Coffee has become part of our daily lives as it helps to energize our minds for the working hours of the day. However, some consumers have growing reservations as it causes insomnia, increased heart rate, anxiety, and a couple of other side effects, none of which are life-threatening. But on the other hand, coffee has been known to improve bowel movement and promote healthy bacteria growth while reducing the growth of harmful bacteria. Let’s go further into the positives and negatives of coffee on gut health.
Positives
Reduces the risk of chronic diseases, including:
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Metabolic syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular Disease
You should note that coffee doesn’t eliminate any of these chronic diseases, however, it reduces the risk of any of these diseases growing into a major problem. Drinking only 2 cups of coffee in the morning is enough to see considerable results shortly.
Also, caffeine has been known to help diversify bacteria in the gut microbiome, which helps to maintain homeostasis and fights diseases.
Negatives
Coffee doesn’t pose any threat to the gut, however, when consumed in a certain way, it could be a problem. Caffeine, the main ingredient in coffee, is also present in energy drinks. However, unlike coffee, energy drinks have a significant amount of caffeine to rapidly improve physical performance.
While energy drinks work to energize, the amount of caffeine present can be harmful to the gut as it limits the gene expression of bacteria in the gut. This could lead to diseases and obesity