Warns Dietician and Nutritionist Avni Kaul

There is a saying that anything in excess could have a negative impact on your health. Nutritionist Avni says that your favorite coffee is no exception to this saying. She further says that please be mindful if you are consuming more than four cups of your favourite beverage. At least this is what research related to coffee indicates.

To know more read this blog from India’s eminent nutritionist and dietician Avni Kaul where she reveals some of the facts related to coffee and its impact on your overall health.

Are you among those who are constantly relying on coffee to keep their energy levels up? If yes, you could have an unexpected side effect: It might be hard on your kidneys, as per a new study found in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Researcher’s studies of 372 blood metabolites in nearly 3,800 participants of a health study that collected data on lifestyle habits that may affect heart failure risk. Metabolites are formed when the body breaks down food, medications, and even its own tissue such as muscles or fat. Examining which metabolites are there in the blood could give researchers a glimpse of how they make individual differences in terms of issues such as organ function.

In the study, it was found that 41 metabolites were linked with coffee consumption, and higher levels of three of those were associated with a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Does that mean one must refrain from drinking coffee altogether? Not necessarily unless you have any existing kidney-related problems, the research indicates.

Avni says, it was found that drinking a moderate amount of coffee has been shown in past studies to be beneficial in certain ways. (Actually, recent research from The Kidney Foundation even saw that 1 cup of coffee per day could even lower the risk of kidney stones by nearly 40%).

That does not imply simply getting caffeine, either—coffee has certain unique properties as a beverage as it contains nearly a thousand various botanical compounds, and it is actually the sole best source of antioxidants found in the American diet,”. Besides, it is also a source of potassium, B vitamins, and riboflavin. Some research has associated the ingredients in coffee to reduce the risk of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and some form of cancer.

In terms of what is regarded as “moderate,” one study that found data on over 350,000 individuals with respect to heart health noted that about four cups a day seems to be safe, but that the sweet spot appears to be 1 to 2 cups of coffee every day.

This was in line with other findings as well specifically if one does not load up on add-ins such as flavored syrups, sugar, and whipped cream. The suggestion is to stick to less than 400 mg of caffeine each day across all your beverages. A 226.796 grams cup of coffee generally, has about 80 to 100 mg. So as long as one is keeping it below four cups, one is more likely to keep the risks in check.

Thus, the idea is clear that instead of going overboard on coffee, try to have it in moderation, so that it does not interfere with your health. Avni says, as a nutritionist, it is always advised to eat anything in moderation. So, that one is able to avail the complete health benefits, instead of going overboard while consuming any food as excess is always harmful to your body later on.

Source: https://www.jrnjournal.org/article/S1051-2276(20)30209-0/fulltext

Dietician Avni Kaul