Many may not be aware of the fact that coffee drinking may have some side effects while improving your performance. There are various side effects of coffee but we have made a list of seven side effects of drinking coffee for your convenience.
In this modern society and exhaustive work culture, coffee has become the popular beverage choice across various groups of people. However, there are many side effects of coffee if taken in large quantities.
Coffee is rich in caffeine and various research concluded that the half-life of caffeine is nearly 6 hours. So, if an individual grabs a coffee at 6 PM, it will take 6 hours to deplete half of the caffeine present in the body and another half in another six hours, and so on. This slow rate of depletion of caffeine is the major factor behind the side effects of coffee drinking.
People drink coffee to relieve fatigue and stress and at the same time increase alertness. However, different studies across the globe show that a high amount of caffeine in the human body may lead to headache, anxiety, restlessness, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, elevated heart rate and breathing pattern, insomnia, etc. These are the common side effects of coffee. (1, 2)
What are the side effects of coffee?
Coffee is a psychoactive drug that can enhance your focus power, increase your energy level and provide you vigor to work more and longer. The body of the coffee drinker reaps out ten percent of his energy in the form of the metabolism of the toxicants that come with nicotine, caffeine, drugs, alcohol. But one may suffer many side effects of coffee due to heavy consumption.
Here is a list of 7 very common side effects of coffee.
Insomnia
Coffee also contains caffeine so overconsumption will leave you jittery and it can lead to insomnia.
In this fast life people always need to have some extra time to finish what they have on their plate and the cheapest substitute for their extra time is large and strong, a cup of coffee.
As we have known the half-life of caffeine is six hours. So, if someone is having coffee somewhere close to 8-9 PM, it’s almost impossible to sleep before 2-3 AM on the next day. Which may cause fatigue in the morning due to less and unpleasant sleep. This may again call for morning coffee and the sow will keep on running.
Stomach Upset
Coffee acts as a diuretic and may cause headaches if taken in large amounts. Heavy consumption induces heartburn and gastric irritation.
A large quantity of coffee may aggravate pre-existing digestion-related ailments and especially if someone is having black coffee. Prolonged use of a heavy dose of coffee causes gastrointestinal discomfort like heart burning and acidity. The most common is acidity which is the primary cause of several life-threatening diseases. One should always avoid having black coffee before breakfast.
High Blood Sugar
Caffeine affects people differently. It almost has negligible effects on non-diabetic individuals while it may be of serious concern for the individuals diagnosed with diabetes. On average a young adult consumes around 240 mg of caffeine which will not have any impact on the consumer while an average of 200mg per day may be detrimental to diabetic people. Different studies suggest that caffeine intake can increase the blood sugar level in type 2 diabetes people. If you have difficulty controlling blood sugar one may opt for decaf to avoid any medical interventions.
A study published in 2000 has shown that caffeine consumption has a greatly negative impact on diabetics. The main purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of caffeine and diabetic complications. The study disclosed that people with type 2 diabetes who consumed beverages with different levels of caffeine, ranging from zero to 500 mg per day, were monitored for four years. Consequently, the findings revealed that individuals consuming less than 75mg or less per day and 200 mg or more per day were at risk of developing diabetic complications.
High Blood Pressure
High caffeine intake may cause a temporal increase or spike in blood pressure even though you are not diagnosed with blood pressure symptoms. It’s not quite certain why such a spike in blood pressure after having coffee. But some researchers believe that high caffeine levels changed the hormonal balance in the body especially adrenaline. This hormone is responsible for elevated blood pressure.
It is observed that individuals having a large number of caffeinated drinks have relatively higher average blood pressure. If this type of signature is observed for a specific individual one should avoid using caffeinated drinks before an intense activity which might elevate blood pressure temporarily.
Now, we’re already aware that caffeine should be avoided by those who are pregnant or are already suffering from hypertension. Coffee and tea should be limited to a maximum of two cups a day for pregnant women and those with high blood pressure. This is to prevent extreme fluctuations in blood pressure levels which could also lead to complications.
High Cholesterol
A cup of coffee may be harmful if you have a high cholesterol level. Coffee beans contain substances like cafestol and kahweol and these ingredients are known for raising LDL cholesterol in the human body. Although the quantity of LDL in coffee is very less, it will not be a health risk for people with normal LDL levels, but it may have detrimental effects on high LDL individuals. To avoid such circumstances, people with high cholesterol should prefer filter coffee where LDL gets separated as filtrate rather than espresso which contains LDL.
Anxiety Disorders
Caffeine is known for raising the anxiety level by increasing the adrenalin level, responsible for increasing energy at the same time increasing alertness by blocking adenosine which makes you feel tired. Caffeine-induced anxiety may worsen pre-existing anxiety disorders.
Caffeine-induced anxiety is a mild form of anxiety that is triggered once caffeine has entered the bloodstream. Caffeine is a popular drug found in coffee and tea. The symptoms show up in minutes of consuming caffeine and they are short-lived.
Bone Loss
Osteoporosis or bone thinning is very common in elderly people, but it is also observed in younger adults with high caffeine intake. Caffeine-rich drinks increase the calcium in the body which gets discharged through the urination process leaving the body with little less calcium every time we complete the cycle.
In case of pre-existing osteoporosis situation, one should avoid having a caffeine intake of more than 400mg a day and try to have calcium-rich foods and supplements. Postmenopausal women with a high risk of osteoporosis should be cautious with the caffeine intake which may worsen the problem.
What are the side effects of black coffee?
There are various varieties of coffee available in the market amongst which one of the most popular coffee is black coffee. Here is the list of side effects of black coffee.
- Causes stomach upset, acidity, and abdominal spasm
- May interfere with the absorption of essential vitamin and minerals
- Can lead to insomnia if taken before bedtime
- Caffeine can cause elevated anxiety and stress levels
What are the side effects of green coffee?
Another variety of coffee but not so popular is the green coffee beans that are mostly used to weight loss programs. These beans are unroasted and contain a high quantity of chlorogenic acid compared to regular coffee. Here is a list of some of the side effects of green coffee.
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
What are the side effects of chicory coffee?
Chicory coffee is not exactly coffee however it is prepared from the roots of the chicory plant. The roots are roasted, ground, and brewed in the coffee-similar drink. It is a very healthy alternative to regular coffee however it may not be completely health proof. Here are some of the side effects of chicory coffee.
- Allergy
- Miscarriages, Mensural bleeding
- Bloating
- Abdominal Pain
- Skin Irritation
What are the side effects of decaf coffee?
Coffee naturally contains caffeine which has some harmful effects if consumed in large quantities. Decaf or decaffeinated coffee doesn’t contain any caffeine and is found to be healthier compared to regular coffee but it does have some side effects. Here is the list of side effects of decaf coffee.
- High cholesterol level
- Aggravates rheumatoid arthritis
- Headache and drowsiness
- Limited mood improvement
- Acidity
What are the side effects of keto coffee?
This drink is very popular among people who are on a keto/ketogenic diet. It is the high-calorie drink to replace breakfast among weight losing enthusiasts. It plays a very important role in reducing the weight very fast however it may have some downsides. Here are some of the side effects of keto coffee.
- Acidity
- Malabsorption of nutrients
- High cholesterol level
- Nutrient deficiency
- Heart conditions
What are the side effects of coffee in males?
The side effects of coffee in males depend upon the sensitivity of the individuals. It varies from person to person some may be very sensitive and some may not. Here is the list of side effects of coffee drinking in males.
- Restlessness
- High blood pressure
- Tiredness
- Insomnia
- Stomach Upset
- Heart Conditions
What are the side effects of coffee in females?
The side effects of coffee in females depend upon the sensitivity of the individuals. The symptoms of high caffeine intake may vary in females compared to males. Here is the list of side effects of coffee drinking in females.
- Cyst formation
- Inhibits collagen formation in the skin
- Dehydration
- Nutrient Deficiency
- Miscarriages
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Mood swings
What are the side effects of applying coffee on hair?
In general, caffeine increases blood circulation in the scalp that helps in getting healthy hair follicles. Its application improves hair growth and provides healthy hair. However, excessive use of caffeine may have some side effects. A list of side effects of applying coffee on hair are:
- Slow hair growth
- Hair fall
- Skin irritation
What are the side effects of quitting coffee?
Caffeine is the nervous system stimulant and regulars consumption over a prolonged period may lead to dependency on it. It is the most commonly used psychoactive substance and its withdrawal may cause several ill effects. Some of the side effects of quitting coffee include:
- Fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Irritability
- Mood swings
What are the benefits of coffee?
The side effects of coffee in different circumstances have been listed above however there are certain benefits of coffee drinking that make it the most popular beverage across the world. Here is the list of the top benefits of coffee.
- Increases alertness
- Improves energy and mood
- Increases physical performances
- Rich in Nutrient
- Protect against type 2 diabetes
- Weight loss
- Reduces risk of heart disease
- Reduces risk of Parkinson’s disease
- Burn fat
Summary
High intake of caffeine is detrimental to health especially if you are having a pre-existing health condition. People should avoid overdosing on caffeine and try to regulate the moderate amount of caffeine which will help you in fighting this fast-forward life, if possible, people should prefer filter coffee and in smaller quantities.