Nutritionist Shares 4 Reasons Why You Should Avoid Drinking Black Coffee

Do you need a cup of black coffee to ward off sleepiness and energise your body? Well! You need to do away with it. It might seem like the best beverage to drink in the morning and keep yourself upbeat, but it can affect your sleep cycle.

No matter how much films and web series promote the romanticising picture of getting up, drinking a cup of black coffee, and getting ready for the day, nutritionists do not promote its excessive consumption. We spoke to Haripriya N, executive nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to understand how black coffee can have adverse effects on your health.

She said, “Black coffee is a favourite and addictive beverage made out of roasted coffee beans, which releases their flavour, colour, caffeine content, and nutrients when processed. Black Coffee can be served either hot or as a cold beverage, and it tastes mildly bitter.”

1. Black Coffee Affects Sleep Cycle

You might drink black coffee to stay awake in the workplace or while working or studying at night, it will have an adverse effect on your sleep schedule. The nutritionist said that it affects the serotonin sleep hormone and disturbs your entire routine.

The expert suggested maintaining a gap of 8 hours at least between sleeping and consuming coffee. It will prevent the beverage from affecting your sleep schedule.

2. Black Coffee Can Lead To Nervousness And Headache

You might not know this, but adults should not consume more than 400mg of caffeine (4 cups) in a day. Lactating and pregnant mothers should not consume more than 200-300mg of coffee or food items containing caffeine in a day.

The nutritionist said that drinking more than enough black coffee can have major side effects, including insomnia, headache, irritability, rapid heartbeats, etc.

3. Black Coffee Can Lead To Acidity

According to the expert, people trying to manage ulcers, dyspepsia, acid reflux, gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome, should avoid drinking black coffee. It can worsen the condition and make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

4. Black Coffee Is An Anti-nutrient

If you consume black coffee with fruits and meals loaded with vitamins and minerals, it will prevent the absorption of nutrients in the body. It prohibits the body from extracting and absorbing minerals like calcium and iron.

If you continue with this habit, it is highly likely that you will experience a deficiency of nutrients and minerals in the long run. The doctor would have to advise you to take supplements and cut on caffeine.

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Nutritional Value Of Black Coffee

The expert said that coffee beans contain vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin), potassium, manganese, magnesium, phenolic compounds, antioxidants, etc. It is only beneficial if you consume it in the optimum amount.

If the consumed amount of caffeine lies between 50-300mg, it will increase alertness. It can help to reduce stress, improve the performance of athletes, aid in weight loss, and act as a diuretic to help the body flush out toxins and reduce inflammation.

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The expert said, "In many countries, especially in India, coffee is typically enjoyed with breakfast and a mandatory mid-time beverage with some crispy snacks. It is mostly consumed in the mornings because caffeine present in black coffee is known to stimulate the neurotransmitters that help people feel more active and awake."