Eating coffee beans
One of the questions people ask about coffee is whether it is safe to eat coffee beans.
Eating coffee beans is not a new concept as people have enjoyed the concept for hundreds of years. History has it that before coffee became a beverage loved by many people worldwide, some communities ate coffee beans to boost their energy levels. The beans, mixed with animal fat, were a delicacy, and they came with other health benefits besides boosting energy.
There is nothing wrong with asking the question, considering that many people enjoy drinking coffee, with some loving it more for its health benefits. I also know a couple of people that derive lots of pleasure from eating coffee beans.
Some take the beans, the way you would take a bowl of cereal in the morning. They put their roasts in a cup, add some milk, and sit down to enjoy an amazing taste of coffee in its real taste and flavor. In this article, we try to explain the effects of eating coffee beans, who should eat the beans, and if you should stay away from consuming coffee beans.
Is It Safe to Eat Coffee Beans?
It is safe to eat coffee beans, but you have to be careful about how much you consume. Like the coffee drink, coffee beans contain several healthy substances such as caffeine and antioxidants that help increase our energy and boost metabolism. Coffee, just like the beans, also helps to prevent and reduce the risks of several diseases.
Just like coffee, eating too many coffee beans comes with adverse side effects. A good example is that some people take them with a chocolate coating because of the bitter taste of the coffee. Chocolate contains calories, sugar, and fat, which could lead to weight gain and other health problems. However, you can avoid the adverse side effects by eating the beans as a means to satisfy your needs other than as an addiction.
How many coffee beans can you eat?
It is not an easy feat consuming raw beans as they have woody flavor with a bitter taste. They are also not that easy to chew as they have hard outer shells. Roosting makes the beans softer and easier to chew. Roasted beans also have a better flavor, and they are not as bitter as green beans.
The amounts of beans you can consume in a day depend largely on the amount of caffeine you consume daily. People that consider themselves as great coffee drinkers drink anything from 200 mg to 400 mg per day, which is the same as drinking five espresso cups daily. Caffeine amount in coffee beans also varies depending on the size and mode of stripping.
Many of the people that eat coffee beans prefer them with a chocolate coating. You can even find chocolate-coated coffee beans in your local coffee shops that sell them as snacks. If you take a coffee bean coated with chocolate, you will be consuming caffeine equivalent if 12 mg.
Stories behind chewing a whole coffee bean
There are many stories told of the thrill and benefits that come with chewing coffee beans. Some say that chewing gum or extra mint to get rid of bad breath or the smells of garlic in the mouth do it all wrong. The best option to good breath is chewing on a whole coffee beans. Roasted coffee beans wear down the garlic and onion breath, leaving your mouth as fresh as when you take mint leaves or parsley.
The most popular story about chewing coffee beans comes from Ethiopia, Africa, one of the world’s leading coffee producers. The herder, Kaldi, who discovered the coffee cherries, first learned of the coffee beans’ potency by observing his goats’ behavior after eating the cherries. The goats became more active and energetic after eating the cherries, which motivated people to start eating the beans too for the same stimulating effects.
More people prefer their coffee as a beverage, but we also have a few others that still take coffee beans coated in sweeter products, and with milk.
Pros and cons of eating coffee beans
Pros
They contain more caffeine
If you want to get more caffeine levels from your coffee, you can do so by eating the beans than taking the beverage. With more caffeine, you get a more boot of energy, and you stay alert for longer. More caffeine in the coffee reduces fatigue, prevents type 2 diabetes, and improves memory and mental functions.
Contains antioxidants
Coffee beans contain high levels of antioxidants and chlorogenic acid that help to reduce inflammations and diabetes. Although not conclusive, some studies suggest that chlorogenic acid contains potent properties that help fight cancer. Unfortunately, roasting coffee beans reduces antioxidants by 50%. Chewing the beans provides you with more antioxidants.
Source of fiber
If you want extra fiber in your diet, you could supplement it with coffee beans. If you eat 30 beans, you get about 3 grams of fiber, which amounts to 10% of the total fiber you need to take daily. If you take a brewed cup of coffee, you get zero fiber levels.
Fewer calories
Coffee beans, compared to brewed coffee that contains creamer, and milk, have fewer calories. Compared to peanuts, coffee beans have fewer calories and fat. They still provide you with the caffeine kick while making the healthiest snack to eat without worrying about gaining weight or having other health issues.
Improves blood flow
Coffee beans help to improve blood flow and the health of arteries and blood vessels. Improved blood flow improves brain function, vision, mental ability, and reduces the risk of heart diseases. It also helps to get rid of harmful substances in the body.
Suppresses appetite
Eating coffee beans helps suppress appetite, which is a good thing for people trying to lose weight. It is also good for people that love snacking in between meals. Eating the coffee beans fills you preventing unnecessary snacking.
Cleanses toxic substances
Coffee beans are also great detox agents as they help to cleanse toxic substances from the body. The extracts leave the intestinal lining clear of any toxins.
Blood pressure regulation
Caffeine beans help eliminate excess fat that blocks blood vessels, causing a rise in blood pressure.
Prolongs life
Caffeine also helps to increase the lifespan of a person. It helps to reduce early mortality in both men and women
Minimizes erectile dysfunction in men
Erectile dysfunction is a problem that affects some men. Studies show that a regular intake of 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily reduces erectile dysfunction in men. Coffee beans contain more caffeine than a coffee cup, which means they contain more properties that fight erectile dysfunction.
Reduces chronic inflammations
If you have chronic inflammations, you could help to ease the problem by eating coffee beans. According to researchers at Stanford University, caffeine has properties that help to block the genes responsible for inflammations that affect how we feel on a day to day to basis. Chronic inflammations also contribute to higher mortality rates in people of 85 years and above.
Increases stamina
There is that saying that a good cup of hot coffee in the morning gets you going. The same goes for when you are training or after a bout of exercise, caffeine helps to bring back the energy and increase muscle glycogen. Coffee contains high levels of glycogen that helps to provide sportspeople with extra energy and stamina to keep going. A certain study also shows that people that ate coffee beans improved their responses after ad during exercise.
Helps to reduce muscle pains after workouts
Coffee, according to a study by some scientists in a 2017 study, helps to reduce muscle pain by 50% after a strenuous workout. The same study also showed that not all people that exercise or go to the gym regularly get the same effects from caffeine, but it works great for the majority of those that take caffeine regularly.
Improves memory
If you keep forgetting things, maybe some caffeine intake could help you to remember things more. A John Hopkins 2013 study showed that students that took 200 mg of caffeine portrayed stronger memories that lasted 24 hours.
Absorbs into the body faster
Eating coffee beans helps to metabolize caffeine faster than drinking coffee. Caffeine works as a natural stimulant that we absorb from food and drinks. Two cups of coffee re equal to 17 coffee beans that are enough to give the body the same feeling like a night of restful 30-minute sleep. The caffeine helps to keep you alert by suppressing adenosine, which causes drowsiness and sleepiness. It also helps to increase the body’s metabolism.
Reduces skin cancer
Some studies show that developing skin cancer when you are taking caffeine decreases by 20% if the intake is four cups or slightly less per day. The types of coffee beans you take also contribute to positive results.
Cons
Moderation eating of coffee beans does not pose any danger to your health, but if you eat them in excess, you risk some health problems. Some of the most common disadvantages that come with eating coffee beans include;
Laxative issues
Some people portray laxative effects after consuming coffee. Though some people have the same reactions to decaffeinated drinks, it is advisable to be extremely careful when consuming or eating coffee beans. People that should be more precarious include bowel issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Stomach upsets and heartburn
Another common side effect of caffeine is stomach upsets that affect certain people. Coffee contains some compounds that go by the name catechol alongside caffeine that take a toll on stomach acid. An increase in stomach acid causes heartburn, which takes place after acid reflux. Heartburn also causes other problems that include stomach upsets, bloating, and nausea.
A few studies also show that consumption of green beans extracts in high dosage can lead to stomach upsets and diarrhea, especially with people that experience sensitive stomachs. If you have any issues with heartburn or stomach issues, it would be best to limit or avoid eating coffee beans or the intake of caffeine altogether.
Anxiety
Another risk that caffeine intake causes is anxiety that comes with frequent headaches, fatigue, and even stress-related episodes. Extreme anxiety also leads to nausea, sleep disorders, poor concentration, tremors, and palpitations in some people. If you take caffeine and struggle with anxiety, it is crucial to limit the intake and avoid eating coffee beans, which contain higher amounts of caffeine.
Sleep disorder
One of the main reasons people take coffee is because the caffeine helps to keep them awake. It also helps to boost energy levels, which makes some people more productive. However, caffeine can also be the cause of sleep deprivation, especially to people with sensitivity to the compound. People that consume too much caffeine also find it hard to sleep. Lack of sleep may lead to fatigue and other health issues that include headaches and anxiety. If caffeine affects your sleeping patterns, it would be advisable to avoid eating coffee beans that contain a higher concentration of caffeine.
Pregnancy problems
Too much intake of caffeine may also cause problems for pregnant women. Some of the risks include the low birth weight of the child, miscarriages, early labor, and high blood pressure. If you are pregnant, limit the amount of caffeine you consume.
What to Do When You’ve Had Too Much Caffeine
Some instances lead people to have too much caffeine without realizing the risks they open themselves to, especially those that cannot function well without caffeine.
How much caffeine is too much?
Our bodies are all different, which is why we do not metabolize caffeine in the same way. Caffeine metabolism depends on several issues that include age, body weight, genetics, and how well the liver can tolerate caffeine and other compounds. According to a cardiac electrophysiologist and heart specialist, any amount above 400 mg is above the required limit, a UW Medicine Heart Institute, Arun Sridhar. The amount of caffeine use also differs between children and adults. Children are more susceptible to caffeine’s effects as they weigh less than adults do, which is why it is important to limit the use of caffeine to them. Standardizing the allowed amounts also becomes another problem because caffeine levels also depend on the type of coffee, the origin of the beans, roast degree, flavor notes, grinding methods, tine of brewing, the water content in the beans, and much more. If you experience any of the risks that come with using caffeine, you can find reprieve by doing the following things;
Stop taking caffeine all together, especially eating coffee beans, which contain higher levels of the substance.
Drink lots of water that helps you to pass out the caffeine in the system.
Use electrolyte replacement solutions such as Pedialyte hat help to replace lost electrolytes in the body.
Take frequent walks to expend on pent-up energy. If you experience palpitations, stop the walks.
Deep breathing exercises also help regulate the heart and reduce anxiety and other issues that come with it.
FAQs
Can eating coffee beans kill you?
Yes, too much caffeine can kill you, but only if you consume anything between 80 and 100 cups in a rush.
Does eating coffee beans help with weight loss?
Yes, eating coffee beans will help you with weight loss because they suppress appetite. Coffee beans reduce appetite, which is a good thing for people that like to snack in between meals. Coffee beans are filling, which means you can go for long hours without needing to eat anything else.
How much caffeine in chocolate-covered espresso beans?
One of the reasons people love chocolate covered espresso beans is because they contain natural caffeine. The caffeine content in the beans varies depending on many factors. The average amount of caffeine in one bean is 7 mg. Chocolate-covered espresso bean averages between 5 and 10 mg for chocolate with milk, while for dark chocolate, the average is between 6 and 11 mg. The average caffeine amount may seem too little, but eating several chocolate-coated beans in one sitting will lead to higher caffeine in the system.
Wrapping it up
Coffee beans are a delicacy for some people, while many others prefer to have their caffeine in their drinks. They are good to eat as long as you eat them in moderation. Coffee beans also contain antioxidants that provide the body with immense health benefits, including, including energy boost, increased stamina, and reduction of certain illnesses. However, eating too many coffee beans also comes with risks that include anxiety, sleep disorders, headaches, pregnancy issues, and many more. If you have to get your daily dose of caffeine from eating coffee beans, be wise, and do not eat in excess.
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