How Much Coffee Should I Drink?.

Despite its popularity, not many of us fully understand what happens to our bodies after consuming coffee. What happens if we continue to drink coffee throughout the day? As we get to our third, fourth or even fifth cup are there any downsides to the level of caffeine being ingested?

First let’s examine the negative effects of coffee, or more specifically the caffeine contained within. As a stimulant, the active ingredient caffeine is what gives us our morning buzz, but is also what can potentially cause health problems further down the line.

Bad Reaction to Caffeine

Even though the initial effects are the reason most people turn to coffee in the first place, caffeine simply isn’t for everyone. It affects people differently as each person processes and metabolises caffeine at differing rates. A defect in the gene GYP1A2 has been cited as the reason for some people processing it less efficiently than others.

The adverse effects these people suffer from include insomnia, anxiety, jitters and the feeling of being wired after only one or two cups. It has also been reported in the past that the chances of suffering from more serious health issues can increase.

As well as these adverse effects for certain people, caffeine is an addictive substance. With regular coffee consumption comes increased tolerance, leading some to drink more and more cups to achieve the same effect. As with other addictive substances, weaning yourself off can be a difficult process.

Insomnia, Anxiety & Stress

Difficulty sleeping, stress and hormonal changes can also be triggered by caffeine. If someone is already feeling stressed or anxious then caffeine can exacerbate this and even increase cortisol levels.

Your body’s ability (or inability) to efficiently metabolise caffeine dramatically affects sleep quality. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 10 hours so can impact sleep long after your morning buzz has worn off.

Despite these negative effects, there are several significant health benefits associated with drinking coffee. The most obvious one is the jolt of energy it provides your brain, releasing norepinephrine and dopamine in the process. This helps us to feel more alert and can even improve our moods.

Coffee is also a great source of antioxidants and nutrients as it contains riboflavin, vitamin B5, manganese, potassium, magnesium, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Although the levels of each are relatively low, they add up if drinking multiple cups of coffee per day.

In one of the largest studies of its kind, the European Society of Cardiology recently found that light to moderate coffee drinking was associated with multiple health benefits. This included a reduction in the risk of stroke and fatal heart disease in people drinking up to three cups of coffee per day.

“Our results suggest that regular coffee consumption is safe, as even high daily intake was not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality after a follow-up of 10 to 15 years,” said study author Dr. Judit Simon, of the Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest.

“Moreover, 0.5 to 3 cups of coffee per day was independently associated with lower risks of stroke, death from cardiovascular disease, and death from any cause.”

For the vast majority of people, drinking multiple cups of coffee per day carries more benefits than drawbacks. The added vitamins and antioxidants to your diet, coupled with positive effects on mood and performance, greatly outweigh any potential risks. As the research from the ESC confirms, drinking up to three cups per day carries no risk.

However, if you suffer from health issues like insomnia or anxiety it may be worth limiting your intake. Also, if you’re adding sugar or cream to your cup this could impact your health negatively.

The clear health benefits associated with drinking coffee (particularly in the mornings) make one of our office coffee machines a fantastic addition to any office environment. Commercial coffee machines come in an array of shapes and sizes with design features suitable for all needs and requirements.

Hot drinks vending machines aren’t just for coffee either, our range also gives the option to enjoy delicious hot chocolates alongside cappuccinos, lattes and a proper cup of tea.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss your needs and find the perfect coffee machine for you.