The effect of coffee on mental health

Many people do not realize the effect of coffee on mental health, as well as the extent of the effect of coffee on the body as a whole.

Despite its many benefits that the body sometimes needs, excessive consumption of it may lead to serious disasters, so through our article today, we learn about the negative and positive effects of coffee and how to reduce it. The natural ones are allowed to be consumed so that the body is not exposed to risks that we do not need.

The effect of coffee on mental health

Although coffee has benefits in improving brain function, preventing Alzheimer’s disease, and maintaining mental health in general, recent studies have proven that the effect of coffee on mental health may be negative if consumed excessively, as they have proven that consuming more than 400 milligrams of it daily increases the incidence of dementia by 53%, in addition to impairment of brain function.

Studies have also recommended not drinking coffee in the late hours of the day. It affects the effectiveness of sleep because it contains a high percentage of caffeine, thus disrupting the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for the quality of sleep and the body’s performance of many vital functions during it, so it is best to avoid drinking it excessively. To avoid the significant effect of coffee on the body.

What is coffee?

Regarding our talk about the effect of coffee on the body and mental health, we can say that coffee is the product of the roasting process that takes place on the beans of the coffee plant—which are classified as fruits, by the way—and it is one of the most widespread commodities in the world, as it ranks second after oil in demand and spread, and there are more than 70 countries grow coffee and use it in trade.

What are the ingredients in coffee?

• It may surprise you that this small bean has a very complex chemical composition, so do not be surprised when we talk about the effect of coffee on the body because, chemically, it consists of the following:
• 4% of the grain’s composition is a different group of minerals.
• About 40% of the composition of the coffee bean is carbohydrates.
• The coffee bean contains an equal proportion of fat and water, each of which separately constitutes 13% of the bean’s composition.
• The equivalent of 5% of the composition of the coffee bean consists of various acids that have a strong influence on its effectiveness.
• The protein content of a coffee bean is 11% of its composition.
• The remaining percentage consists of a different group of chemical compounds, between sugars and alkaloids (caffeine and trigonalin), organic acids, and some other organic compounds.

Types of coffee

Speaking about the effect of coffee on the body, we can say that there are different types of coffee-making methods, such as Turkish coffee, Arabic coffee, latte, cortado, macchiato, and espresso, which number more than 90 different methods.

As for the type of coffee beans themselves, they are fewer in number but differ greatly in taste and composition. Among the most well-known types of coffee beans are:

• Robusta beans: Robusta beans are characterized by their bitter taste and high caffeine content. They are considered the second most popular type of coffee in the world and are used in several methods for making coffee, including espresso.
• Arabica beans: They are the most famous of all, and they often grow on the continent of Africa. They represent more than half of the world’s coffee production. They are distinguished by their balanced taste and moderate caffeine content. They are used in making Turkish coffee, Arabic coffee, and some other types.
• Excelsa beans: This type of cereal is flavored with different fruit flavors in addition to a high amount of caffeine, so it is more expensive and less popular.
• Liberica beans: Not many people know them, and they are the least common types. They are often brewed and smoked to obtain a distinctive flavor, and their caffeine content is moderate and not high.

Caffeine in coffee

If you are wondering about the effect of coffee on mental health, it is sufficient to know that only 100 grams of coffee contain the equivalent of 40 milligrams of caffeine, and although it seems like a small percentage to some, it has a significant impact on the body and its vital functions.

The effect of coffee on the body is mainly due to the effect of caffeine, as it begins to take effect after 10 minutes in the body and reaches its highest levels in the blood within 45 minutes, so excess of it puts human health at risk.

Benefits of Coffee

The effect of coffee on the body is not harmful in cases of moderate consumption without excessive amounts. On the contrary, coffee carries many benefits for humans, the most important of which are:

• Maintaining cardiovascular health and regular blood circulation.
• Increase activity and concentration and stimulate the body to produce energy.
• It contains antioxidants that enhance the body’s immunity and activate cells.
• The effect of coffee on the burning process has been scientifically proven, as it contributes significantly to getting rid of fat.
• A means of preventing some diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer.

Harmful effects of coffee

After we learned about the effect of coffee on the body in moderation, it is worth noting that there is also an effect of coffee on mental health and the body in cases of excessive consumption, which may cause the following:

• Coffee leads to an increase and acceleration of the pulse and, thus, a severe increase in blood pressure.
• Inhibiting the action of antidiuretic hormone, which means an increased need to urinate.
• Regarding the effect of coffee on mental health, it leads to an increase in nerve impulses, thus increasing mood and feelings of tension, and in some cases, it may cause slight tremors in the extremities.
• Some problems in the digestive system, such as feeling a burning sensation in the stomach or indigestion,
• People who suffer from colon diseases that may cause diarrhea.

A healthy rate of coffee drinking

To avoid coffee having a bad effect on the body, you must adhere to the recommended doses when consuming coffee, which is estimated at 4 small cups per day, in the absence of other sources of caffeine in the diet, taking into account that the percentage is lower in the case of non-adults.

The effect of coffee on sleep

Among the effects of coffee on the body is a feeling of alertness and activity, so it is not at all recommended to consume it directly before sleep because it causes a feeling of insomnia and not getting enough sleep, and thus the chemicals necessary for the body’s vitality are not secreted, in addition to increasing the feeling of headache, tension, and distraction. Concentration and attention, in addition to problems with memory and retaining information due to not getting enough sleep.

The best time to drink coffee

Contrary to the prevailing opinion, the appropriate time to drink coffee is not early in the morning as soon as you wake up, because that causes many problems for the digestive system and stomach, in addition to increasing the heart rate and high blood pressure. Rather, the most appropriate time to drink coffee is after eating breakfast at an appropriate time to ensure maximum intake benefit from food.

Drinking coffee should also not be in the middle of the day or the afternoon so that its effect does not continue until sleep; it should be in the early morning to avoid any negative impact on the person.

In general, coffee is a delicious drink with many benefits, but any underestimation of its effect and excessive consumption may lead to many negative results that are best avoided.