Properties: What is coffee said to do?

Caffeine is an alkaloid that serves as a defense against pests for the coffee plant. In humans, this substance stimulates the nervous system and actually increases concentration. This works with just one cup of filter coffee. A few more a day - consumed regularly - is even said to reduce the risk of diabetes and skin cancer, keep blood vessels elastic, help with migraines and, according to the latest findings, also protect against Alzheimer's disease. So coffee definitely has health-promoting properties!

Delicious baking recipe: coffee rum cake

Coffee addiction: What's the truth?

The fact is that coffee wakes you up. That is one reason why we are addicted to coffee: We want to be fit for the day! But it is also a fact that coffee drinkers often suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, headaches and fluttering hearts when they suddenly stop drinking caffeine. And it is also certain that caffeine triggers a chain reaction: the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released, causing blood sugar levels to rise. This in turn causes insulin levels to skyrocket. Coffee junkies are therefore constantly under stress. If you drink coffee every day, you will soon need more and more of it in order to continue to feel the wake-up effect.

Give up coffee?

Caffeine is like everything else: the dose makes the poison. A maximum of 400 mg a day is recommended - a cup of filter coffee contains around 90 mg of caffeine. Any more and you may experience nervousness and a racing heart.