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The Effects of Coffee on Health
Coffee's reputation as a health risk beverage has taken a turnaround due to recent discoveries in scientific research. Caffeine, the main ingredient of coffee, is widely known to be an addictive stimulant and has been viewed as the cause of coffee's negative image. But all that has changed, thanks to some beneficial effects also attributed to coffee. Health Benefits of Caffeine Studies show that consuming 100 to 200 mg of caffeine, or about 1 to 2 cups of coffee, stimulates certain areas of the brain, decreasing fatigue and making one alert, vigilant and able to perform complex functions. A fair amount of coffee consumption can also boost cognitive function, among them memory, learning and mood state. It also works wonders for those with exhausting jobs that require greater exertion, as it enhances endurance in long-duration physical activities that leads to better performance. Significant medical benefits of coffee include the potential to discourage the development of colon cancer, reducing the formation of gallstones and lowering the risk of liver diseases. Coffee has also been found to reduce the risk of Parkinsons disease, and also helps to combat nervous decline associated with sleep deprivation. And according to recent research, people who drink coffee have a lower risk of getting type-2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. However, moderation in the consumption of coffee is the key to all these benefits. Harmful Effects Of Caffeine But despite all these recent beneficial findings, coffee is still hardly what you would call an innocent drink due to caffeine, which is perceived as an addictive substance. Caffeine is also found in tea and chocolate, and has been known to not only increase heart rate and blood pressure, but can occasionally cause irregular heartbeat as well. Caffeine intake during the time period between half an hour to one hour before sleep will delay sleep as expected, but will also decrease the total sleep time and degrade sleep quality. So it's truly important to take note of the timing of coffee consumption in order to reduce its harmful effects. Depending mostly on the quantity and frequency of consumption, the effects of caffeine will vary from person to person, with genetic factors involved in each person's response to caffeine. It's also been known that a physical dependence on caffeine is produced after constantly drinking more than 350 mg of caffeine each day. While the effects of coffee on women's health issues like breast cancer and osteoporosis still remain in doubt, one thing remains clear -- that all of coffee's negative effects stem not from using it, but in its excessive consumption.
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