“Health from Food” Series | What will happen to your body if you drink coffee for a long time?

Coffee is one of the three major beverages in the world. Many people start their day by washing cups and drinking coffee. However, as modern society pays more and more attention to health and wellness, people have more and more questions about coffee. After a long period of fermentation, the answers on the Internet are even more varied, with some true and some false. So, what effects will long-term coffee drinking have on the body? How can we avoid these risks?

Can long-term coffee drinking lead to calcium deficiency?

Possibly. Coffee contains caffeine, which can stimulate sympathetic excitement or act as a diuretic, promoting circulation and diuresis. After diuresis, blood calcium will be excreted from the body, causing a decrease in blood calcium, thus causing the body to be in a state of calcium deficiency. People who drink coffee for a long time can take calcium supplements to replenish the calcium content in the body when necessary. Postmenopausal women and elderly men should be cautious when drinking coffee, as these people are more likely to be calcium deficient.

Can long-term coffee drinking cause palpitations and heart palpitations?

Possibly. After drinking coffee, the caffeine concentration in the body increases, which will cause the sympathetic nerve plexus throughout the body to be in a state of continuous excitement, which may increase the functional burden of the cardiovascular system and other systemic vascular groups, and then cause symptoms of palpitations. People with palpitations are not recommended to drink coffee. Those with mild symptoms can promote caffeine metabolism by taking proper rest and drinking plenty of water, thereby alleviating the symptoms. Those with severe symptoms are advised to go to the hospital in time for treatment and follow the doctor's advice.

Can long-term coffee drinking lead to coffee addiction?

Possibly. Caffeine is indeed addictive. For the central nervous system, coffee addiction is a stimulant. Long-term and large-scale drinking of coffee or caffeinated beverages may cause physical and mental dependence on caffeine. When a long-term coffee drinker suddenly tries to quit caffeine, he may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, anxiety, irritability, nausea and vomiting, and general weakness.

How to avoid the negative effects of drinking coffee?

Learn to control the time and amount of coffee you drink. The half-life of caffeine is 5-6 hours, so drinking coffee in the evening may affect your sleep. To avoid this, drink coffee before 2-3 pm and limit your daily intake. Generally speaking, daily caffeine intake should not exceed 400 mg, which is equivalent to about 4 cups of coffee. In addition, patients with hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, gastritis, gastric ulcer, gallstones, osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia and other diseases should try to avoid drinking coffee, otherwise it may affect the recovery of the disease or cause the condition to worsen.

Author: Li Daoying and Lan Haobo, Department of Luoyang Normal University

Review expert: He Jialiang, associate professor of the School of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology