Coffee is often considered a "panacea" for the liver due to its ability to slow liver disease progression and reduce oxidative stress. However, consuming it in the wrong amount or manner can inadvertently lead to serious health risks.
According to Doctor M Ravi Kumar, a senior internal medicine specialist from India, coffee is rich in antioxidants but harbors "hidden" side effects that subtly impact long-term health.
Altering brain structure
Research indicates that using coffee to force alertness when tired can cause gray matter atrophy in the brain. This makes it difficult for the brain to recover from stress and exhaustion.
Specifically, caffeine can block adenosine receptors (a sleep-inducing substance) for up to 12 hours. This means that even if you fall asleep, the brain may still miss the deep sleep stages essential for cognitive recovery, leading to chronic "brain fog".
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Coffee can cause gray matter atrophy, nutrient deficiencies, digestive disorders, rapid skin aging, and various long-term health harms if used incorrectly. Photo: Bao Bao. |
Nutrient "thief" and stomach erosion
Coffee can act as a nutrient "thief" by hindering absorption in the intestines and increasing excretion through urine.
Caffeine and polyphenols (such as tannin) impede calcium and iron absorption. Over time, this contributes to bone density loss and can lead to iron deficiency anemia.
Coffee strongly stimulates stomach acid secretion. Consumed on an empty stomach, it can erode the stomach lining and cause localized inflammation, which is often mistaken for ordinary stress.
Negative impacts on skin and aging
Coffee stimulates cortisol (the stress hormone) production. Surging cortisol levels can lead to "adult acne" and reduce skin elasticity. This underlying inflammatory process causes your skin to age faster than its chronological age.
Disrupted menstrual cycles in women
Excessive coffee consumption can disrupt monthly menstrual cycles. Neurologically, regular intake can trap users in a cortisol dependency loop, while also easily triggering anxiety attacks and heart palpitations.
Risk of abdominal obesity
While pure black coffee is low in calories and supports metabolism, consuming four or more cups daily is linked to increased abdominal fat and metabolic issues.
Leaky gut syndrome
Finally, coffee can imbalance the microbiota in the mouth and stomach. This leads to gum diseases and leaky gut syndrome, causing frequent bloating or increased sensitivity to various foods.
My Y (According to Hindustan Times)
