Attention coffee lovers, do you know that each simmering hot cup of your favourite cappuccino, espresso or the filtered south Indian brew could be killing you silently?
A new study led by the researchers from the WA institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) and the University of Western Australia has found that drinking five cups of coffee a day could be lethal for drinkers. The report was published in news.com .au.
In the first-of-its-kind study done on higher doses of coffee, it was found that the beverage even if decaffeinated, could lead to obesity and chronic diseases. Usually, studies around the world are done on one or two cups of coffee, but the increased dose that is more than four cups were found to double the fat organs in the abdomen, which is capable to cause serious health conditions.
The compound Chlorogenic Acid (CGA) found in coffee was considered to have health benefits, including the prevention of diabetics. The university and WAIMR carried out the research hoping to prove its cardiovascular benefits. But the findings were unexpected - it was proved that drinking coffee builds up fat, increases obesity and leads to other related diseases.
According to a professor at the university, small doses of coffee consumption were found to lower the risk of having Type 2 diabetics, "With this in mind, we studied the effects of CGAs, which are rich in coffee but also found in tea and some fruits including plums. The CGAs were previously known for their health benefits-increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing blood pressure and body fat accumulation." he said in the statement.
However when the doses, equalling to five cups of coffee, were given to mice severe side effects were seen, according to Vance Mathews, WAIMR Assistant Professor.
"We found that the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day had a tendency to increase weight gain, particularly in regards to visceral fat. There were also increasing insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in mice having high levels of CGA," he said.
