Is drinking coffee harmful to the health of the elderly? What kind of coffee is good to buy?

Coffee is a slightly bitter drink, and there are many types of coffee, such as American coffee, Blue Mountain coffee, black coffee, mocha coffee, etc. Many people drink coffee to refresh themselves and relieve sleep, so can the elderly drink coffee?

Is drinking coffee harmful to the health of the elderly?

Coffee is a complex beverage that contains dozens of ingredients, including caffeine, fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, crude fiber, chlorogenic acid, tannins, alkaloids, vitamins, etc. Drinking coffee can play a weak protective role against various cancers.

Caffeine can accelerate the body's metabolism, keep people alert, temporarily get rid of sleepiness, restore spirits, and improve sensitivity. Chlorogenic acid can slow down the release rate of blood sugar into the blood after a meal, enhance insulin sensitivity, and prevent diabetes. Chlorogenic acid also has antioxidant effects and reduces the risk of cancer. Cinnamic acid (caffeic acid) in coffee is also a beneficial substance in coffee.

Through animal experiments and population comparison tests, drinking coffee can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, fight inflammation, fight bacteria and viruses, and reduce the risk of some cancers. So, drinking coffee is actually a good thing for the elderly.

But coffee is not something you can drink casually.

Coffee is divided into pure coffee and mixed coffee. Pure coffee includes freshly ground coffee beans, instant powder, coffee capsules, etc.; mixed coffee refers to coffee with milk, sugar or non-dairy creamer, such as latte, mocha, cappuccino, instant coffee drinks, etc. Sugar and non-dairy creamer (trans fatty acids) are not good for the health of the elderly. It is recommended that the elderly choose pure coffee or coffee with milk, not sugary coffee drinks, and it is recommended to control the amount to 3 to 5 cups.

What kind of coffee should I buy?

If you are in a coffee shop, you can choose between hand-brewed coffee and espresso according to your taste.

Italian coffee must be extracted with a professional machine to add milk and various seasonings to make fancy and creative coffee. If you like black coffee, you can choose American coffee. If you want flavor, you can choose latte, sea salt caramel latte, cappuccino, mocha coffee, etc.

Hand-brewed coffee comes from Africa, such as Yirgacheffe (sourer taste and stronger aroma), America, such as Guatemala and Colombia (more balanced flavors and moderate sourness), and Asia, such as Mandheling (mellow taste).

You can also buy beans for hand-brewed coffee online and brew it at home.

Which elderly people are not suitable for drinking coffee?

The tannin in coffee inhibits the absorption of iron in food. Therefore, elderly people with iron deficiency anemia should not drink coffee.

Coffee also contains ingredients that are not good for blood lipids - cafestol and kahweol, which will increase the LDL level in the body. Elderly people with abnormal blood lipids are not suitable for drinking coffee.

Caffeine may also cause the heart rate to accelerate, and the elderly with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are not suitable for drinking coffee.