Having a cup of coffee after supper is one of the most widespread customs in the world. However, have you ever questioned why? Does it aid in weight loss or sleep? Does it have any nutritional advantages? Or is it just a custom? Why do people get a cup of coffee after dinner? The majority of people are familiar with this custom, while some desire to take advantage of some of coffee’s well-known benefits (coffee is a fantastic energizer for someone going to work a night shift and a laxative for those who are experiencing constipation problems). Additionally healthy and an effective weight-loss aid, coffee! Having coffee after dinner has many advantages, but there are also some drawbacks. All of the aforementioned factors and a whole lot more will be discussed today!
Reasons Why People Drink Coffee After Dinner
Drinking coffee after supper has now been a tradition for decades, if not millennia! And there have been numerous claims about the “why” over the years. As you may expect, not all of these statements are scientifically supported. Many myths that have developed around this method have been debunked throughout time. So, why do individuals continue to do it if there isn’t always a nutritional benefit?
The fundamental cause is custom. This technique has been around for so long that few people can get away with it when they’re out and about. But it doesn’t imply there aren’t any advantages to partaking in this post-dinner ritual! So, let’s look at the most popular reasons why people still drink coffee after dinner today.
Tradition
As we’ve already established, tradition continues to be the main justification for drinking coffee following a meal nowadays. Consider this. You go out for the evening with your parents and their friends when you are in your preteens. Everyone lingers for a final cup of coffee after the meal before saying their goodbyes.
Most likely, you haven’t thought about this since then. But don’t you do the same thing with your buddies right now? Many years later. Yes, but not with every meal, and it varies greatly depending on where you go. But you succeeded, right?
Why? You are not aware of any advantages to doing so. Tradition is the only remaining explanation. It was done by your parents and the parents of your pals. So, in the end, you carry it out.
Tradition now encompasses more than this. It may also be a custom from another culture. The majority of Italians, for instance, prefer cappuccino in the morning over espresso in the evening. It is a hot cup of Turkish coffee in Turkish cuisine. Drinking coffee after supper is a common practice for many people. And the majority of individuals do it for no nutritional advantage!
Alternative Dessert
Some people still make the conscious decision to have coffee after dinner. The second most common reason we’ve discovered for this is for weight loss. Many people would rather drink a cup of coffee than eat a high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie dessert. Coffee is minimal in calories and does make you feel fuller (although temporarily). You can also add a little sugar to help satisfy your sweet tooth. Even better if you use Stevia, a zero-calorie sugar substitute.
Helps With Digestion
Some people experience coffee’s laxative effects more than others. We’ve all been there, and some folks are unable to consume even a small amount of coffee without experiencing, well, negative effects. Therefore, consuming it after a meal may hasten digestion. This has certain advantages, such preventing constipation or keeping meals in your system for an extended period of time (which leads to weight gain).
However, you ought to take your personal body’s requirements into account when making this decision. If coffee “works” for you right away, you might want to avoid drinking it after a meal. The nutrients from the food still need to be absorbed by your body for a few hours. This might not be worthwhile if even a trace of coffee keeps you awake all night. Have a cup of coffee in the morning instead.
Energy Boost After Dinner
Another reason some individuals enjoy casually drinking coffee after supper is that it keeps them awake. However, it does not work for everyone. We can drink cup after cup of coffee and still fall asleep – some people even believe that taking an espresso before a nap is a fantastic method to promote deeper sleep. Coffee, on the other hand, is a terrific way to keep energized if you need to get some more work done or if you had an early dinner and aren’t ready to sleep yet!
Pros To Drinking Coffee After Dinner
Let’s look at some of the potential health advantages of coffee that you might not even be aware of, whether you consume it as a habit or as a post-dinner treat for nutritional reasons.
Aids Digestion
Coffee, as previously stated, is a laxative. This can be both a benefit and a disadvantage. Coffee may be the answer for people who have trouble digesting quickly or are constipated in general. This drink stimulates the muscles in your colon, causing you to pass gas. Some studies even demonstrate that coffee promotes the growth of beneficial microbes! This has not yet been established conclusively, however there are some hopeful results.
Nutritional Benefits
Despite once being viewed as a bad energizer, this hot beverage is now suggested in moderation! Some varieties of coffee may really aid to enhance general brain function, according to recent studies. It is well known for elevating mood while enhancing cognitive processes and short-term memory.
A rich source of vitamins and minerals is coffee. The vitamins B2, B3, and B5, as well as manganese, potassium, and magnesium, are some of the more notable ones. But once more, the caliber and type of coffee do have an impact. You should always drink coffee in moderation because it contains a lot of caffeine.
Speeds Up Your Metabolism
Coffee is well-known as a weight-loss aid; it should not be used in place of a dietitian-approved diet, but it does benefit some people. Aside from making you feel fuller (which we shall discuss shortly), coffee also helps your body burn calories considerably faster. This can aid in weight loss and help you maintain a healthy body weight.
Detox Drink
High levels of antioxidants in coffee aid in the elimination of free radicals and the promotion of healthy blood flow. As an added bonus, it contains an antioxidant called caffeine acid, which slows down the aging process in your skin cells. There is no negative consequence to any of these. You will be healthier in every way: mind, body, and spirit.
Helps Prevent Snacking
This has a different connection to losing weight. Because coffee actually makes you feel very full, thus many people only consume it in the morning, completely oblivious to the fact that they are actually hungry and should eat something else. Once more, coffee should not be used as a meal substitute. It can also have negative side effects if used in excess. However, it might help you avoid seeking high-calorie desserts or even nibbling at home after supper.
Cons To Drinking Coffee After Dinner
While drinking coffee after dinner has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages. Coffee, like other components, has varied affects on different people. So, although some people thrive on coffee, others cannot. Coffee should always be consumed in moderation. Even if you don’t experience any serious side effects, consuming too much of it might be harmful to your health.
Too Much Energy
While some individuals might want an energy boost, others might only need a restful night’s sleep. We are all aware that some people get an unbelievable amount of energy from coffee. Furthermore, the more you drink, the more caffeine you consume! The fact that coffee keeps you up at night has significant detrimental impacts on your health. Your entire body needs rest in order to develop and regenerate, thus sleep is crucial!
Prevents Some Nutrients From Being Absorbed
Again, there is a paucity of evidence to support this probable truth, but some research have demonstrated that coffee interferes with your body’s ability to absorb iron. So scientists are now wondering what other nutrients coffee can interact with. There is no purpose in consuming coffee for the nutrients it supplies if it significantly inhibits the absorption of others, especially after dinner!
Caffeine Can Cause Stress
While coffee has been shown to have some positive effects on mental health, it can also make people anxious. Caffeine overdose can make someone feel overstimulated, especially before night. Because of this, many medical professionals advise stopping before 2:00 PM in the evening (meaning no coffee after lunch or dinner). Personally, we aim to avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime. Again, though, it differs from person to person.
How Much Coffee Should You Drink After Dinner?
We don’t recommend drinking more than one cup of coffee after supper, and for some people, none at all. However, you are the only one who knows how your body reacts to coffee! If you ate a light meal, 2-3 little cups later won’t hurt. Alternatively, if you work the night shift or have a lot of work to do after supper, you might appreciate the energy boost that a cup (or two) of coffee can bring. As we often say, it differs from person to person!