In this text I go over the positive and negative effects that caffeine; primarily from coffee, has on our health, beauty and skin. I explain why and how coffee can impact our skin, and how to make it as healthy habit as possible.
Coffee, the most of sourceful of caffeine drinks, has long been debated in the context of health and beauty. While coffee might have a positive effect on our overall health, it could potentially harm our skin, and contribute to premature photo aging. On the other hand. Coffee is packed with antioxidants, heroes for longevity. Though, there seems to be a way to enjoy coffee, without having to worry about the negative aspect, and it’s spelled re-hydrate.
Coffee has been linked to positive effects on our mental health as well as physical health and weight. A recent, extensive Harvard study have shown that coffee may offer a protection against Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, somewhat surprisingly heart attacks and stroke, among other health conditions and diseases. Other studies have shown a link between drinking coffee and weight loss, suggesting that coffee drinkers are more successful (then non-coffee drinkers) when trying to loose weight, as well as when maintaining a weight loss.
However, coffee can unfortunately have negative effects on our skin and overall beauty appearance. It is worth mentioning here that our skin is our largest organ. It is definitely our most visible organ, and its a huge contributor to how our age and beauty is perceived through ourselves and through others.
Caffeine has a slight dehydrating property. This means that the more coffee we drink, the more water we lose in our bodies. Water is a huge factor in the overall physical health, and our skin needs it for various reasons in its constant replenishing efforts. Dehydration generally makes our skin look dull and sunken in, tired and older. Long term dehydration affects our cell renewal and collagen building process. However, dermatologist and skin care enthusiast Doctor Dray, says that the dietetic properties in caffeine that makes us dehydrated, are extremely mild. Caffeine in skin care, usually eye care products, work because caffeine can temporarily reduce blood flow when applied topically. That’s why caffeine can work temporarily, for dark circles under our eyes.
Coffee can trigger acne and skin irritation, like rosacea. This might be more prone to people that are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine; individuals who can’t drink too much coffee without getting stressed or anxious. How our mind feels, will also reflect on our skin. Stress is a contributor to acne. Coffee is acidic and can potentially disrupt the skin’s pH balance. pH balance is crucial for a healthy skin, and a disrupted pH balance is likely to cause breakouts.
Luckily, caffeine drinks like coffee and green tea, are rich in antioxidants, which helps protect us from premature aging and skin damage through free radicals. A lot of foods, usually referred to as super foods, are high in concentration of antioxidants. But even coffee, from a good bean, can boost us with antioxidants.
The way to drink coffee without getting the negative effects that comes with dehydration, is simply to rehydrate extensively. Suggestively, for every cup of coffee, drink two cups of water. Whether caffeine has extensive dehydrating effects or not, most of us will benefit from increasing our daily water intake. It is also important that the coffee consumption is adapted to your body, and your response on caffeine. The total caffeine intake per day shouldn’t exceed 400 mg, which is equal to around 4 cups of coffee (not Starbucks size). A cup of black tea has around 40 mg of caffeine, and green tea, is around 25 mg caffeine.
If you find a balances way to drink coffee, without excessive stress, a balanced sleep, and of course a good rehydration scheme. Then you can enjoy coffee and tea, while staying on top of your health, beauty and longevity game.