Tuesday tip: Coffee – good or bad? ☕️
Whilst many people also love the taste we typically drink coffee for the effect of the caffeine which makes us feel more alert. It actually has no macronutrients that we can derive energy from, so it simply blunts our perception of fatigue, so we feel we have more energy. There are over 1000 bioactive compounds, polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidants in your cup of coffee, which are purported to have health benefits. The caffeine itself varies with the type of coffee, from instant (lower caffeine), capsules (approx 80mg) to filter coffee (140 mg). The recommended max daily intake is 400mg caffeine a day.
So is coffee really good or bad for your health? A recent review of studies found coffee is more often associated with beneficial health outcomes than negative ones. Benefits of 3-5 cups a day include an 18% lower risk of mortality, 20% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, a 10% reduction in coronary artery disease and an 18% risk reduction of various cancers including liver, skin, prostate, oral and leukaemia. It reduces blood pressure and the risk of type 2 diabetes, enhances liver function and decreases the risk of Parkinson’s disease. It has also been shown to enhance exercise performance and reduce muscle pain.
So should we all be downing coffee? Well it’s not all positive, for some people it can cause stomach upset, jitters, headaches, and insomnia and can enhance feelings of anxiety. If you suffer from acid reflux it should also be avoided. It is also a diuretic so it’s important to ensure you’re also drinking water as well to stay hydrated. It’s wise to avoid caffeine if you’re pregnant as it has been shown to negatively affect birth weight, pre term births and increase risk of certain cancers in and around this time period.
So if you enjoy a couple of cups of coffee a day, and don’t experience those negative effects, then it’s definitely not something you need to stop. The best option is an americano – black or with skimmed or alternative milk (rather than a double mocha caramel latte etc!).
Happy caffeinating! 🤗
Xx
Every Step Fitness 