It is important to follow certain rules
If your morning starts with coffee, it is undoubtedly better than starting the day with stress. However, a cup of aromatic invigorating drink cannot always have a beneficial effect on your health. Scientists have proven the opposite: coffee can worsen your condition. However, there are ways to avoid this.
Western experts warn that coffee can actually do more harm than good if consumed incorrectly.
Yes, there is evidence that coffee can help combat common health problems, but it has also been linked to hormonal imbalances, poor sleep and even dementia.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dr. Sheena Burnell and anthropologist Siim Land shared tips on how to drink the beloved beverage that will benefit your health, not harm it.
It's a good idea to wait at least an hour after waking up before drinking your first cup of coffee. This is because caffeine can cause a sharp rise in cortisol (the stress hormone). Land says the ideal time for coffee is between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The idea behind waiting until you wake up to drink coffee is to allow your natural cortisol levels to rise.
But interestingly, Sheena Burnell, on the contrary, likes to drink coffee immediately after waking up. She believes that it can protect against bowel cancer.
However, both experts agree on one thing: limiting coffee consumption in the afternoon or evening is a reasonable rule. After all, abstaining from the invigorating drink during this time period guarantees you a calm and full sleep.
Experts, writes the Daily Mail, also recommend drinking no more than 2-3 cups a day. Burnell explained that limited coffee consumption contributes to longevity, but drinking more than three cups a day can lead to a decrease in cognitive abilities in old age.
The choice of milk also plays a role (if you dilute your coffee with it). Dr. Sheena Burnell recommends avoiding cow's milk because it contains lactose, which is harder for the human body to digest as we age. The best alternative is plant-based milk that you make yourself.
In addition, you should avoid adding sugar or sweeteners to your drink. A pleasant and healthy substitute can be regular honey.
Land adds that it is also important to understand what type of person you are: a fast or slow metabolizer. Genetics, oddly enough, plays a big role in how your body reacts to coffee.
For example: people with a slow metabolism tend to feel more nervous, restless, and have a faster heart rate after drinking coffee. These signs indicate that your body is more susceptible to negative reactions to drinking too much coffee.
On the contrary, people whose bodies process coffee quickly are more likely to feel more stable after drinking it and can usually drink more than others without side effects.
Dr. Burnell, by the way, agrees and uses DNA testing in her work with her patients to determine a person’s coffee metabolism type.
It is also extremely important to enjoy your coffee, and not rush to drink it in a couple of sips, notes the Daily Mail. If drinking coffee becomes a certain kind of pleasant ritual for you, then you will get a more pleasant and beneficial effect from the drink.