Caffeine- the truth is revealed

Okay, so many of us use coffee as a method to ignite our day to give the sensation of being active and ready for the upcoming task ahead. However, what affect is coffee having on an individual? Is caffeine causing negative health issues? Well this week on Universal medicine we will be exploring a majorly discussed topic in the effects of having coffee.

Firstly, we can establish that the main ingredient in coffee is caffeine which is natural compound obtain from 60 different plant sources which include coffee beans and cacao seeds. We acknowledge that coffee is a go to drink for individuals wanting to increase their alertness but, how does this occur? Well, caffeine can be seen as a stimulant as it can activate the central nervous system thus preventing tiredness and lack of concentration. A positive point about the intake of caffeine is that it could potentially reduce the chance of obtaining Parkinson's disease as studies have indicated that a high intake of coffee could be linked with the possibility of obtaining the disease. Also, a study indicated that consuming three cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of liver cancer by 50% due to the caffeine intake. Also, caffeine consumption has been linked with positive effects on the brain. Furthermore, research suggests that caffeine could protect against type 2 diabetes.

On the other hand, coffee has its downfalls. By consuming more than 500mg of caffeine a day could lead to insomnia which is a sleeping disorder. Moreover, it could cause stomach issues within individuals as well as muscle tremors.

So coffee certainly does have its short term benefits however the long term effects could be harmful. I think it’s safe to state that coffee should not be seen as a harmful substance if it is taken in suitable amounts as having too much coffee could cause many health issues. As always, get your comments in about your experiences with coffee and please do share this article. Until then have a great week.

Written by Adil Rahman

Sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271707.php
http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-10-2013/coffee-for-health.html
 



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