Benefits Of Coffee And Lemon

We have often heard that if you want to pull up an all-nighter to get your task done, you should get coffee. Or you have heard your colleague ranting about how he did not get his coffee and has led to him feeling drained?. You are almost pondering the right point; coffee is an excellent energizer and can help you do your work with full attention. On the other hand, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, many people have suggested increasing your citrus or lemon consumption. Because these lemons help in improving your immunity, as well as promoting weight loss. In short, from all these instances, coffee and lemon have many useful and effective benefits. This article will delve into the benefits and side effects of coffee and lemon.. 

Coffee and lemon: What is it?

Coffee gets its history back to the early ages in the Ethiopian plateau. A man named Kaldi saw his goats getting energized and could not suddenly sleep at night. After deep contemplation, he remembered that his goats ate berries from a particular tree. He reported his findings to the monastery's abbot, and the monks collectively crushed the beans and used them to find the truth. It became clear that the berries from these trees provide energy, and one could not sleep after eating them. From here, beans moved to the Arabian Peninsula. In Arabia, coffee got its popularity from the Khaveh Khanas. Here people used to get together to discuss various matters of the state to trade and used to drink coffee. The compelling nature of coffee got them addicted to the Khaveh Khana and coffee simultaneously. This coffee then made its way to the other parts of Arabia and reached Europe. In the early days, coffee met with controversies from the people and was later named "the invention of Satan." However, this could not stop the popularity of coffee, and hundreds of coffee houses were opened in London. From European travelers, it went to America and South America. In this way, by the mid-19th Century, the popularity of coffee reached every nook of the world.

Several plantations were done to build a coffee industry to meet its rapid demand throughout the world.¹ On the other hand, Lemon (Citrus limon) is a small tree or spreading bush of the Rutaceae family. It is present in tropical and subtropical countries. Lemon is rich in citric acid and vitamin C, which adds to its beneficial properties. Furthermore, it contains vitamin B complexes, particularly thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3).² Lemonade, a special drink made from lemon pulp, can be a source of energy and a refreshing drink in summer. Moreover, lemons are an ingredient in cakes and confectionaries.

Health benefits of coffee and lemon

Now it is time to discuss the benefits of these two different yet valuable items. Coffee has many benefits associated with it. 

1. Recent studies have shown that drinking coffee reduces one's chance of getting Diabetes Type 2³
2. It has also been reported that you are less likely to develop heart failure and Parkinson's Disease if you are an avid coffee drinker. It is expected that the ones who take coffee regularly have more chances of living more³
3. Moreover, the chances of developing colorectal cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, and stroke are also low with coffee consumption³
4. Studies have shown that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of liver impairments or damage. Diseases or conditions such as Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C can be reduced by coffee consumption³
5. Potent energizer. The significant advantage and reason why coffee consumption is high among people are that coffee energizes you and keeps you mentally strong during your activities. It is an active source of energy and helps you get a solid start to the day. Black coffee is considered more potent when it is a source of energy. This active and energizing property of coffee is accredited to the presence of caffeine in it

Lemon, a citrus food, has many advantages to the human health: 

1. Due to vitamin C and potent antioxidants, lemon is a valuable source to boost immunity in many conditions. It helps strengthen the immune system, and thus a robust immune system fights various infections⁵
2. Lemon contains fiber, such as pectin, that helps in bowel movements and improves the digestion process. Pectin, notably, increases the digestion of starch and sugar and so improves gut health⁵
3. When using lemon for health benefits, we must remember its use in weight loss. Lemon is considered an effective remedy for reducing weight. These weight-reducing properties of lemon come from the fibers such as pectin. You can consume the whole lemon, or if it feels bitter, you can use lemon water 5. Drinking lemon water can assist you in your weight loss remedy. Lemon water can also keep you hydrated in a state of low calories⁶
4. Lemon can also help a person in their skincare routine. It can enhance the appearance of your skin due to the presence of citric acid, vitamin C, and antioxidants⁷
5. Lemon also has a valuable role in lowering blood pressure. If you are taking lemon or drinking lemon water, the chances of high blood pressure will be low for you⁷

Side effects and other concerns

It is worth mentioning that with all the benefits of these two items, they also have severe and alarming side effects. An average of 8 ounces or almost 250mL of a cup contains 90 to 200 mg of caffeine. Caffeine can stimulate your Central Nervous System (CNS), which is why you feel too focused and energized. It can act as a diuretic, increases the release of acid in your stomach and blood pressure, and interferes with calcium absorption. Too much caffeine in coffee can cause restlessness, insomnia, fast heart rate, anxiety, dehydration, and dizziness. People with migraines, GERD or Ulcers, persistent high blood pressure, and sleep disorders should avoid caffeine or coffee. 

The following are the side effects associated with an increased or irregular intake of lemon or lemon water: 

1. Lemon water that has tyramine present in it. Tyramine has the potential to aggravate migraine. So lemon water can cause migraines⁹
2. Lemon water can initiate or trigger GERD or Ulcers because of the burning sensation that it causes in the stomach. Therefore, excess lemon intake should be avoided, and lemon water should be taken carefully in patients with GERD or gastrointestinal problems⁹
3. The chances of tooth enamel erosion also increase with an increase in lemon water intake. This happens due to the presence of vitamins, mainly citric acid, which is acidic⁹

Summary

Coffee and lemon or lemon water are different items used for different purposes, but they play an active role in maintaining our body's health.Coffee is used to lower the chances of many diseases or conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Liver impairment. It also reduces the chance of getting Diabetes type 2 disease. Coffee is considered an active source of caffeine and thus stimulates CNS, which makes you energetic and focused during your work. Due to the presence of caffeine mainly has caffeine-associated side effects such as anxiety, restlessness, dehydration, increased acid production in your stomach, decreased pH of the GIT, and high blood pressure.

On the other hand, lemon or lemon water can strengthen your immunity, help you get better skin, and, above all, assist in weight loss remedies. For weight loss, intake of lemon water is considered the best remedy. Lemon water's increased consumption can cause a burning sensation in your stomach and so GERD or other gastrointestinal problems. It can also cause migraines. Foods around us have many benefits and can wholly impact our body's health to an extent we could not imagine. Therefore, a person should be careful about their diet and not exceed the required consumption, or it will lead to serious side effects and health hazards.