How does coffee work? What's in a coffee bean? Effect on the nervous system

This is a drink known to mankind since ancient times. For about the same number of years, there have been fierce debates about its usefulness or harm. And it should be noted that neither side, at least at the moment, can prove its victory.

Of course, we can talk about the benefits or harms of this drink only by identifying the main directions of its effect on our body. So how does coffee affect the human body? This question cannot be answered in a nutshell, but to begin with, I will cite one small but very informative historical fact.

The King of Sweden, Gustav III, who ruled the state in the eighteenth century, once ordered an experiment: two twin brothers, guilty of serious crimes, had the death penalty commuted to life imprisonment.

But with one condition - one of them will drink a large cup of coffee throughout the entire period allotted to him, the other - the same portion of tea. In addition to the supervisors, two experienced doctors had to closely monitor the tests.

This experiment somehow dragged on, two doctors were the first to leave this world, then the king laid down his head in one of the battles, and only then, being at a very old age, exceeding 80 years, the first brother who drank tea died. The one who drank coffee lived for several more years. This is such a simple and instructive story.

So how does coffee affect the human body?

The effect of coffee on nervous system

The mechanism of action of coffee, perhaps, lies largely in the nervous system. This drink exhibits its effect to a greater extent due to its chemical composition.

First of all, we are talking, of course, about caffeine. This substance was first isolated in pure form at the beginning of the 19th century, by a French chemist.

Caffeine is a strong stimulant of brain activity. Under its influence, the blood vessels of the brain dilate, which leads to a significant acceleration of blood circulation in the central nervous system. As a result, many biochemical processes occurring in the central nervous system are somewhat accelerated.

In addition, it is believed that the invigorating drink can accelerate the transmission of nerve impulses from one neuron to another, which is reflected in an increase in nervous excitability. This manifests itself, first of all, in a feeling of vivacity and energy, and the functioning of the senses is heightened.

It’s not for nothing that many of us prefer to drink coffee in the morning, immediately after waking up. At this time, the activity of brain processes is at a fairly low level; simply put, the nervous system has not yet recovered from sleep.

It is clear that coffee improves brain activity. And therefore its use is indicated, first of all, for those whose work is related to mental activity. The invigorating drink is especially useful for those whose age has crossed the mark of fifty or more years.

But don't underestimate the power of this drink. In case of an overdose, especially if you use it in its natural ground form, and not a surrogate, which fills the shelves of all stores, from supermarkets to eateries, symptoms of nervous overexcitation may be observed: tremors of the limbs, increased arterial pressure, rapid heartbeat and so on.

The effect of coffee on the gastrointestinal system

The effect of coffee on the digestive tract is associated not so much with caffeine, but rather with the organic acids contained in this product, again, we are talking about natural ground coffee. I will list just a few of these substances: malic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, chlorogenic acid.

These complex chemical compounds have one effect, which is to stimulate gastric secretions. Simply put, their presence stands out large quantity gastric juice, which, in turn, will be expressed in accelerating the processes of food digestion.

Of course, in the absence of gastrointestinal pathology, as well as with moderate coffee consumption, this effect should be considered positive.

Another thing is diseases, which are already accompanied by excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach. With this pathology, the amount of coffee you drink should be reduced to a minimum, or maybe even given up altogether.

The effect of coffee on metabolic processes

As you know, caffeine is a strong stimulant of many metabolic processes. It is not for nothing that it is included in many drugs for weight loss. Under its influence, many metabolic reactions are accelerated, including the processes of lipolysis, that is, the breakdown of one's own fat reserves.

In addition, there is some evidence that caffeine can also regulate the rate of glucose utilization. Therefore, persons diagnosed with diabetes mellitus can use an invigorating drink as a soft medicine.

Contraindications for use

Since caffeine has such pronounced effects, it is reasonable to expect that some of us would be contraindicated. That’s right, below I will list the conditions in the presence of which it is better to refuse its use, or reduce its amount to a minimum:

Increased nervous excitability;
Psychiatric diseases;
Arterial hypertension;
Diseases of the cardiovascular system that occur with heart rhythm disturbances;
Peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum;
Gastritis with high acidity.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the debate between supporters and opponents of coffee has no basis. This drink is regular product nutrition, and it should be consumed in moderation, in general, like everything else.

If you like this product and have no contraindications to its use, there is no reason not to use it.

Debates about the dangers and benefits of coffee have been going on for centuries. As soon as this drink began to conquer Europe, it began to acquire many myths, the results of supposedly conducted research, and so on. Even today, there is very little accurate evidence of the beneficial and negative effects of this drink on the body, so all that remains is to take into account hypotheses and listen to your own body.

general information

Research on the effect of coffee on the body has indeed been and is being carried out by many well-known laboratories and institutes. But even today, with the availability of excellent equipment, reagents and special knowledge, scientists have not been able to accurately determine the composition of coffee beans and the effect of its components on human health and well-being.

The mystery lies not only in the complex composition and properties of the grain, but also in the individual human reaction to this product. The effect of coffee on the human body can be manifested invigorating effect, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, or a simple lift in mood due to the production of the happiness hormone. So far, no scientist can accurately answer the question of what exactly will happen inside the body of two people of the same gender and age after drinking a cup of coffee.

About coffee with humor

In medical practice, there are cases when a person, after drinking a cup of drink, experienced a hypertensive crisis without visible preconditions. In another category of people, the product caused relaxation and calmness and acted on the nervous system more effectively than a sedative. The third category felt a strong diuretic effect.

We must admit that most people start their morning with a cup of coffee for fun. The aroma of the drink gives them pleasant emotions, and the taste puts them in a positive mood. Perhaps the body’s individual reaction to certain drinks is programmed genetically or acquired in early childhood.

How does coffee affect internal organs and systems?

The effect of coffee on the human body should be discussed from the perspective of a drink made from natural beans. The role of soluble is not taken into account here, since its composition contains too few useful or non-useful substances. In most cases, information is based on observations, assumptions and hypotheses of researchers.

The cardiovascular system

The caffeine contained in the drink stimulates the contraction of the heart muscle, which can cause rapid heartbeat and even arrhythmia. Typically, such a reaction to an alkaloid is short-lived. For hypertensive patients, coffee has Negative influence, as it is capable of raising blood pressure by several units. For hypotensive people this is undoubtedly healthy drink, as it brings blood pressure back to normal and relieves headaches caused by a decrease in the tone of the vascular walls. In some cases, caffeine has an analgesic effect and may be indicated for migraines.

Musculoskeletal system

According to some data, coffee provokes increased excretion of calcium from bone tissue. This is not the cause of serious diseases, but one of the factors that provoke them. Therefore, people who are genetically predisposed to arthrosis, osteoporosis and other diseases of bones and joints should drink coffee with long breaks and no more than 3 cups per day. It is better to supplement the drink with milk and eat more foods rich in calcium.

Liver and kidneys

For serious liver and kidney diseases, it is advisable to drink coffee rarely and in small portions. But according to scientific research, coffee helps remove sand from the kidneys, and therefore prevents the formation of stones. As for the liver, regular consumption of the drink prevents fibrotic changes in tissue, which will protect against cell degeneration and neoplasms.

Coffee should not be combined with a cigarette

Digestive system

Caffeine tones the stomach and increases appetite. This results in increased secretion of gastric juice, which further improves digestion. Overall, coffee speeds up metabolism by 15%. This is taken into account by people trying to lose weight. In addition, there is information that the components of the drink help the release of fatty acids from fat cells. But this fact will be relevant only in case of additional physical activity.

Research conducted at the Minnesota Institute has shown that regular intake invigorating drink prevents the development of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, in this case, it is not caffeine that plays the main role, but a complex of organic acids, vitamins and minerals. If you drink, the preventive effect increases by 10-15%.

Brain and nervous system

Coffee affects the brain and nervous system in the most positive way. Moreover, this is not connected only with the acceleration of mental activity.

Caffeine in combination with other components helps improve memory and prevents the development of atherosclerosis:

• The ability to learn increases by accelerating the transmission of nerve impulses.
• Attention and concentration are activated.
• Information processing processes are accelerated.

These discoveries were made at the University of Birmingham. The effect of coffee on the body is defined as stimulating. Moreover, excitation is felt not only by the nervous system and stomach, but by other organs and systems due to improved blood supply. Research is currently being conducted on the ability of coffee to remove radiation, influence sexual activity, relieve depression, etc.

Coffee for women and men

The effect of coffee on a woman’s body is somewhat different from the effect on men. A woman is always more emotional and prone to developing depression. Here, coffee with its invigorating and stimulating effect will help relieve attacks of bad mood, bring you back to life and cope with headaches. There is evidence that the drink is useful for those women who suffer from severe symptoms of PMS. He's filming headache, lower back pain, relaxes the pelvic muscles. Scientists have put forward hypotheses about the ability of coffee to prevent the development of cancer of the female reproductive system.

100 ml coffee per day – safe dose for pregnant

It is better for pregnant women to refuse or minimize the amount of drink consumed. Caffeine penetrates the placenta well, which means it can affect the condition of the fetus. Doctors also talk about an increased risk of developing allergies in a child whose mother drinks a lot of coffee. According to other data, regular consumption of the drink increases the risk of miscarriage by 12%.

From coffee influence Men are not immune either. With prolonged consumption of more than 3 cups of drink per day, sexual function deteriorates. This is due to the presence of plant female hormones in it. However positive influence coffee on cardiovascular system men is the prevention of strokes and heart attacks, and this is the main cause of mortality among the stronger half of humanity.

The effect of coffee on the human body is still a controversial issue. Whether it adds health or takes away depends on individual characteristics, so it is important to listen to yourself and make your own decision about refusal or volumes of consumption.

Coffee has been widely popular since ancient times, and modern society There are more than enough coffee lovers. At the same time, there is constant debate about the benefits and harms of this drink. To get an objective picture, you need to know what the effect of coffee is on the human body.

Chemical composition coffee beans very complicated. Active substances and their quantity depend on growing conditions, soil, and variety.

Roasted coffee contains more than 1,000 different chemical compounds. Of these, 800 are directly responsible for the taste of the drink.

Chemical composition:

How long coffee works depends on the individual characteristics of the person. The average period of action is 4−6 hours. The effect begins to appear after some time and is felt in different ways. Some people feel a surge of activity within an hour, while for others a cup of drink lasts a long time.

Effect on the nervous system

To a greater extent, coffee, due to its chemical composition, affects the nervous system. Under the influence of caffeine, the blood vessels of the brain dilate. This accelerates blood circulation in the central nervous system. As a result, biochemical processes proceed faster.

An invigorating drink accelerates the transmission of nerve impulses from neuron to neuron. At the same time, nervous excitability increases, energy is felt, a feeling of vigor comes, the functioning of the senses becomes more acute, and fatigue decreases.

This explains the desire to drink a cup of coffee in the morning to finally wake up. At daily use Drinking 4 cups of this drink significantly reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

But do not forget about the side effects of coffee on the nervous system. Stimulating it too much can lead to exhaustion. This pattern was studied at the beginning of the 20th century by I. P. Pavlov. Exceeding the recommended dose of coffee can lead to the following consequences:

• prostration;
• lethargy;
• lethargy;
• drowsiness;
• depressive state.

Effect on the digestive and genitourinary system

Coffee has a diuretic effect, and a pronounced one, so it is important to monitor the amount of liquid consumed. This property of the drink can be used during ailments and colds. However, it should be borne in mind that active urination leads to calcium loss.

The coffee drink increases the production of gastric juice, irritating the gastric mucosa. The effect on the digestive tract is associated not with caffeine, but with organic acids contained in coffee, namely:

• apple;
• vinegar;
• lemon;
• chlorogenic;
• sorrel

These chemicals are complex the compounds increase the secretion of gastric juice, which speeds up the digestion process. This effect can be considered positive with moderate consumption of the drink, if there are no gastrointestinal pathologies.

If a person has a disease accompanied by excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach, the number of cups of coffee drunk per day should be reduced to a minimum or the drink should be abandoned completely.

Caffeine is known to stimulate many metabolic processes and speed up metabolic reactions. Therefore, it is included in many weight loss medications.

Thanks to biologically active substances, coffee improves antioxidant protection, reducing the risk of diabetes.

The carcinogenicity of this drink is questionable. There is no exact data confirming or rejecting the effect on tumor development. Some scientists agree that coffee does not increase the risk of developing cancer, but reduces it. This issue is currently being actively researched.

Impact on women and men

Exploring How does the property of coffee affect a woman’s body?, scientists came to the following results:

But for men, coffee is useful because, being an aphrodisiac, it stimulates the sex glands and increases potency. But this is only true for healthy men.

TO harmful influence It is true that this drink can provoke the progression of prostatitis. Excessive consumption can lead to an increase in estrogen levels.

Overdose and contraindications for use

Excessive coffee consumption is quite dangerous and fraught with unwanted reactions. This is especially true for natural drinks containing a large dose of caffeine. In case of overdose, the following symptoms may appear:

Listed reactions observed in coffee drinkers who are accustomed to drinking large quantities of the drink. Acute poisoning caffeine can lead to such consequences as:

• rapid intermittent breathing;
• nausea and vomiting;
• arrhythmia and tachycardia;
• convulsions and delirium;
• redness of the skin.

Considering the effects of coffee on the human body, you should be careful about its consumption. This is especially true for people having the following deviations:

The effect of caffeine on the human body is determined by its individual condition and genetic predisposition. Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee per day has a positive effect. At the same time, caffeine abuse can cause a negative reaction.

Endocrinologist, nutritionist, creator of the author's nutrition program Vadim Krylov:

In relation to coffee, all people are divided into two types. The first ones quickly break down caffeine, the second ones - slowly. These features are innate, they are determined genetically and are associated with enzyme activity. For people whose body quickly breaks down caffeine, coffee is beneficial and even affects life expectancy, increasing it. But for the latter, for whom this substance takes a long time to break down, coffee is harmful.

As a result of research on the benefits and harms of coffee, scientists have found that for those who quickly metabolize (break down) caffeine, 1-2 cups per day reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke by about 20%, 3-4 cups of coffee per day reduce the risk of these states by 12%, and 4-6 cups - by 3-6%. For slow metabolizers, 1-2 cups per day increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 3-6%, 3-4 cups by 12%, and 5-6 cups by approximately 20%.

The aroma of coffee and its unique taste give fans of the drink real pleasure. But, if we talk about its benefits and harms, there is no clear answer. Coffee beans contain a lot of bioactive substances, both beneficial and not. The most famous of them is caffeine, which has a lot of pharmacological properties and, unfortunately, even has side effects.

In addition to caffeine, coffee contains beneficial antioxidants. Studies have shown that after a cup aromatic drink the amount of these substances in the blood increases. The most famous and most powerful antioxidant is chlorogenic acid. It helps lower blood sugar, protects the liver and prevents the development of cancer. However, heavy roasting of beans, milk and sugar added to coffee reduce antioxidant activity.

There are also so-called diterpenes in coffee. The most famous of them are kafeol and cafestol. At regular use Coffee increases cholesterol. But, on the other hand, they prevent the development of Parkinson's disease - the protective effect of coffee against this disease is well known.

But the most negative substance formed when roasting coffee beans is acrylamide. It is classified as a carcinogen. In addition to coffee, acrylamide is found in bread, pastries, and any fried potatoes(fries, chips, etc.), cookies, crispbreads and all products with appetizing crispy crust. However, scientists and experts are inclined to believe that coffee is not a carcinogenic product due to the presence of acrylamide, since no direct connection has been found between drinking coffee and the development of cancer. In addition, coffee is not at all a champion in terms of acrylamide content - in the same baked goods and fried potatoes there is an order of magnitude more of it.

How caffeine in coffee affects the body

1. acts as a mild doping, increasing physical abilities
2. reduces fatigue and anxiety
3. improves mood
4. improves mental activity
5. speeds up information processing and improves reaction

Prevents the development of the following diseases:

• obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated metabolic syndrome.
  For example, the dependence of the risk of developing diabetes on coffee consumption: the risk is 35% lower in those who drink 6 cups of coffee per day, and 28% lower in those who drink 4-6 cups per day, compared with those who drank less than 2 cups per day. But decaffeinated coffee does not reduce the risk of diabetes.
• Parkinson's syndrome and disease
• skin cancer(coffee prevents the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation).

Is decaffeinated coffee healthier for your heart?

This coffee was specially created as a safe alternative regular coffee with caffeine. But later it turned out that its effect on the heart and blood vessels is not so clear. In particular, under the auspices of the American Heart Association, a large study was conducted on the effects of various types coffee on vessels. It turned out that decaffeinated coffee, on the contrary, can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, heart disease and strokes. It increases the content of fatty acids in the blood by 18%, from which two are formed harmful forms cholesterol.

Where else is there caffeine?

There are many products that contain caffeine in doses comparable to coffee. For example, there is a lot of it in carbonated drinks made from cola nuts. In addition to drinks, caffeine can be found in chocolate and products made with it. There are four commonly used caffeine-containing plants around the world: tea, coffee, the tropical plant guarana, and Paraguayan mate tea. In Russia, guarana and mate are often found among weight loss products. To be honest, such products containing only caffeine are not the most successful invention. They are used as an energizer (the so-called products that increase activity). Their benefits are questionable, but side effects quite real. In fact, such products help the development of caffeine addiction.

IN food products, including drinks, the amount of caffeine, with the exception of energy drinks, is not required. But you need to know its dosage.

Coffee and pregnancy

Can pregnant women drink coffee or not? And if possible, then how much? The debate around this has been going on for a long time. It was found that women who drank coffee during pregnancy had short and low-weight babies. Agree, the problems are serious and there is cause for concern. After all, caffeine from the drink is quickly absorbed into the blood of the expectant mother, freely passes through the placenta and enters the fetus, which does not yet have its own enzymes that break down caffeine. Thus, the amount of caffeine in the mother’s blood and in the fetus’s blood becomes approximately the same, which negatively affects the development of the child. Therefore, doctors recommend that women planning pregnancy reduce their caffeine intake from all sources. And as soon as pregnancy is confirmed, make every effort to stop or significantly reduce caffeine consumption.

When you can’t resist your fifth mug of coffee, the question of the benefits involuntarily creeps into your head. Disputes about the coffee drink do not subside - some believe that the content in the beans large quantity caffeine and theophylline cause significant damage to the body, and some people think that the drink is absolutely harmless.

Peter I himself could not resist the magic of the aromatic grains - having fallen in love with the drink, the ruler forced his subjects to drink it daily.

Despite great amount coffee trees(about seventy species) the main ones are Arabica and Robusta - they supply humanity with a natural source of energy.

The surge of vigor largely depends on the quality and proper roasting coffee. Different technology heat treatment allows you to create the necessary strength and richness of taste. For Scandinavian coffee, the beans are only lightly roasted; for Viennese coffee, the beans are roasted until medium. The most strong degree roasting – Italian.

Benefits and composition of coffee

IN natural drink contains few carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements such as:

• Calcium;
• Potassium;
• Magnesium;
• Phosphorus;
• Iron;
• Sodium;
• Essential oils;
• Tannin;
• Kafeol;
• Vitamins of group B, PP.

Organic chlorogenic acid normalizes the functioning of the digestive tract, disinfects oral cavity(prevention of caries), restores intestinal microflora. The rich coffee aroma comes from the alkaloid trigoneline, which produces nicotinic acid when roasted. Polysaccharides affect brain function, and caffeine makes the heart beat faster, improves metabolic processes, reduces stress and gives the necessary boost of energy in the morning.

Coffee has a beneficial effect on blood vessels - doctors advise drinking the drink if you have heart failure.

In small doses, coffee can relieve headaches and produces the hormone of happiness (serotonin), which relieves depression. The drink dulls the feeling of hunger, removes toxins and waste from the body, which is very important for girls on a diet. According to scientists, coffee beans slow down the development of cancerous tumors, stimulate memory, reducing the amount of proteins in the brain in elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Substances in coffee beans regulate the level of bile juice, reduce the formation of kidney stones, reduce the occurrence diabetes mellitus. In men frequent use coffee drink may affect libido, decreased sexual desire (the level of the female hormone estrogen increases). Scientists' opinions on this issue vary - professors from Brazil are confident that coffee, on the contrary, causes increased sexual desire, acting as a natural aphrodisiac. True, the drink is completely powerless if a man has impotence.

Harm and contraindications

In order not to cause harm to health, it is enough to control the consumption of the drink: per day permissible norm coffee - 3-4 mugs, 120 ml of water per glass. The number of grains depends on the concentration. Adding milk helps remove tannins, a characteristic bitter taste. Minus - gradually, caffeine becomes addictive, and a person begins to drink mug after mug, without even thinking about the possible consequences.

Pregnant women are advised to temporarily abstain from coffee - the drink tones not only the muscles, but also the uterus, which negatively affects the development of the fetus in the womb. At excessive consumption(5-6 cups at a time), a person may faint. Caffeine in high doses washes calcium from the body, can increase cholesterol in the blood and provoke atherosclerosis.

Excessive love for coffee leads to tachycardia, insomnia, stress, neuroses, poor absorption of vitamins, as well as gastritis if drunk on an empty stomach.

Dehydration of the body due to its diuretic effect leads to rapid aging of the skin. To restore water balance, you need to drink twice as much water.

Coffee is contraindicated for people with diseases such as :

• Hypertension, hypertensive crisis;
• Heart disease (ischemia, arrhythmia);
• Gastritis, stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer;
• Pancreatitis;
• Prostatitis;
• Inflammation of the thyroid gland;
• Anemia.

Instant coffee is an order of magnitude worse than natural beans. It’s not difficult to guess why - soluble granules are made from cheap robusta, recycled materials, coffee crumbs with added dyes, and the caffeine content in freeze-dried powders is much higher.