Coffee and the Albanians; core reasons why you should quit caffeine

Serving a cup of Turkish coffee

 Coffee is a source of energy for many people in the world. There are people who can't imagine a day without a cup of coffee and there are others who may drink over 4 cups per day. Albania's coffee consumption is estimated at 2.5 kg per capita per year.

This means that the average consumption for an Albanian is 300 to 375 cups of coffee a year. These figures are believed to be higher if one takes into account the fact that children do not drink coffee.

 Bar Coffee at Tirana center

The Albanians have inherited traces of the lifestyle by the Ottoman Empire, having been under the Ottoman rule for almost 500 years. A sedentary and passive lifestyle with lots of coffee and tea. There is even a saying that says for the lazy people: Like the lazy man of Istanbul. By that time Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire and the wealthiest, in this way the people went all day in the Coffee. Maybe this is one of the main reasons Albania is ranked first in the World for the number of Bars and Restaurants per inhabitant.

Until the 1990s, Albanians consumed a type of coffee known as Turkish coffee, consisting of boiling water along with coffee. After the 1990s, they began to consume massively Italian espresso and these days the Turkish coffee has almost disappeared.

Express coffee

However, let see further if it is worth continuing to consume coffee based on health effects.

Coffee has both good and bad effects on the body. According to AgroWeb.org these are the main reasons why you should quit drinking coffee.

Caffeine Increases Stress Hormone Levels

Experts say caffeine increases stress hormone levels, such as cortisol. This reaction also increases insulin levels. The latter increases inflammation which makes you feel bad. In addition, caffeine lowers insulin sensitivity, which makes it difficult for the cell to respond to blood sugar. High blood sugar levels affect blood vessels and increase the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease.

Caffeine and Cholesterol

Although coffee contains high amounts of antioxidants, it releases into the system some substances linked to high levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol. In addition, caffeine acids delay the absorption of glucose into the intestine which increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and overweight.

Heartburn

Caffeine has high acidity and causes stomach discomfort, digestive problems, heartburn and disruption of bacterial flora. In addition to heartburn, caffeine creates addiction and makes it impossible to utilize the body's natural energy.

Caffeine and The Brain

Caffeine affects the serotonin sentinel, which is the happiness hormone. People who drink a lot of coffee are more at risk for low levels of serotonin. This hormone is important for sleep, digestion, mood and energy levels. So we're dealing with a vicious circle, since caffeine disrupts sleep and promotes anxiety and depression.

Caffeine and Minerals

Caffeine promotes the removal of many important minerals from the body through urine. It's about calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The disruption of electrolyte balances can cause serious complications.

Caffeine and Liver

Caffeine inhibits the detoxification process of the liver. This means that due to caffeine, this organ makes it difficult to get rid of toxins and causing thus harmful accumulation. Caffeine also inhibits the absorption of antidepressants by worsening the symptoms.