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Coffee may be a reassuring wake-up call, but it may be doing more than just boosting your energy levels.
It be worthwhile to think about the health effects of your favourite pick-me-up before reaching for that next cup. Here is what you should know:
Dana Hunnes, a senior dietitian at UCLA Medical Centersays, “Coffee comes from a bean, so it contains phytonutrients and polyphenols, chemical compounds found in plants that are believed to have antioxidant benefits but for the most part, caffeine tends to be the nutrient in coffee that people are most aware of and that’s the best studied.”
Meanwhile, Rachel Salas, an associate professor of neurology who specializes in sleep medicine further explains what drinking too much coffee does to your body, stating, “If you have caffeine later in the day, it can actually predispose you to develop insomnia or make it worse if you already have it.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking more than four caffeinated cups of coffee each day may affect the quality of your sleep. However, is important to remember that each person will experience coffee consumption differently and that variables like age, weight, and general health may also have an influence.
The health-focused publication Healthline claims that coffee does not produce traditional addiction like cocaine and amphetamines do, even though it affects some brain chemicals similarly, however, especially at high dosages, it can cause physical or psychological reliance.
The above-mentioned health hub further notes, “It has been shown to raise blood pressure in several studies due to its stimulatory effect on the nervous system. Elevated blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke because it may damage arteries over time, restricting the flow of blood to your heart and brain.”
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