15 Benefits & Possible Drawbacks for Coffee for Women – Drinking coffee has a lot of benefits. Aside from tasting so good, coffee has some health benefits that perfectly fit the ever-changing needs of women. However, there are also possible disadvantages that might hold women back from drinking a good cup of Joe.
Here are simple health benefits from a good morning cup of coffee.
Improved energy levels
It is no secret that coffee can make your energy levels spike. Drinking a good cup increases energy, making women feel less exhausted. The caffeine content in a single cup is enough to give an energy boost. A cup typically has 75-100 grams of caffeine and this is sufficient in increasing concentration and alertness.
Fight’s depression
Women often experience mood fluctuations. And uncontrolled ones can often lead to depression. And most of the time, this can result in poor quality of life, and even increases the risk of suicide.
Studies show that women who drink coffee have a lesser chance of getting depressed. This study from Harvard depicted that women who consume about 4 cups of coffee in a day have a 20% lower risk of getting depressed compared to those who don’t drink coffee.
Enhance heart health
Across a lot of studies on coffee, one thing that we should take note of is that it reduces the risk for heart failure in general.
People often associate caffeine intake with palpitations and might assume that it is already bad for heart health. But studies show that caffeine intake is actually beneficial if consumed moderately. However, it did not expand to people who drink decaffeinated coffee.
Rich in antioxidants
A cup of coffee is rich in essential nutrients for one’s overall health. It has riboflavin, potassium, and magnesium, and it is also rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants fight off substances that may cause inflammation inside the body.
Protection against liver diseases
Consuming any type of coffee decreases the risk of various liver diseases like cirrhosis, cancer, and fatty liver disease. This is highly evident in a study that showed how coffee has multiple beneficial health outcomes.
Decreased cancer risk
Cancer is a debilitating condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Coffee can cut back the risk of certain types of cancer. Consuming a cup helps to protect you from conditions like colorectal and liver cancer.
Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease
Caffeine intake is associated with sharper brain activity. And this has been recently linked to protection against conditions associated with memory loss like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
There is currently no cure for these diseases and a healthy amount of coffee, with some exercise, could effectively reduce the chances of getting those diseases.
Improved physical performance
As energy levels increase with more coffee cups per day, physical performance is also improved. Coffee increases epinephrine, which is also known as adrenaline, levels in the blood. This can make one’s body ready for any physical activity throughout the day.
Burns body fats
Women who are health and figure conscious can rejoice with the fact that coffee helps in burning fats. Caffeine helps in facilitating the fat-burning process, especially when one is exercising.
Overall, coffee increases one’s metabolism and it generally helps in mobilising fat cells from various fat tissues.
Drinking too much coffee can also have possible drawbacks to women’s health. Check out these disadvantages you can avoid.
Difficulty in conceiving
Female fertility is generally fine with caffeine intake, especially in a cup with 200 mg of caffeine content or less. But it is highly advisable to limit caffeine consumption by around 1 or 2 cups per day for those who want to conceive.
Dehydration
Coffee can cause dehydration because it is a natural diuretic. This is important in women because, during menstruation, women are at an increased risk of dehydration, especially with increased coffee intake. This can further cause other gut issues and lowered energy levels.
Sleep disruption
Coffee can cause sleep disruption when taken at random times of the day. It can cause a disturbance in the natural sleep cycle and can lead to low energy and tiredness.
Charles from Cuppabean recommends cutting back on caffeine intake, especially when women are on their periods or when fatigue has been present for days.
Worse mood swings
Women are more prone to mood swings with hormonal fluctuations throughout the day. This can include increased levels of anxiety, weepiness, and even depression. Hormones playing vital roles throughout the menstrual cycle include progesterone and oestrogen.
On top of this, coffee triggers the sympathetic nervous system for a release of adrenaline, causing women to feel more nervous, anxious, and jittery. Curb out anxiety and stress by managing your coffee intake in these times.
Bone problems
Women are more prone to bone problems, especially those who are over the age of 65 years old. Coffee is among the food products to avoid when osteoporosis knocks on a woman’s age.
Coffee leaches calcium, which can aggravate bone problems like osteoporosis. Women who have decreased calcium intake can further risk themselves having these bone problems.
Wean out coffee by avoiding coffee-laden desserts and drinks. Opt out for decaf drinks and cut out your coffee cup intake in a day.
Gut issues
Coffee in general can cause gut issues. But in women of reproductive age, this can lead to a more severe gut problem, especially when caffeine intake is high days prior to menstruation. It can also cause gastroesophageal reflux disease, diarrhoea, and for some, constipation, adult diapers are available for discreet delivery if this has become an issue.
All in all, coffee is generally a great drink for women. It has a lot of health benefits, especially when consumed in moderation. It can make women feel good inside and out, and it also brings out confidence to get on the day.
Poppy Watt