Cebu City - Drinking coffee has been part of the daily life of every Filipino. It was introduced first in Lipa, Batangas in 1740 by two Franciscan friars. Ever since then, Filipinos had loved drinking coffee. The majority of the population kicks off their day with a cup of coffee. It serves as their go to drink, as it helps them fuel their day and boost their energy. Some would normally drink coffee once a day and there are some individuals who exceed more than a cup daily.
The question is, is drinking coffee healthy? Coffee has an ingredient called caffeine. Normally a cup of coffee contains around 50 to 400 mg caffeine. A small home-brewed cup of coffee could provide 50 mg, while a 16-ounce (475ml) Starbucks grande pack has over 300 mg. According to the Food and Drug Administration, healthy individuals may drink 400mg a day equivalent to 4 to 5 cups of coffee, and beyond that may have negative side effects on the body.
Over consumption of coffee can cause insomnia, jitters, palpitations, anxiousness, nausea, headache, and increased blood pressure. Drinking coffee late in the afternoon may cause interference in your sleeping patterns and may cause sleep deprivation and feeling dazed the following day. Then drinking coffee to mask the sleep deprivation may create an unwelcome cycle. People who have underlying disorders like hypertension and cardiac problems would need to consult their cardiologist first before consuming coffee, as it may aggravate or complicate their current health condition.
If you are used to consuming more than one cup of coffee in a day and would want to cut down your caffeine intake, it's best to do it on a gradual basis. Abrupt stopping may cause withdrawal symptoms such as headache, anxiety, and nervousness. Always remember, too much of everything is bad. // Nutrition Officer I Armie D. Plando RN
Sources: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322296#six-reasons-why-drinking-water-may-help-you-lose-weight
