Is it harmful to drink coffee?

– How? Do you drink coffee ?! The young doctor exclaimed when he saw a cup of drink in the hands of his patient. – It’s impossible, because coffee is poison for you!

– Yes. But probably very slow, the patient objected. – I’ve been drinking it for almost sixty years.

From a joke

According to some doctors, due to the fact that caffeine is a drug, with the constant use of coffee, physical and mental dependence on this drink may appear. With excessive consumption of coffee, you can simply “drive” your body, since coffee for him is not “oats”, but a “whip”. It is not recommended to drink coffee for people with coronary heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, kidney disease, increased excitability, insomnia, hypertension and glaucoma. Elderly people and children are better off not drinking coffee at all.

Twelve years ago, the famous scientific journal New Scietist published the results of the largest study on the effect of coffee on the development of cardiovascular disease. From 1968 to 1988, British researchers monitored 2000 male employees of an engineering firm. It turned out that those who consumed more than six cups of coffee a day had a 71% higher risk of heart disease than all other employees of this firm.

In 2000, scientists found that coffee consumption increased the risk of rheumatic arthritis. Studies have shown that people who drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day are twice as likely to have rheumatic arthritis than those who drink more moderate amounts of coffee. These results were confirmed even after adjustments for other risk factors – age, gender, smoking, and weight.

Coffee contains a special kind of benzopyrene resin, which is quite harmful to the human body, the amount of which fluctuates depending on the degree of roasting of the beans. Therefore, low roasted coffee is preferred.

But all these are the disadvantages of drinking coffee, now let’s talk about the pros. Researchers note that coffee increases performance, relieves fatigue, and stimulates mental activity.

All this is due to the caffeine contained in it, which improves the blood supply to the brain, heart, kidneys, and also, being a psychomotor stimulant, activates the activity of the brain. Americans have found that small amounts of coffee improves spermatogenesis and potency in men.

In 1987, American scientists, over the years observing 6000 avid coffee consumers, reported that coffee was not conducive to the development of cardiovascular disease, as previously stated. The same conclusions were made by Finnish doctors. They examined 17000 people who drank five or more cups of coffee a day. The results of studies of Americans and Finns were also confirmed by Brazilian scientists who studied the effects of coffee on 45000 coffee drinkers.

According to other American scientists (according to the Journal of American Medical Association), regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of gallstone disease by 40%. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on the cause of this effect, although it is assumed that it is caused by the effects of caffeine. It is possible that it prevents the crystallization of cholesterol, which is part of the stones, or increases the outflow of bile and the rate of breakdown of fats.

Another group of scientists who studied the effects of coffee on the nervous system came to the conclusion that coffee, which belongs to the category of stimulating drinks, has a noticeable antidepressant effect. It was found that people who drink at least two cups of coffee a day are three times less likely to suffer from depression and are significantly less likely to commit suicide than those who never drink coffee.

And scientists at Vanderbilt University (USA) believe that perhaps coffee can help people who suffer from depression, alcoholism and bowel cancer (research has shown that the risk of bowel cancer is reduced by 24% if you drink four or more cups of coffee a day).

Lately, many virtues have been discovered in coffee that were not previously known. For example, it turns out that it softens asthma attacks and allergies, prevents tooth decay and neoplasms, activates the burning of fats in the body, is a laxative, and intensifies the work of the intestines. Anyone who drinks coffee feels more confident, does not suffer from low self-esteem, and does not experience unreasonable fears. Similar to chocolate, caffeine increases the concentration of the happiness hormone serotonin.

Another interesting study was carried out by specialists from the University of Michigan. They found that older married women who drink a cup of coffee every day are more sexually active compared to their peers who have long given up the drink.

The same study showed that coffee helps to achieve and maintain an erection in men. Those of the interviewed middle-aged men who do not drink coffee complained of certain difficulties in this regard.

The alkaloid caffeine, which is an effective stimulant that sharpens the body’s response to sensory stimuli, helps to activate sexual potency.

However, skeptics say that it is not only and not so much about caffeine. It’s just that sexually active elderly people are stronger and healthier than their peers, they do not have problems with the heart and blood vessels. Therefore, they can afford both coffee and sex.

And not so long ago, Professor Georges Debry, an employee of the Nutrition Center at the University of Nancy, spoke in defense of this drink at a seminar on the effect of caffeine on health in Paris. The scientist stressed that there is no reason to talk about the harmfulness of coffee. With moderate consumption of coffee, it rather reveals than causes any disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system (heartburn, gastritis, etc.), although when consumed in large doses it promotes the excretion of calcium from the body and reduces the absorption of food. With a reasonable consumption of coffee by healthy people, it does not serve as a predisposing factor to either heart attack or hypertension, does not cause disturbances in the hormonal functions of the body. Scientists from India also report interesting data. They found that black coffee drinkers who were exposed to radiation on a daily basis at work suffered less radiation. Experiments carried out on laboratory animals have confirmed that high doses of caffeine serve as a prophylactic agent against radiation sickness. In this regard, Indian doctors recommend that radiologists, radiologists and other specialists who constantly work with radiation sources drink at least 2 cups of good coffee a day.

But Japanese doctors have found that this drink helps in the fight against atherosclerosis, since it increases the content of good-quality cholesterol in a person’s blood, which prevents the walls of blood vessels from hardening. To study the effect of coffee on the human body, an interesting experiment was conducted at the Tokyo Medical Institute “Jikei”, during which volunteers drank five cups of black coffee daily for four weeks. Three of them could not stand it for a long time, began to complain of “aversion” to coffee and eventually “got out of the way”, while the rest of the participants in the experiment after four weeks had an average of 15% increase in the content of benign cholesterol in the blood, which helps to maintain the elasticity of the blood walls. vessels. It is curious that after the participants in the experiment stopped drinking coffee with everything, the content of this cholesterol began to decrease.

Scientists have calculated that a coffee bean contains 30 organic acids we need. It is believed that thanks to one of these acids alone, the undernourished, but coffee-drinking population of South America does not suffer from pellagra, a severe form of vitamin deficiency. Experts also note that a cup of coffee contains 20% of the daily requirement of vitamin P, which is necessary for blood vessels.

This drink relieves fatigue, gives energy. It is believed that a dose of caffeine of 100 – 300 milligrams per day improves attention, increases reaction speed, and physical endurance. however, a dose above 400-600 milligrams per day (depending on the personal characteristics of a person) can cause increased nervousness and irritability.

Scientists from the Universities of Münster and Marburg believe that coffee can help a person grow wiser. They conducted joint research, which confirmed the hypothesis: under the influence of caffeine, the productivity of the human brain increases by almost 10%. However, scientists at Yale University warn that it is better not to drink coffee on an empty stomach, since in this case it practically “turns off” the brain.

Some experts note that coffee is also useful for low blood pressure, weak heart activity, and low stomach acidity.

Be that as it may, no matter how useful caffeine is, it is still better to drink coffee in moderation, and experts in natural nutrition believe that it is better to abandon it altogether or replace it with coffee drinks made from barley or chicory.

In ancient times, in the East, they said that the harmful effects of coffee on the heart can be mitigated by throwing a few saffron stamens into it during cooking: it “gives both joy and vigor, it pours strength into the members and renews our liver.”

Coffee causes breast swelling

It is believed that frequent coffee consumption can lead to the development of breast tumors. However, scientists continue to deny any relationship between the occurrence of malignant tumors and the use of coffee.

Coffee negatively affects pregnancy

– I don’t understand, dear, what are you not happy with? Every morning I serve you coffee in bed and all you have to do is grind it … From family stories

It has been proven that caffeine does not affect fetal development and is not relevant to miscarriage. But according to the latest data, not so long ago published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, pregnant women should still abstain from coffee, as well as from Coca-Cola and other drinks that contain caffeine.

Coffee contains caffeine

A typical English house, an overturned table, next to him in a state of shock stands an elderly Englishman with bulging eyes and a smoking shotgun in his hands, and opposite his two old friends, with whom he peacefully threw poker a minute ago, and both have holes in their foreheads … my wife comes out of the kitchen and looks at the whole picture. Shaking her head in distress, she exclaims:

– Well, no, Roger, this will not happen again! From now on, you will only drink decaffeinated coffee!

Entertaining ethnography

This is indeed the case. Interestingly, some of the wild varieties of this plant are caffeine-free. They are now being used to develop new crop varieties with a reduced caffeine content. In addition, there are brands of instant coffee, from which almost all caffeine has been specially removed (0,02% -0,05% remains). It is washed out with specific solvents, and recently – with liquid carbon dioxide from green grains, before frying.

According to British doctors, if a person is completely deprived of products containing caffeine – tea, Coca-Cola, all types of chocolate, then he can experience a headache and become very irritable. Scientists believe that the body needs a certain amount of caffeine per day, equal to two cups of coffee, three cups of tea or a cup of liquid chocolate (half a bar of solid). There are many products that contain caffeine in doses that are comparable to those of coffee. These include, first of all, carbonated drinks made on the basis of cola nuts (by the name of this nut, such drinks are often called colas). Caffeine is added to other drinks as well.

By the way, contrary to popular belief, the dark brown color of cola, similar to the color of coffee, does not at all indicate the presence of caffeine in it. Caffeine can just as well be found in clear sodas.

But back to coffee. With its non-caffeinated varieties, everything is also not clear. In any case, it is not yet necessary to say that they are much more useful. Not so long ago, researchers from the University of California proved that there are enough active substances in decaffeinated coffee, which should be avoided by those suffering from migraines, arrhythmias or neuroses.

The caffeine in coffee is said to stimulate metabolism. This is true, but this stimulation is rather scanty. It is estimated that four cups of strong coffee will activate the metabolism by only one percent.

And one more “caffeine” misconception. Sometimes you can hear that the main value of coffee is determined by caffeine: the more, the better. In reality, the best coffees (Yemeni (“mocha”), Brazilian (“Santos”), Colombian (“mama”) contain no more than one and a half percent caffeine in roasted beans, while lower varieties (“Robusta”, Costa Rican) up to two and a half percent.

In order to reduce the caffeine content in your drink, you can use the following advice: pour freshly ground coffee with boiling water and heat once until boiling. When preparing coffee in this way, its aroma is preserved, and caffeine does not completely pass into the drink.

Coffee increases blood pressure

“I don’t understand why on earth you pour coffee for a dog?”

– To stay awake at night.

Entertaining zoology

This is a rather controversial thesis. Those who think so usually cite data from Australian researcher Jack James, published in early 1998. He argued that three to four cups of coffee distributed throughout the day increased diastolic (bottom) blood pressure by 2-4 millimeters of mercury. However, exactly such a rise in pressure can be obtained simply because of an emotional dispute with a friend, and even from excitement in front of a doctor who approached you with a tonometer. Doctors in other countries have done research on the effect of coffee on blood pressure. Thus, British doctors argue that the “hypertensive” effect of coffee is short-lived, and disappears among its usual consumers. And a Dutch study found that 45 coffee drinkers who drank five cups a day of regular coffee for a long time, and then switched to decaffeinated varieties, had a decrease in blood pressure by only one millimeter.

Coffee with milk is poorly digested

Those who hold this opinion argue that milk proteins combine with the tannin found in coffee, and as a result, their absorption is difficult. However, it is strange that such accusations are not leveled against milk tea, whereas tea has more tannin than coffee.

But coffee lovers face another danger. According to Spanish scientists, when drinking too hot coffee with milk (and tea too), the risk of developing a tumor of the esophagus increases fourfold. In this case, it develops due to the constant exposure to high temperatures on the esophagus. The Spanish study involved more than XNUMX people and did not take into account cases of cancer caused by smoking or drinking.

Interestingly, drinking hot coffee without milk does not increase the risk of cancer, although scientists cannot yet explain this fact. And the most dangerous is the use of tea and coffee with milk through the “tube”, since the liquid immediately enters the esophagus, and not having enough time to cool down in the mouth. According to the researchers, an equally negative effect on the esophagus and other hot drinks is possible, and, first of all, this applies to cocoa, which many children like to drink through a straw.

Coffee is bad for the heart

In the restaurant:

– Waiter, can I have some coffee?

– How do I know – it’s possible or not, I’m not a doctor for you!

From restaurant tales

We have already spoken about this myth many times. But here is the data of another study confirming that coffee is bad for the heart only when consumed excessively. In Boston (USA), 85 women were observed by doctors for 747 years, and during this time, 10 cases of heart disease were noted among them. More often, these diseases were noted in those who drank more than six cups a day, and in those who did not drink coffee at all. Scottish doctors, having examined 712 10 men and women, found that those who drank coffee, cardiovascular diseases were less common.

However, coffee that undergoes repeated heating or brewing for many hours (according to Arab traditions) is recognized as really harmful. It has a bad effect on blood vessels.

– Waiter! You call this bullshit “strong coffee” ?!

– Of course, otherwise you would not be so horny!

The story told by the waiter

Just like alcohol, sugar, or chocolate, caffeine works on the pleasure centers in the brain. But can it be considered a drug? According to experts, drugs have three characteristics. This is the induction of gradual addiction, when an increasing dose is required to achieve the usual action, this is physical dependence and psychological dependence. If we evaluate coffee according to these three signs, it turns out, firstly, that there is no getting used to it. Each cup of coffee has a stimulating effect on the brain, just like drinking for the first time. Secondly, physical dependence still happens, since “weaning” from coffee causes headaches, drowsiness and nausea in half of coffee lovers. And, thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, there is no psychological dependence, which is expressed by the addict in the fact that he is ready for anything to get the next dose. Therefore, coffee cannot be called a drug.

Currently, many medical professionals believe that caffeine is not addictive. However, those who stop drinking coffee or drastically reduce their usual dose are at risk of headaches, have poor judgment, become distracted, irritable or drowsy. All of these troubles can be avoided by gradually cutting back on coffee.

Instant coffee

I bought instant coffee from Chukchi.

I came home and decided to cook it myself.

“Pour one spoonful of coffee,” – the Chukchi read the first line of the instruction and poured a spoonful of coffee into his mouth.

“Add sugar to taste,” he read further, and poured a handful of sugar into his mouth too.

“Pour boiling water over.” – The Chukchi poured boiling water from a kettle and swallowed it.

“And blab it out,” and the Chukchi began to quickly rotate his pelvis.

Entertaining ethnography

Everything that was mentioned above mainly refers to coffee beans, now let’s talk about instant coffee. It is prepared from low-value varieties and small, substandard grains. In addition, during its manufacture, many aromatic substances disappear. In this regard, advertising claims that the powder loose in a cup has a “freshly ground coffee aroma” is simply ridiculous.

It is worth mentioning that the inventor of instant coffee himself, the Swiss chemist Max Morgenthaler, was not particularly proud of him. Moreover, he regarded this discovery as a great creative failure, since the resulting product resembled natural coffee only vaguely. A hundred years have passed since then, but the technology for the production of instant coffee has changed little.

Speaking of instant coffee, it would probably be fairer to call it a coffee drink. This opinion is shared by many experts. Taster Olga Sviridova notes: “You shouldn’t expect real coffee taste and aroma from the powder. In our tests, we consider instant coffee as a special beverage that has its own specific requirements. It is good if the taste and aroma of the drink are pronounced, harmonious, the bitterness and acidity should be in moderation. The disadvantages of instant coffee include: the smell of overcooked beans or, worse, the smell of acorns, steamed oats, hay and other “aromas of the fields.” Often, the smell and taste of coffee spoil the pharmacological and perfume tones or the “taste of an old product”.

And one more myth. Sometimes you can hear that instant coffee is not as rich in caffeine as coffee beans. Here is what Tatyana Koltsova, the head of the testing laboratory of the Mospishchekombinat, chemical engineer, says about this: “The stories that caffeine is extracted from instant coffee in order to save money are baseless. This has never been done. Making a decaffeinated drink is a complex technology, and such coffee costs several times more than usual. “

For some, this may be a discovery, but instant coffee, on the contrary, has more caffeine than natural coffee. And if in coffee from beans the concentration of caffeine is usually not associated with its quality, then with respect to instant coffee, we can say that the more caffeine it contains, the better it is (in most cases). But it is not advisable to drink such coffee too often.

And finally, some practical advice on how to distinguish fake coffee from real (based on the materials of the newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda”).

Experts note that the packaging of fake coffee is usually made of cardboard, light tin or polyethylene with a paper label glued on, usually of faded colors. The names should be read carefully. If, say, the real coffee is called Cafe Pele, then the counterfeit can write Cafe Pele brazil, and instead of Nescafe, Ness-Coffee.

It was also noticed that the labels of counterfeit coffee usually contain a minimum of information. The barcode is now on almost all banks, but often counterfeiters put down numbers that do not exist in the barcode table, for example, 746 – these numbers begin the barcode on coffee called Coffee Colonial and Los Portales. Or 20-29 – these figures do not yet belong to any country. Such a code is printed on Brasiliero coffee beans (plastic bag with a faded label), the “manufacturer” of which probably hopes to be mistaken for Brasero coffee.

In the laboratory of sensory and physical-chemical tests of the State Standard of Russia – “Rostest-Moscow” they have collected a whole collection of fakes. Among them, for example, Royal standart (Turkey), Neptun gold (Brazil), Santa Fe (Ecuador), Cafe Ricardo (USA), Cafe Presto (Nicaragua), Cafe Caribe (USA) …

According to experts, it is advisable to buy products only from well-known companies that usually use glass or cans (although there are exceptions, for example, the Folgers company (USA) sometimes uses plastic containers).

Mazurkevich S.A.

Encyclopedia of delusions. Food. – M .: Publishing house EKSMO – Press, 2001