Nutrition Videos

Coffee is a daily treat for many people. But many people wonder if this pleasure is taking a toll on their health. Many people wonder if this daily habit of theirs reduces their life expectancy or the possibility of having a good quality of life in the long run. Is coffee dangerous for health? If it is, is it dangerous for everyone or is there some way to know for whom it is dangerous and for whom it isn't? First, it is worth saying a few words about coffee. It is interesting how coffee was discovered and how we came to consume it every day. The story goes that some shepherds noticed that their goats were especially lively and active after consuming a certain plant. The shepherds, who are very careful people and know their animals as we know our children and our friends, noticed the behavior these goats had and found which plant they were eating, and very cleverly decided to try it. This plant contains some seeds that are rich in a series of substances that give energy and reduce the feeling of fatigue. At the same time, their consumption was pleasant without their taste being so pleasant. The logical next step was to collect these seeds and extract the extract containing the active substances that give energy and reduce the feeling of fatigue. Along the way they chose traders to roast these seeds to make it easier to transport and lighter, since the moisture contained in the seeds is of no use. In simple words, this is how coffee arrived in our days. A seed from a plant that is roasted and consumed as an extract after it has been ground. Coffee is a mixture that contains hundreds, maybe even thousands of separate substances, almost all of which are very beneficial for the body. But coffee also contains some substances that are stimulants, and these are beneficial in small amounts. And here's the secret. The most powerful stimulant contained in coffee, but not the only one, is caffeine. Caffeine in large amounts is definitely bad for health, and we know this from long-term follow-up studies comparing caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee. In these it appears that people who consume decaffeinated coffee live longer. So, from the evidence so far it is clear that caffeine is not good for health for most people. So we reach a logical conclusion. Coffee is good for health, decaffeinated or decaffeinated, although decaffeinated seems to be more beneficial. But the survey evidence has something more to add. Apparently, not everyone metabolizes caffeine at the same rate. There are people who metabolize caffeine very quickly, and there are people who metabolize caffeine very slowly. In studies that bother to divide people into these two groups and then to check the effect of caffeinated coffee on some conditions related to heart and vascular health it seems that those who metabolize caffeine quickly have a significant benefit, while those who metabolize caffeine slowly have a problem. It may appear overall in the results that the whole group benefits, but if we divide it into those who metabolize caffeine quickly and those who metabolize caffeine slowly it appears that only those who metabolize caffeine quickly have a significant benefit, while those who metabolize caffeine slowly do not. For them, caffeine is not only useless, but more often a problem. All that remains is to understand whether we metabolize caffeine slowly or quickly. There are many ways to see if someone metabolizes caffeine slowly or quickly, such as measuring caffeine metabolites in the urine, or with DNA tests, but in practice this can be done in a very simple way. If you notice that you drink coffee in the evening or in the afternoon and you can't sleep, then you better stop drinking caffeinated coffee. It is most likely that you belong to the group that metabolizes caffeine slowly and this takes a toll on your health. On the other hand, if you are one of those lucky people who drink coffee at night and sleep without any problem, then not only is coffee good for you, but the ideal is to drink as much coffee as your wallet allows. You are one of the lucky ones who metabolize caffeine quickly and enjoy all the good things that the rest of coffee has to offer. I emphasize that in this case the ideal is not to drink coffee, but to drink a lot of coffee. The opposite is true for those of us who are unlucky enough that coffee keeps us up at night. Not only does it not make us drink coffee in the afternoon or evening, but it does not make us drink coffee at all. At least it doesn't make us drink any caffeinated coffee. In this case, decaffeinated coffee is again allowed in sufficient quantities, at least in sufficient quantities that do not affect sleep or cause stimulation. Because I remind you that coffee contains other stimulants besides caffeine. Which may not be as strong as caffeine, but in people who are sensitive it can cause nervousness, restlessness and insomnia. So find out which group of people you belong to and choose which coffee suits you. The amount? That is easy. As much as possible!