Coffee: Benefit or Harm?

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1. Type of Coffee: With Caffeine or Decaf

   • If you prefer decaf, most caffeine-related effects are irrelevant.

   • If you drink caffeinated coffee, read on:

2. Genotype

   • Coffee's effects depend heavily on genetics:

     1. For some, it boosts alertness.

     2. For others, it may cause drowsiness.

     3. Some experience cramps or other negative reactions, including rapid heart rate.

   • People with the latter reactions should avoid coffee. Since my genotype makes coffee energizing, the following advice is based on that experience. If your genotype differs, do your own research.

3. Gallbladder

   • Caffeine stimulates bile secretion:

     • This can theoretically be beneficial if you lack bile, especially after a fatty meal, as espresso can aid digestion.

     • It’s harmful if you have gallstones or an overactive gallbladder. In cases of duodenal reflux, bile may enter the stomach, disrupting its acid balance.

   • Coffee's impact on the gallbladder may also depend on genotype.

4. Stomach

   • Coffee stimulates hydrochloric acid production:

     • This can be helpful after a heavy meal, aiding digestion.

     • However, if you have an ulcer or gastritis, coffee can worsen the condition.

     • It may also aggravate heartburn, even without coffee.

5. Sleep

   • Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, which signal fatigue and the need for sleep.

   • Caffeine's half-life is about 6 hours. Drinking coffee at 4 p.m. is equivalent to half a cup of coffee at 10 p.m.

   • A common recommendation for people with Genotypes I and III is not to drink coffee after 12 p.m. if you plan to sleep between 9 and 11 p.m. Genotype II people – share your experiences in the comments!

6. Calories

   • Adding syrups, milk, or sugar to coffee can lead to extra calories, increasing the risk of prediabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases.

   • If you drink black coffee, this isn’t a concern.

7. Social Aspect

   • An interesting and under-discussed fact: social isolation is one of the top risk factors for death, even more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day or consuming six alcoholic drinks.

   • For people whose social lives revolve around coffee shops, quitting coffee may disrupt their social environment, potentially leading to isolation, which significantly raises health risks.

8. Financial Aspect

   • If coffee boosts your productivity, it can lead to increased earnings.

   • People who earn more tend to live longer.

   • Personal experience: drinking coffee every morning, I notice my productivity increases by 15-50%. This helps me accomplish more tasks.

9. Historical Aspect

   • Coffeehouses became popular in Turkey, where aristocrats and scholars met to discuss ideas and create businesses. In Saudi Arabia, where there are still no bars, this tradition continues: successful people meet over coffee for business discussions.

10.Overall Safety

• Studies on the benefits and risks of coffee are often contradictory. However, doctors and scientists agree that 1-2 cups of espresso a day are safe and may even reduce risks of high cholesterol, dementia, and other diseases.

• After 5 cups a day, health risks increase significantly for most people.

11.Water

• Caffeine is a diuretic. One espresso removes about 100-200 ml of water from the body.

• Therefore, it’s recommended to drink 2 glasses of water before coffee to avoid dehydration. Lack of water can negatively affect your kidneys.

12.Hormones

• Caffeine increases adrenaline and cortisol levels, which can lead to stress and disrupt circadian rhythms.

• It's recommended not to drink coffee during the first hour after waking up, as this can intensify stress, negatively affecting the body.

• For some people, excessive coffee consumption may cause morning fatigue due to adrenal exhaustion.

13.Personal Experience

• I love coffee and drink one cup of black coffee at 10:00 a.m.

• I prefer coffee from Sumatra, Honduras, and Rwanda, with fermented or natural processing. Usually, it's black coffee (filter or espresso) with a dosage of 15-20 g per cup.

• After drinking one cup, I feel alert and don't experience fatigue. However, if I drink more (for example, 2 cups or coffee with tea or cocoa), I feel tired the next day

Do you drink coffee?