What Effects Does Coffee Have on Health?

If you're wondering "What effects does coffee have on health?", consider the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) viewpoint. According to TCM, a complete, professional medical system continuously practiced for at least 2500 years, coffee has both beneficial and detrimental effects.

The positive effects of coffee on the body include:

• Circulates qi (vital energy) and blood
• Gently tonifies
• Purges the gallbladder
• Dredges the liver

The circulating or moving of qi and blood is what gives you the physical and mental lift when you drink coffee. If you are healthy and your organ systems are balanced the dredging and purging action on your liver and gallbladder should cause no problems, providing you don't drink coffee excessively.

However if you have liver or digestive problems, for example, drinking coffee can lead to such problems as:

• Headache
• Anxiety
• Hot flushes
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

While coffee has benefits, just because it picks you up when you're tired it doesn't mean it's good for everyone who needs a boost. How it affects YOU is different to how it affects others. There are plenty of readily available coffee alternatives for those who can't or choose not to drink coffee.

If you do drink coffee limit it to 2 or 3 cups a day and drink it black and unsweetened. If you must sweeten it add a little honey. Adding refined white sugar and milk or cream to coffee increases the harmful effects. Note that a mug of coffee is much more than a cup - a mug equals 2 or 3 cups.

If you're still wondering "What effects does coffee have on health?", and "How do they apply to me?", consult a qualified practitioner of traditional Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture. TCM regards each of us as a unique individual - a TCM practitioner will be able to provide specific information on how coffee affects YOU and your particular body type and current state of health.