We Italians are really inseparable from our espresso cups. It can be said that we are almost addicted to caffeine. Think that 97% of us drink one or more coffees a day! The average is four, half of which at home, the rest at the bar or office. And if men prefer a simple espresso, 77% of women prefer macchiato or cappuccino. But is it good to drink all this coffee? The answer is, surprisingly, yes. The secret, however, is not to overdo it: how many coffees a day are good for your health?
All the benefits of coffee
Coffee is often and unfairly demonized. In fact, when consumed in moderation, it has more health benefits than risks. The best known benefit of coffee is its ability to reduce the sense of fatigue, increase the sense of alertness and shorten reaction times. Not everyone knows, however, that it is also rich in antioxidants. These substances fight free radicals and help fight against cellular aging. But not only: some searches conducted on animals highlighting the fact that caffeine may play a role in protecting against Parkinson’s disease.
Furthermore, some studies show a correlation between drinking coffee and a lower risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The reason could be that the energy supplied by coffee helps reduce the sense of hunger. As a result, coffee can help manage weight. Be careful, though: this benefit of coffee only applies if you avoid sugaring it.
Here’s how many you can drink per day
In short, coffee also has positive effects on the body. But how many coffees a day are good for your health? If you don’t want the risks to outweigh the benefits, limit yourself to four or five cups maximum. That way you won’t exceed the caffeine dose deemed safe for adults, which is 400 milligrams. Obviously, the situation is different for pregnant women: in this case, two cups a day should not be exceeded.
Also be careful if you take certain categories of drugs (antihypertensives, antidepressants, bronchodilators, quinolone antibiotics, anticoagulants, drugs for insomnia, etc.) or if you suffer from insomnia, hypertension, ulcer or gastritis. In these cases, the coffee will do you more harm than good.
Deepening
