Your Body On Coffee

Coffee junkie? Loving the cold brew? Yes we all enjoy our brews in the morning and throughout the day. 59 percent of Americans drink coffee every day. But are you aware of the extent of this beverage's effect on the body. 

There's been a number of reviews around studies that have cited the benefits of various aspects of drinking coffee. Most studies recognize a "cup of coffee" being an 8 ounce serving and when we talk about coffee, we mean black coffee, not with milk, sugar, syrup and other additives. Across the board of most studies, 3-4 cups per day for most everyone is where the peak benefit can be traced to.  Pregnant women and those who suffer from acid reflux and other issues should stay away.

Your Brain: Caffeine can be a stimulant and some evidence shows it can increase mental functioning and strengthen your ability to concentrate. Simply put, the brain works by sending out chemicals called neurotransmitters through synapses, that's how we're able to think. Caffeine is what's known a a psychoactive compound that modulates these neurotransmitters, allowing them to operate more efficiently. This results in better function for the brain to process chemical messengers. Used in moderation, coffee gives you an edge. 

Your Eyes: Caffeine also triggers sympathetic nervous system which regulates your body's unconscious activity, activating fight-or-flight mode. Coffee stimulate the receptors in your brain that communicates to the body to rev up and produce more adrenaline. Research suggests if you drink coffee, your pupils dilate very slightly. But you may feel you can see better for a short period of time.

Your Teeth: Of course, we're all aware that coffee or tea stain your teeth, but did you know that coffee contains a good amount of polyphenols, which are micronutrients that have been shown to effectively kill oral plaque and bacteria? But coffee has to be consumed black to reap the benefits. 

Your Heart: The most immediate physical effects of a hit of caffeine are cardiovascular. Caffeine increases the sensitivity of your neural pathways so that the electrical impulses responsible for triggering your cardiovascular system pass through the body more easily. About 15 minutes post-cup of coffee, the caffeine begins to elevate your pulse and blood pressure by an average of 10-15 percent. Consuming two six ounce cups a day isn't bad for most people but a greater intake can be problematic especially for those with underlying conditions such as heart disease. 

Your Stomach: Caffeine triggers receptors in your gut, boosting gastric secretions by about 10-15 percent a small but meaningful increase. These higher levels of acid help you digest your meal  faster. Caffeine relaxes the sphincter which is a bundle of muscles located at the base of your esophagus that acts as a gate to keep food from entering your trachea. 

Your Bowels: Caffeine stimulates your bowels, telling them to work harder and faster. But fecal matter has to remain in the bowels for a certain length of time in order to become a solid. If it moves too quickly, it will emerge still in liquid form. 

Your Bladder: Coffee acts as a diuretic and influences the tubules in your kidneys to flush more water through. The diuretic effects exist whether you're drinking regular or decaf, so it's not the caffeine play. Coffee contains other stimulating compounds including steroid-like molecules that physiologically provoke the bowels and bladder. 

Your Blood: Coffee doesn't generally link in terms of cholesterol. But studies suggest otherwise, coffee beans contain oils that are shown to increase cholesterol. These oils are sifted out if you drink filtered coffee but not in French press. The next time you order an unfiltered brew.