Millions of people regularly drink coffee black. Despite having few calories, it has a lot of nutrients and benefits. However, do you know what black coffee is and what it does to your mind and body? How does coffee affect your health, and what are its side effects?
Contents
What Is Black Coffee?
Black coffee is a drink made of roasted coffee beans without adding additives such as milk, sugar, cream, or added flavors. The strength of coffee varies significantly according to the brewing method and the roast profile.
Ground coffee beans are steeped in boiling water for several minutes (depending on the method), then strained. This extraction process produces a highly concentrated liquid containing many of the soluble compounds that give coffee its flavor. The flavor can be described in terms of four primary attributes: bitterness, sourness, body, and sweetness.
Black Coffee Health Benefits
Black coffee is a staple in most people’s diets. It’s a quick and easy way to get your caffeine fix and has some surprising health benefits. Typically, one 8-ounce serving cup of coffee contains:
- Calories: 2
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
- Sodium: 5 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 0 grams
It also contains no fats, calories, or cholesterol, making it ideal for those looking for a regular drink that won’t damage their health.
Antioxidant
According to a study published in the “National Library of Science” in 2013, black coffee has more antioxidants than green tea. Antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body that cause damage to cells and lead to disease.
Its high antioxidant content is attributed to its high chlorogenic acid (CGA), a compound found only in coffee beans that gives them their bitter taste and dark color. CGA has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body and may play a role in preventing cancer.
Weight Loss
CLA in coffee may also help reduce fat absorption by inhibiting gastric emptying and increasing glucose absorption from the gut into the bloodstream. A study found that CLA supplements helped prevent weight gain and reduced body fat mass in obese rats.
Additional Benefits:
- Helps prevent cardiovascular disease
- Reduce Type 2 diabetes risk
- Protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease
- Improve liver health by reducing liver damage caused by alcohol consumption
Side Effects
While many people enjoy black coffee’s rich aroma and taste, there are some side effects that you should know about.
First, it’s essential to know that regularly consuming your coffee will not cause severe health conditions or illnesses. However, it can have several minor side effects if consumed in large amounts.
Nervousness and Anxiety
This is one of the most common side effects of drinking too much coffee. Many people feel jittery after having too much caffeine or drinking too many cups of coffee throughout the day.
They may experience nervousness and even anxiety due to consuming too much caffeine. This can be especially difficult if you’re trying to sleep at night after having had several cups during the day.
Increased Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
Drinking too much coffee has been linked to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. This means that people with high blood pressure may want to limit their intake of this beverage or avoid it altogether to help lower their risk for heart disease.
Dehydration
Another potential adverse effect of drinking too much coffee is dehydration. While this may seem counterintuitive since coffee is a diuretic (it increases urination), it acts in a way that prevents excessive water loss from the body through urination. If you drink too much coffee without adequate water, you could become dehydrated more quickly than usual.
Related Questions
Can I Drink Black Coffee Every Day?
You can drink coffee daily; just remember that a single serving contains roughly 96 milligrams of caffeine, and it is not recommended to consume more than 400 mg daily. If you drink a lot of coffee, limit yourself to no more than 4 cups per day.
Is Black Coffee Better Than White Coffee?
Coffee Black is better than white coffee because it has no added sugar or milk. It’s also calorie-free, so if you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll be happy to know that taking coffee alone won’t harm your diet.
When Should I Drink Black Coffee?
Coffee should be drunk mid- to late-morning when your stress hormone, cortisol, levels are lower. This time is usually between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. for most people who rise at 6:30 a.m.
Conclusion
Black coffee is coffee without added ingredients, made from roasted ground coffee beans mixed with hot water. It helps in weight loss and prevents cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. However, the recommended daily caffeine intake is 400 mg (4 cups).
