What Happens if You Drink Coffee Every Day
If you’re a “coffee first” kind of person, you’re not alone. 66% of Americans report drinking coffee on a daily basis. But what happens from daily coffee consumption? Is it something you need to worry about or is it actually a healthy habit?
Here are the cons:
While coffee doesn't contain any cholesterol or saturated fat (unless you add creamer), it contains diterpenes which can suppress substances that are responsible for breaking down cholesterol in the body. In turn, this can increase bad LDL cholesterol.
It is not fully understood how coffee increases blood pressure, but caffeine can cause a temporary rise in numbers. Some theories include that it blocks a hormone that widens arteries or that it increases adrenaline which increases pressure in your arteries.
The good news is that if you're a regular coffee-drinker you may build a tolerance to the blood pressure-rising effect of caffeine.
Although coffee may help promote regularity for those who suffer from constipation, it can exacerbate acid reflux so proceed with caution.
Caffeine is a stimulant and certain sensitive individuals may find that drinking coffee regularly disrupts quality sleep. In this case, it's best to limit timing and quantities of coffee and caffeine intake.
Here’s how it can benefit your health:
Caffeine binds to receptors in the brain to block tiredness and improve cognitive function and well-being. While these effects may mostly be short-term there is some research showing long-term benefits of regular caffeine consumption. This may also be attributed to the antioxidants found in the coffee bean.
Coffee beans are a significant source of disease-fighting antioxidants. These polyphenols can protect against heart disease, certain types of cancer and Alzheimer's.
Since coffee is a natural energy-booster it's no surprise that drinking a cup of coffee before a workout can improve strength and performance. However, regular coffee consumers should note that the exercise-enhancing effects can be diminished if you're drinking a few cups per day.
Can you become addicted to coffee?
Developing a dependence on coffee is very common. That's because caffeine can lead to mild and circumstantial changes in brain chemistry. One of the reasons caffeine is so enticing is because of how it makes us feel: productive, energetic, alert and motivated. Caffeine resembles adenosine which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in our brain that promotes sleep and relaxation. Caffeine can block adenosine which can ward off feelings of tiredness and fatigue - that is the goal!
Overtime, however, your body can start to overproduce adenosine and the caffeine fix you grew reliant on can become harder and harder to achieve. You might find that you now need 3 cups of coffee to get through the day versus your original 1 cup. Further, caffeine withdrawal can be felt more profoundly and become very unpleasant - this reinforces the need for coffee to function properly.
Additional notes to consider with coffee consumption:
Caffeinated beverages can also suppress appetite which can lead you to eat less throughout the day when your body needs fuel the most. Once that caffeine wears off, you might find yourself more ravenous than ever as your body tries to catch up on your nutritional requirements. If you struggle with under-eating during the day and overeating at night, this might be something to consider.
Some people might like their coffee black and bitter, but most prefer their coffee light and sweet. Keep in mind that while a few tablespoons of creamer and a few teaspoons of sugar is harmless, if you're having several servings of each per day it can add up over time. Consider a sugar-alternative or slowly wean down on the sugar packets. Your preference for sweets won't go away, but you may find that you didn't need all that sugar to begin with.
Can you become immune to coffee’s benefits?
The benefits of drinking coffee such as improved energy, alertness, mood and performance can decrease with more regular consumption. This is because it can affect your brain chemistry and increase adenosine production, which can make it harder for coffee to work its magic. You might notice that 1 cup doesn't do it anymore and you need 2 or 3 to feel functionable. This all depends on other factors such as age, lifestyle habits, activity levels, general health and body mass. The good news is that you can lower your immunity, or tolerance, by slowing weaning off of coffee or switching to decaf coffee and tea.