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Even with caffeine, coffee is healthier than often assumed
Coffee is the most popular drink of the Germans. Every German citizen drinks on average more than 160 liters per year. Although the watchdog was long considered harmful to health, today it is known that the popular hot drink of health can even be beneficial. The "Coffee Day" took place worldwide for the first time this year, along with the newly created "International Coffee Day".
The most popular drink of the Germans
"Coffee is by far the most drunk beverage in Germany," says a recent press release from the "German Coffee Association". According to the experts, per capita consumption in 2015 was 162 liters. The "Coffee Day" celebrates this popular hot drink for the eleventh time, this year for the first time worldwide, together with the newly created "International Coffee Day".
Coffee was considered unhealthy for a long time, but today people know that the popular hot drink can even serve their health. Because of the caffeine it also works very well against fatigue. (Image: ViewApart / fotolia.com) Coffee is healthier than you think
For a long time the pick-me-up was considered harmful to health, but today we know that coffee is far from being unhealthy. It can be good for the heart and also prevent arteriosclerosis. In addition, according to scientific studies, coffee can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Most people rely on the popular hot drink but not for health reasons, but rather to keep up with it. In fact, coffee works well against fatigue.
It depends on the crowd
But as with so much, coffee is also important: it depends on the right amount. Generally, coffee is only a danger to our health if it is consumed regularly in too large quantities. This is due to the high caffeine content in the hot beverage, explains Hans Hauner, director of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine (EKFZ) at the Technical University of Munich to the news portal "Spiegel online".
If you consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine throughout a day, you do not need to worry about your health. Because such a small amount of caffeine is considered harmless.
Thus, an adult could drink four to five cups of espresso or even up to eight cups of black tea every day, the news portal quotes Gabriele Graf of the consumer center NRW in Dusseldorf. For information: A normal cup containing 200 milliliters of filter coffee contains around 90 milligrams of caffeine.
Are there groups of people who should be careful with the consumption of coffee?
Not all people can drink so much coffee. Pregnant and lactating women should be careful with the consumption of coffee, warn the experts. In this group, the caffeine passes unhindered the placenta. Thus, it gets into the circulation of the unborn child during pregnancy, explains Gabriele Graf.
The big problem is that the liver of the unborn child can not break down the caffeine so fast. Therefore, pregnant women and nursing women are advised to be cautious about their consumption and to enjoy very little coffee during pregnancy, adds the nutrition expert.
How fast can coffee take effect??
If people feel more alert after a sip of coffee, it can not really be possible. Such people are subject to a so-called placebo effect. The stimulating effect begins about 15 to 30 minutes after drinking the "Wachmachers", Margret Morlo is quoted by the Association for Nutrition and Dietetics of "Spiegel Online". That's how long it takes for the caffeine to spread throughout the body through the human bloodstream.
How long does it take for the breakdown of caffeine in our body??
It can take hours for the body to reduce all of the caffeine again. A guideline is: In healthy adults, the average half-life in the body is about four hours. Thereafter, the body has excreted about 50 percent of the caffeine intake, says Margret Morlo.
What time should we drink our last cup of coffee??
The views differ on this, because there is no real rule of thumb for this question. It depends on the individual person. Some people can also drink coke, coffee or black tea in the evening and still enjoy a restful sleep. For others, excessive or late coffee consumption can lead to real sleep problems. This means that every person has to find out at what times he can caffeine best during the day, explains Hans Hauner.
Are there other side effects of coffee that should be considered?
Coffee stimulates the human circulation, which beats our heart more often, says Hauner. The pulse and our blood pressure then start to rise. But do not worry, this process is not really dangerous for healthy people. Even with increased coffee consumption, there is no risk of developing atherosclerosis or having a heart attack, Hauner adds. Even patients with hypertension can enjoy coffee, but in moderate quantities.
The consumption of coffee does not significantly increase blood pressure and endangering the health, even if a widespread assumption disagrees. However, you should be careful if you suffer from so-called arrhythmias. Then you should consult with your doctor before you start with the unrestrained coffee consumption. Anyone who is constantly drinking too much (gallons of) coffee is also at risk of developing anxiety, hyperactivity and gastrointestinal complaints, the expert adds.
Withdrawal symptoms due to coffee?
It is indeed possible that coffee withdrawal causes withdrawal symptoms. The body gets used to regular consumption and the effect of caffeine. If the caffeine rations fail then our body can respond by developing headaches and difficulty concentrating, say the experts. This so-called caffeine withdrawal headache affects people mostly on weekends, when those concerned try to take a coffee break. Nevertheless, coffee is by no means to be classified as an addictive substance.
Positive effects of coffee on human health?
One of the main effects of coffee is likely to be experienced daily by many people. The contained caffeine reduces our fatigue and slows down the triggering body's messenger adenosine, explain the physicians. This improves the concentration and so-called performance depths can be overcome. But there are other positive effects of coffee. A cup of coffee, for example, can help diabetic patients to favorably influence insulin action. That's because of the chlorogenic acid in coffee, explains Hauner.
Coffee does not drain the body of liquid
It has long been said that coffee does not add any fluid to our body or even withdraw it from the body. But coffee can normally be added to the fluid balance. This says that every person should take about two liters of fluid daily. Nevertheless, it should be noted that coffee is not a suitable thirst quencher, because it contains a lot of caffeine and this influenced by his impulsive effect our heart and our circulation. (as, ad)