not just a stimulant Nutrition 2010; 26 (10):… 932-8), moderate consumption (200- 300 mg) of caffeine, can bring many benefits:
1) Decreases mental fatigue;
2) Increases the resting energy expenditure;
3) Decreases the sense of effort associated with physical activity;
4) Improves the physical, motor and cognitive performance;
5) Increases the ability to concentrate, to keep a focus and to pay attention;
6) Improves short-term memory;
7) Increases the ability to solve problems that require reasoning;
8) Increases the ability to make decisions;
9) Improves neuromuscular coordination.
However, we have to be careful because it is really addictive. It is a stimulant from the class of the xanthenes, having an effect on the central nervous system (responsible for the effects mentioned above).
Also, coffee increases urinary excretion of sodium and water in renal tubules, which means it is a diuretic.
For those who want to lose weight, it speeds up the metabolism. Nutritionist Claudia Lima explains that caffeine has an effect on the discharge of nerve cells and on the release of some other neurotransmitters and hormones, such as adrenaline (which speeds up metabolism). It also acts on increasing the secretion of lipase, a lipoprotein that mobilizes fat deposits. Since caloric intake is reduced, it can help burn the “love handles”.
And the black coffee helps reduce the feeling of stress associated with physical activity, improving performance and mobilizing fat as an energy source. Ain’t that good to drink “that coffee,” folks?
The trainer of high-performance athletes and physical education teacher, Marcelo Esquilo, is a fan of coffee. He feels more stimulated and ready for physical activity after ingesting caffeine. Take a look at the video of Marcelo Esquilo!
So, as we have seen, coffee is not all bad. It gives pleasure. Why not drinking it? But if it makes you ill, why not avoiding it? The important thing is not to exaggerate.
Everything in excess is bad is difficult to refuse.
Nevertheless, a cup of coffee is difficult to refuse. Especially if you are, like I am, from the State of Minas Gerais, traditional for its delicious coffee. And you? “What about a cup of coffee?
See more about Marcelo Esquilo.
