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Is Black Coffee Unhealthy

Is Black Coffee Unhealthy

6 min read AUG 11, 2022

Have you ever wondered if black coffee is unhealthy? We’ve got the answers to this and more for you.

Traditionally, “black coffee” refers to ground coffee beans and water. There is no sugar, milk, or creamer added to the drink.

It’s the simplest form of the drink, and it packs some serious health benefits. Because there are no additives, it doesn’t come with the health concerns some people have about more decadent coffee drinks.

Let’s go over the reasons black coffee is a healthy option.

What This Article Covers:

Nutritional Value of Black Coffee

One of the biggest benefits of black coffee is that it’s low in calories. This is because there’s no milk added. Most people don’t add sugar either, although you can add some if you prefer a slightly sweet drink.

We’re going to focus on pure black coffee in its traditional form: no milk, no sugar.

A cup of black coffee contains only 2 calories. There is no protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, or sugar. Depending on the type of bean you use, black coffee can have up to 2mg of sodium per cup.

If you suffer from heart disease or high blood pressure, make sure to check this before consuming the bean.

It contains the following vitamins and minerals:

Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B5
Manganese
Potassium
Magnesium

The B vitamins in coffee help the enzymes in our bodies do their jobs, such as breaking down carbohydrates and transporting nutrients. This is why the vitamin is attributed with giving us higher levels of energy.

Manganese plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels. It also helps the body form connective tissue and bones.

Potassium helps muscles contract. It supports normal blood pressure and maintains a normal fluid level inside our cells. This is the supplement people take when they get frequent muscle spasms, so if you’re a sufferer, coffee might help.

Magnesium helps our bodies regulate muscle and nerve function. It helps our bodies maintain healthy blood pressure, and supports the making of protein, DNA, and bone.

Caffeine Content

A single serving of coffee is around 8 ounces. This single serving has roughly 96 mg of caffeine in it.

The recommended daily coffee intake is four cups. This is because the recommended daily caffeine intake is no more than 400mg.

If you’re going to drink all four cups of coffee per day, it’s important to make sure your portion sizes aren’t too large. If they are, you might be consuming more caffeine than you should.

Health Benefits

Are you still wondering if black coffee is a low calorie coffee drink?

Due to the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants present in coffee, the drink can offer us a wide variety of health benefits.

Many of these benefits need to be studied further to provide an in-depth explanation. Scientists have, however, confirmed that there is a link between coffee and various health benefits. These are discussed below.

Reduced Risk of Cancer

Coffee helps prevent prostate cancer, liver cancer, oral cancer, and colorectal cancer.

This is because it’s high in antioxidants, which prevent free radicals. In short, free radicals are the cells that become cancerous growths in the body.

Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a disease affecting people 65 and older - with one in every eight people above this age being affected.

Scientist’s have estimated that the risk of developing this disease is 16% lower if you’re an avid coffee drinker.

Reduced Risk of Diabetes

Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

The link between coffee and insulin resistance needs to be studied further, but multiple studies have confirmed that drinking coffee reduces the risk of diabetes.

One group of researchers determined that people who drink four cups of coffee per day are 28% less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes.

Reduced Risk of Obesity

Caffeine helps with weight management. When you consume coffee throughout the day, your metabolism works faster.

This means you burn more calories throughout the day, and can lose fat faster. It also means you burn more calories when you exercise, due to your faster metabolism.

Prevention of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s is another disease that affects mainly people older than 65, although it can affect younger people too. Common symptoms include changes in speech, changes in stride, shaking, and muscle stiffness.

Research has shown that there is a connection between coffee consumption and a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. Scientists believe this is thanks to the caffeine content of coffee.

Does Coffee Improve Your Mood?

Since you’re a coffee drinker, you know the answer is yes. But why?

Caffeine is a stimulant. This means it increases activity in your nervous system and your brain.

While it does this, it also increases the circulation of “feel good” chemicals in your body, such as cortisol and adrenaline.

People usually drink caffeine to feel energetic and alert. This helps them be more productive. It therefore also improves their mood.

It’s believed that caffeine is able to produce this effect by blocking adenosine transmitters. This is a neurotransmitter—a chemical messenger in the nervous system.

The result is that excitability in the brain is increased.

What Happens If You Drink Too Much Coffee?

Caffeine is only good for you if you drink it within the recommended limits. It can have positive effects on your life, such as that morning pick-me-up we all love.

Too much caffeine is dangerous. It can cause the following:

High blood pressure
Dizziness
Panic attacks
Shakiness
Headache
Abnormal heartbeat.

It can also mess with your sleep schedule. Many people have reported that drinking too much coffee in the afternoon or evening causes insomnia for them.

This can result in irritability. It can also hinder your performance the next day. This is the opposite of what we’re looking for when we drink caffeine, which is why it’s so important to enjoy coffee in moderation.

Can Black Coffee Stain Your Teeth?

Unfortunately, yes. Coffee has tannins in it, which are a micronutrient that breaks down in water.

They cause color compounds to stick to your teeth. This is what leaves that unwanted yellow color behind after you drink coffee.

The reason this doesn’t happen when you add milk is interesting. The main protein in milk is called casein. This protein binds with the tannins. The result is that staining is prevented because the tannins no longer stick to your teeth.

How To Make Black Coffee

Black coffee is the simplest coffee drink to make. Let’s go over how to make healthy coffee. We’ll be using the French press method.

You’ll need:

A French press
1 cup of boiling water
3 heaped tablespoons of ground coffee beans - we recommend these light roast organic coffee beans
Your favorite mug

This is how you do it:

Put the 3 tablespoons of ground beans into the bottom of the French press.
Add one cup of boiling water, and put the lid on without pressing the plunger down.
Here’s the secret ingredient: time. Let it steep for about 10 minutes.
Press the plunger down slowly, so that it filters the coffee properly.
Pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!

The Healthier Choice

So we’ve established that black coffee is the healthiest coffee type. Don’t despair if it’s not your thing.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a sweeter, creamier coffee. These can be enjoyed in moderation.

You can even find recipes for healthy versions of your favorite drinks online. We’ve got a great healthy vanilla latte recipe you can try out.

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