Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Its active action is mainly due to the high content of caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. It stimulates the activity of the nervous system, makes us more alert, focused and vital.
This activity can also have negative effects. Caffeine has a vasoconstrictive effect, which can lead to an increase in the blood pressure. Due to the fact that caffeine is contained in high quantities in coffee, this drink is often associated with heart diseases and high blood pressure.
Unlike many other stimulants, caffeine has a weak stimulant effect and has a short lifespan in your body. An interesting fact is that caffeine has a self-limiting effect - it acts on the kidneys in a way that increases its own excretion.
It has been shown repeatedly that caffeine consumption does not increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease or heart attack.
A large-scale study of more than 85, 000 women over a 10-year period showed that regular coffee consumption did not lead to a higher risk of these diseases, even in women who drank more than 6 cups of coffee a day. Many hypertension committees explicitly state that coffee consumption is not associated with high blood pressure.
Some recent studies have shown a weak link between coffee consumption and high blood pressure and the effect doesn't last long.
Your blood pressure may rise immediately after consuming the drink and this effect is most common in people who usually have higher blood pressure levels. In 15% of the people that have been studied, there is a drop in blood pressure after consuming caffeinated beverages.
Coffee contains polyphenols that reduce the number of activated platelets in the blood. This reduces the chance of blood clots forming, which are risk factors for causing a heart attack.
The same polyphenols also reduce the concentration of a type of protein, which is an important factor in inflammation. Drinking coffee will provide you with a satisfactory amount of these substances, which are believed to reduce the risk not only of cardiovascular but also of many kidney diseases.
