COFFEE – A DAILY PLEASURE OR A SILENT ENEMY TO YOUR HEALTH?

Introduction and purpose of the study: Coffee has been one of the most commonly consumed stimulants for over 100 years. When it first became popular, it was praised as a remedy for various ailments, although at the time there was no scientific basis for such claims. Later publications reported on the harmful effects of coffee consumption, but over the last 20-30 years, studies have increasingly confirmed the benefits of moderate coffee consumption. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the effects of coffee consumption. Material and methods: A review of publications in Polish medical literature and the PubMed database was conducted using the keywords: coffee, caffeine, health effects. Results: Studies confirm the benefits of moderate coffee consumption for the cardiovascular system, neurological health, and metabolism. There is a group of contraindications, mainly related to excessive caffeine consumption, which causes a risk of addiction, adverse behavioral symptoms, and tachycardia. Conclusions: Drinking coffee in moderate amounts is safe for health. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and people at risk of osteoporosis should consider avoiding coffee or limiting its consumption. The individual effects of coffee consumption should be identified to determine whether drinking this beverage causes headaches or sleep disturbances in a given case.