For many, mornings are not complete without a cup of coffee. It is researched that around 500 billion cups are consumed every year and the number is constantly increasing. With the rise in coffee consumption, healthcare professionals are concerned about the health risks of coffee.

Coffee stimulates neurotransmitters countering the adenosine receptors in the nervous system, says a publication from the US National Library for Medicine, National Institutes of Health. This indicates that coffee can enhance memory, gives you more focus, and stimulates energy. Another interesting fact about the use of caffeine is that it can stimulate and may be eliminate headaches.

The health risks of coffee include:

• A study reveals that regular coffee drinkers are prone to chronic migraine and headaches, than those who do not drink coffee.
• Moreover, coffee is also associated with anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and irritability.
• The DSM-IV does not officially acknowledge coffee dependence; though, studies have gone to prove the dependence in case of high caffeine intake. This is reported to be very similar to psychoactive substances.
• The risk of alcohol use is higher in women consuming more than 6 cups of coffee a day in comparison to those who drank just a single cup per day
• Symptoms of withdrawal include irritability and fatigue, which is common among coffee drinkers. This happens to those who abstain from their regular intake of coffee that is as low as 100 mg per day. As the dose of coffee increases the symptoms may turn severe. The symptoms are reversed when they are given their dose of coffee.
• A recent study relates caffeine to breast cancer in postmenopausal women
• Another study has gone to prove that blood pressure increases by 10 mmHg in regular coffee drinker. Though less than 6 cups of coffee is not connected with chronic hypertension
• Unfiltered coffee like boiled or expresso can lead to light increase in cholesterol levels.
• Anything more than 2 cups a day can increase risk of heart disorders, especially with people with genetic mutation that does not expedites breakdown of caffeine. The best way to stay away from this risk is to metabolize coffee quickly

Though the positive effects are revealed in a study conducted in the year 2002 that coffee intake is related to reduced risk of Parkinson disease. The effect is attributed to the rich supply of anti-oxidants in coffee that promotes enzymes that can degenerate the free radicals. It is also revealed that moderate intake of coffee can control the risks of Alzheimer disease. Caffeine reduces the expression of presenilin 1 genes that contributes to the formation of amyloid plagues. Caffeine also decreases the risk of prostate and renal cancers. There is no evidence that coffee is associated with cardiovascular mortality. There is no increase in lipid levels as well.

The reason why coffee is attributed to risk is because it does not have health benefits of milk and fruit juices that are rich in Vitamins and Minerals. Remember to avoid cream or sugar in coffee as it can increase the calories.