Coffee has been both praised and mocked for centuries. It is been said that caffeine can cure laziness as a “gift from heaven”. But what are the actual, scientifically proven pros and cons of coffee we know today?

GOOD:

BOOST PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

Have a cup of black coffee about an hour before workout and your performance can improve. Caffeine increases adrenaline levels in your blood. Adrenaline is your body’s hormone which helps you to prepare for physical exertion.

LOSE WEIGHT

Coffee contains magnesium and potassium, which helps the human body use insulin, regulating blood sugar levels and reducing your craving for sugary treats and snacks. It also break down body fat and use it as fuel for training.

REDUCE RISK OF CANCER

One study has shown that coffee may decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer in men, and endometrial cancer in women. Caffeine may also prevent developing of basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

BRIGHTENS MOOD & FIGHT DEPRESSION

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and boosts production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline, which elevate your mood. The aroma of coffee can brighten up your day too!

BAD:

CAUSE INSOMNIA

Your recommended maximum amount of caffeine is 400 milligrams, roughly the amount that you’ll get from 4 cups of coffee. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, be careful, you must be aware how much amount and what kind of coffee suits, or doesn’t suit you. The amount of caffeine that is safe for human consumption is actually written in our DNA.

NOT GOOD IF YOU ARE PREGNANT

Coffee’s effect on a fetus have been controversial, but one thing is sure, if you drink coffee when pregnant, caffeine will also reach the fetus, and your baby is highly sensitive to caffeine. So, if you’re a heavy coffee drinker and can’t stop drinking it while pregnant, at least reduce your coffee intake to half cup a day.

HIGH IN CHOLESTEROL

Coffee beans contain cafestol and kahweol, two ingredients that appear to raise LDL cholesterol levels. Filtering the coffee traps most of the LDL, but cafestol and kahweol are found in espresso, turkish coffee, french press and scandinavian style “cooked coffee”. The intake of LDL from a cup of espresso is still so small, that for people with normal cholesterol levels, won’t be at risk.

CAN BE TOXIC

Bad quality coffee can have a lot of impurities in it, which can cause sickness or bad headache. This can happen if your coffee is made from beans that have been over ripped or otherwise ruined. Even one ruined bean can make your cup toxic. If you invest and buy high quality, speciality coffee you don’t have to worry about this.