This
small wake-me-up drink is full of surprises.
There's
no shortage of research on the health advantages of coffee, particularly
"Italian-style" coffee, aka espresso. Indeed, a study published
in The Journal of Nutrition examines the association between 20,487 persons and their regular espresso use.
At the beginning of the research, none of the participants had cardiovascular
disease or cancer. They all drank 30 milliliters or more of espresso every day
for over eight years.
This
is fantastic news for espresso fans, but according to Lisa R. Young, Ph.D.,
RDN, one thing to remember is not to overdo it. At the same time, there are
many benefits to having an occasional espresso and some drawbacks to drinking
too much espresso. "Such small glasses make it easy to consume too much
espresso," says Young. "Get another...and another..."
1. It
may cause sleep disruption.
Too
much caffeine, which is abundant in espresso (unless you drink decaf, but who
does? ), can keep you awake later than you'd like or cause restless sleep. Young advises us to take it easy in the beginning,
saying, "Although everyone is different, I recommend avoiding coffee after
midday. Some folks can work till late in the afternoon."
2. It
can cause anxiety.
Anxiety
is another negative effect of caffeine's release of adrenaline. Caffeine boosts
your alertness by blocking the effects of adenosine, a tired-making brain
chemical. Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder is defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a condition in which caffeine interferes
with daily functioning.
3. It
can raise your heart rate.
This
one is quite frightening! Caffeine overdose can cause your heart to beat
quicker or possibly change the rhythm of your heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is a
condition that has been described in young people who have drank energy drinks
with excessively high caffeine levels.
4.
You'd better be near a restroom.
Espresso
can dehydrate you because caffeinated drinks have a slight diuretic impact,
making you need to urinate more frequently. Diuretics induce your body to produce more pee than usual, which isn't always bad.
However, it's something to keep in mind before a lengthy vehicle journey.
5. It
may create digestive issues.
Espresso
(and coffee) have a well-known laxative effect, which has been linked to
the release of gastrin,
a hormone produced by the stomach that increases colon function. On the other
hand, overdoing your daily drink might cause loose stools or even diarrhea in
some people.
6. It
can energize your workout.
If you
need a pick-me-up before working out, espresso is the most convenient way to do
so. With around 75 mg of caffeine on average, a brief dose about 30 minutes before your workout will help you
feel energized without feeling bloated.
7. It
can help you remember things.
Research
at the University of California found that two espressos boosted memory consolidation. The subjects' long-term memory was then improved as a result of
this. There's no need to drink more than that, as individuals who drank more
than two cups showed no benefit in the study.
8.
Don't overdo it
It's relatively easy to avoid these disadvantages of espresso. Young believes that you can have too much of a good thing. "Healthy people can ingest 400 mg of caffeine daily. That's roughly four cups of brewed coffee or five to six espresso shots, "She clarifies.