Is coffee bad for the health?

Only when consumed in excessive amounts. Coffee’s active ingredient is caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant that is found in many soft drinks, chocolate, cocoa, tea, and medicines. The amounts of caffeine in coffee depend on the manner in which it is prepared and how strong it is. Brewed coffee is the richest source of caffeine followed by instant coffee.

Most people get a kick out of drinking coffee which has become an important ritual that they look forward to. Regular users report increased alertness and decreased irritability. Others react differently. Caffeine-sensitive individuals may experience symptoms of nervousness, restlessness, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, and insomnia. Regular coffee drinkers who are deprived of their favourite brew may also experience these symptoms.

The bottom line? Drink moderately unless your physician tells you to eliminate caffeine use because of certain medical conditions. Three cups of regular coffee a day probably won’t give you any trouble. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, it’s wise to eliminate coffee and other sources of caffeine in your diet.

Can black coffee sober up a drunken person?

Since caffeine is a stimulant, it may “lift the spirits” and alleviate the mild depression that sometimes follows heavy drinking. However, coffee does not speed up the elimination of alcohol from the body. In fact, you’ll be wide-awake but remain drunk.

Can coffee stop headaches?

Rather than stop, your headache may get worse with coffee, especially if you’re caffeine-sensitive. For those who aren’t, they may find a hot cup of coffee relaxing since caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it reduces the stretching of blood vessels in the head and neck that may be causing your headache.

Is decaffeinated coffee better?

Decaffeinated coffee (in which the caffeine has been reduced or removed) certainly has less caffeine and presumably less side effects. Consider this: One teaspoon of instant decaf coffee has only 2mg of caffeine compared to brewed coffee that contains a whopping 103 to 164mg of caffeine!

The downside is that decaf coffee costs more and the small amount of caffeine it contains can produce the unpleasant effects of coffee in caffeine-sensitive individuals. For these poor souls, decaf coffee isn’t necessarily better.

Can black coffee make you slim?

Only if you don’t eat! Black coffee has no calories and is a mild diuretic that helps eliminate excess water and a small amount of weight from the body. However, black coffee can also make you hungry because it stimulates the production of stomach acids. The “hunger pangs” you feel after taking black coffee can ruin your diet!

Ms Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine www.HealthLinesNews.com