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Coffee wakens your senses and it is good for your health.

Is coffee good or bad for your health? The answer is…good!
Coffee consumption causes various reactions in your body and, if not abused, it has positive effects. Many studies and research have been carried out in the last decades by Italian experts in various fields, among which Nutrition, Dietology and Human biology, confirm the positive effects of coffee.

More precisely, it has been proven that coffee can help in reducing physical an mental stress which is perhaps among the biggest malaise of modern society. This is one of the reasons why in our society, coffee is more popular than ever.

From a purely nutritional perspective, coffee is not required by our body. Nevertheless, the human body responds very positively to chemical compounds found in coffee. It goes without saying, however, that as for every other food, if abused of or if drunk in large quantities, coffee can potentially yield unfavourable results.

A cup of coffee a day does not eliminate stress from your life, but it sure can help.

Contrary to common belief, drinking coffee on a daily basis does not lead to addiction, not even in the long run. Coffee contains a substance, called nervina, which stimulates the central nervous system causing a sense of pleasantness in the whole body. It also enhances alertness, energizes you, and aids in elevating ones focus for physical and mental tasks.

The substances responsible for the described above stimulant effect are caffeine and an alkaloid acid. The first one is contained in the seeds and leaves of the coffee, tea, cocoa, cola and mate plants. The second derives from mixture of various acids, among which are chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid.

However, without any doubts caffeine is the substance which is mainly responsible for coffee’s effects on human body and mind. A cup of coffee contains an average of 5 cg. of caffeine which, in turn, causes stimulation of our central nervous system which can last up to two hours and has the effect of awakening our brain, reducing fatigue, and holding sleep and boredom at bay.

Caffeine’s positive effect on our central nervous system have been proved in various studies which employed the ‘conditional reflexes response technique’: when consumed in moderate doses, caffeine increases the conditional reflexes’ response, thereby prolonging exertion time until exhaustion.

Caffeine’s affects do not just affect our brain; positive responses have been registered on other organs as well. What follows is a brief description of its effects on:

The heart

Caffeine has been proved to bring benefits to the heart. Indeed, in medicine it is used as a mild stimulant. What’s more, it enhances arterial tone, without altering blood pressure, and improves coronary blood circulation.

The lungs

Let us see how even our lungs benefit from coffee. Its consumption causes our bronchus to expand leading to improved lung ventilation and better breathing.

Muscles

It has been shown that coffee enhances muscle contraction, reduces fatigue, improves movement coordination, and enhances ones athletic performance. Given their ergogenic effect, coffee and caffeine containing beverages are particularly widespread among athletes who engage in prolonged and moderate- to high- intensity exercise, and therefore require increased endurance.

Digestion

Coffee stimulates the activity of vasomotor nerves involved in digestion. This is perhaps the reason why drinking coffee not just in the morning, but also after lunch and dinner, coffee can bring about added benefits. Indeed, upon reaching the stomach, coffee aids in the stimulated secretion of gastric juices, and thus promotes and improves digestion.

Liver, kidneys and bowels.

The positive effects of coffee on the liver include an enhanced gall secretion and gallbladder contraction. As for the bowels, there is evidence that coffee stimulates colonic motor activity, improving gastrointestinal function. The positive effects of coffee have also been registered on kidneys activity. Evidence suggests that it causes kidneys arteries to expand, promoting diuresis.

Metabolism

Coffee consumption also affects endocrine glands by stimulating the secretion of suprarenal glands. What’s more interesting, it improves thyroid function and metabolism. If you are on a diet, do not worry. In fact, there is no evidence linking coffee consumption to an increased in calorie intake. Thus, if you are on a diet, there is no need to feel guilty if you still crave your cup of coffee.