5 things you might not have known about coffee ("must miss" system)
For most people, the first few minutes of the morning look pretty much the same: 1. open your eyes, 2. get out of bed, 3. drink coffee - and now you can start the day.
Well, maybe we left out a step in the middle of looking at the cell phone to check what's new from the night.
But there is almost no adult who does not start his day with coffee, that can be agreed upon.
The number of Americans for whom coffee is a daily staple has been steadily increasing in recent years and, according to the American Coffee Association, currently stands at around 63 percent.
One of the reasons for the increase in coffee consumption is research from recent years that emphasized the health benefits of drinking it, such as the fact that coffee beans contain strong antioxidants that help protect DNA from the damage of aging and free radicals. This, after years before the position was different, and warned against the damage caffeine consumption.
But even given the research-based benefits coffee adds to our health, there's still one simple thing most of us don't do when we drink it that could make it so much better for us: eat something.
"Drinking coffee on an empty stomach, or early in the morning, for example, before you have even had time to put anything in your mouth, may increase the levels of cortisol in the body. Your body begins to secrete cortisol - also known as the stress hormone, from the moment you open your eyes in the morning. Cortisol is responsible for regulating the response of the immune system , the metabolism and the stress mechanism," explains Dr. Nikola Djurjevic.
More on the subject:
Are people who like coffee and beer lying to themselves?
We found the healthiest cold coffee, but there is a problem with it.
Is decaffeinated coffee necessarily healthier?
Now you can start the day.
A cup of coffee at a takeaway (Photo: ShutterStock)
If you add another boost of caffeine to your body, just when the cortisol levels in your body are peaking, you are actually adding more stress to the body.
In a pilot study that examined the preferences of drinking caffeinated beverages among medical students, it was found that 25 percent of them used to drink coffee on an empty stomach.
These students were found to have an increased risk of experiencing extreme mood swings during the day as well as possible health damage later in life.
The health damage probably stems from the fact that coffee on an empty stomach greatly increases the acidity in the stomach, creating an environment with high acidity in the body.
When the stomach is full, or at least there is something else besides coffee in it, there are other substances that compete with the caffeine for absorption and this moderates the level of acidity.
Heartburn, anxiety and withdrawal symptoms
Since coffee stimulates stomach acids, the chance of suffering from heartburn increases as a result of drinking it and it may even increase the likelihood of stomach ulcers, says Dr. Djorjevic. The connection between coffee and stomach acidity is quite clear, but its effect is not only physiological , because it is also mental. Overacidity has been found in studies to cause mood swings, nervousness, jumpiness, tremors and other symptoms that are usually identified with withdrawal symptoms, the doctor explained. In addition, several studies have been conducted in the past that found that overacidity in the stomach is associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety .
” Studies have shown that caffeine mimics symptoms typical of anxiety attacks, especially when consumed in large quantities.
These symptoms may include restlessness, tremors, a flushed face and an increased heart rate," said Dr. Jamie Long, a clinical psychologist.
"If you suffer from anxiety to begin with, you are at a greater risk of experiencing anxiety-like symptoms or an increase in them following drinking coffee."
health
Nutrition and diet
Preventive nutrition
Tags
coffee
caffeine
Breakfast
digestion
