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Do you like coffee? Discover its properties and... the perfect complement to the stimulating ritual
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the world. This infusion is characterized by a multidirectional effect, of which the most desirable is the stimulating effect
and stimulating the nervous system. For many decades there has been a belief that coffee negatively affects the human
but in the course of many studies over the past years it has been shown that drinking coffee has many advantages. Consuming it in moderate amounts can provide many health benefits. It is important to remember that coffee can be effective in the context of stimulation, while functioning without it will not have a negative impact on our health. The opposite is true when it comes to physical activity - not getting enough exercise will affect our health and well-being. We do not urge you to give up coffee, but we encourage you to wake up in the morning by exercising! And a cup of coffee as a reward.
How does the coffee work?
The organoleptic properties of coffee are attributed to caffeine, which increases blood flow in the body by dilating blood vessels and has a stimulating effect on the nervous system. This results in improved concentration and cognitive abilities (improved thought processes). The caffeine content of a cup of coffee depends on the type of coffee, the degree of roasting
and finally the brewing method, but on average between 65 and
135 mg. The recommended dose of caffeine per day is about 300 mg, which is equivalent to 3-4 cups of coffee. Other sources say that even 400 mg of caffeine per day will not have negative effects. Drinking more than 6 cups of coffee per day, so taking more than 400-500 mg of caffeine can increase the risk of stroke, the risk of developing dementia and a number of other diseases. Caffeine is quickly absorbed by the body and enters the blood as soon as 5 minutes after consumption. It quickly penetrates the brain and reaches its highest concentration after 20-30 minutes. Caffeine is almost fully consumed by the body and only 1% is excreted in unprocessed form.
Coffee myths
One of the most common myths about coffee is that drinking it leaches magnesium. Yes, caffeine does leach magnesium and calcium, but beware: drinking 3 cups of strong coffee will lead to a loss of about 4 mg of magnesium and 1 mg of calcium. Coffee consists not only of caffeine,
but also magnesium. In one cup of espresso you will find about 20-24 mg of magnesium. The conclusion from this is simple: coffee, next to dark chocolate, is an excellent source of this element. Another myth is that drinking coffee dehydrates the body. Caffeine contained in coffee has a diuretic effect, so the question arises: the stronger the coffee, the more water we lose? This is not entirely true. In people who drink coffee regularly, tolerance to the diuretic effect of caffeine increases, so drinking it will not cause more intensive urine excretion. It should be remembered,
Remember that there are also exceptions to this rule, and if you notice that you use the toilet more often after drinking coffee, remember to drink water more often.
Everything should be done in moderation - if you lead a stressful lifestyle and drink liters of coffee, you may lose important minerals and become dehydrated.
Coffee and medication
Currently, it is not recommended to drink coffee with medicines, because the compounds contained in it may interfere with the absorption of active substances. This can have the effect of weakening or strengthening their action.
For example, the tannins in coffee weaken the effect of neuroleptics. In the case of treatment of anemia, it is worth remembering not to consume coffee during meals or while taking medication, because caffeine impairs iron absorption. Coffee can also enhance the effects of painkillers, as well as their side effects. We also rarely hear about the effect of contraception
on caffeine, and it turns out that it weakens the metabolism of caffeine, making it stay in the body much longer, which on
in the body much longer, which in the long run can be dangerous.
So coffee can be drink with no restrictions?
Caffeine stimulates our body, but you should not overdo it. Too much coffee adversely affects the quality of sleep and may contribute to problems with falling asleep, so in people who are particularly sensitive to caffeine, it is not recommended to consume coffee in the second part of the day. The half-life of caffeine in the body is about 4-6 hours, so it is recommended to drink the last cup about 6 hours before falling asleep. It is about the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, the production of which begins in the second part of the day. In addition, for many people coffee can cause or aggravate already existing intestinal problems. Coffee has an acidic PH,
which disturbs the alkaline PH of the intestines and is associated with impaired functioning of the intestinal villi. As a result
As a result, food content is not absorbed properly, which can cause bloating and indigestion. Hypertension, gallstones, kidney problems or neurosis - in the case of these conditions, coffee consumption should be discussed with your doctor, as its consumption may adversely affect the
the course of the disease.
At what part of the day you should drink coffee?
It is worth taking advantage of our body's wonderful mechanisms and daily cortisol dumps. This is the stress hormone, the concentration of which varies depending on the time of day. The highest level of cortisol is just after getting up, so drinking coffee first thing in the morning will weaken the effect of caffeine while increasing the body's tolerance to it. This can also lead to an increase in cortisol secretion when its levels are already high. This is particularly bad for your health if you're feeling stressed, anxious or tired.
The best time to drink a cup of coffee is when cortisol levels drop and with them we feel a drop in energy. This happens between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. and then between 13:30 and 17:00 p.m. Avoid situations when neither caffeine nor cortisol work, and vice versa- when both of these compounds work simultaneously. It is worth using the possibilities of your body and choose coffee when cortisol is at a low level, because then caffeine will do its job.
For this reason, the best morning boost may be exercise, which increases blood flow and improves concentration. Want to test this theory? Try the suggested set of exercises from the video below :)
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