Good afternoon, dear readers! Who does not like to pamper themselves in the morning with a cup of aromatic and invigorating coffee. The abundance of instant drinks on store shelves allows you to save your time. No need to grind and cook the grains, just put a spoonful of granules or powder and pour boiling water over it.

But is instant coffee, an instant drink, so useful? To clarify all the nuances, it is necessary to consider the composition of instant coffee, its types, as well as the method of production. Today in the article, instant coffee benefits and harms, questions about the beneficial effects on health, its harmful effects and contraindications.

The benefits and harms of instant coffee

For the production of instant drink, manufacturers use grains that do not have a presentation (color, shape), which are sometimes called an illiquid product. Although this does not affect the chemical composition and beneficial properties.

Chemical composition and active substances of grains

The unique chemical composition of coffee beans is due to the contained in them, more than 1000 elements that affect not only the quality of the drink, but also give it taste and aroma.

Heat treatment of grain leads to a change in its quality characteristics. In addition, manufacturers increase the aroma and flavor characteristics of the drink by:

• oils from coffee beans or their synthetic analogues;
• preservatives;
• stabilizers;
• carbonic acid;
• dyes.

A high-quality instant product is made on the basis of the main component - coffee extract, which should be indicated on the package. Otherwise, numerous additives may be included in the product. In some cases, their content reaches 80%.

The main ingredients of coffee are:

• Caffeine... Belongs to the class of alkaloids and is a bitter whitish or colorless crystals. In different varieties of coffee, its amount is different and averages 1.18%. Roasting practically does not change its percentage, which after processing is 1.05%;
• Proteins. Almost all common varieties of the product (Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, etc.) contain the same amount of protein substances - up to 13%;
• Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in coffee beans account for more than 50% of their total weight. The amount of sucrose ranges from 6 to 10%, cellulose - from 5 to 12%, pectin substances - from 2 to 3%. Also, grains contain arabinogalactan, galactose, mannose, arabinose, fructose, glucose, etc.

Heat treatment leads to profound changes in the composition of carbohydrates. So in instant coffee, glucose is contained in an amount of 1.25%, fructose - 1.1%, arabinose - 0.15%, galactose - 0.1%. The frying process leads to caramelization of some types of sugars, which causes the brown color of the product;

• Tanin. The raw product contains in the amount of 3.6-7.7%. However, frying leads to its decrease to 0.5–1.0%;
• Chlorogenic acids. They are represented in the raw product by ten compounds and make up about 10%. During frying, they participate in various reactions and undergo thermal destruction, which leads to a decrease in their number by about 2 times.

The content of multivitamins and heterocyclic alkaloids (theophylline, glucoside, theobromine, trigonelline and nicotinic acid) is observed. Watch the video, instant coffee from Galileo:

The nutritional value product is directly dependent on its type. On average, 100 g of coffee contains: 0.2 g of proteins; 0.6 g fat; 0.1 g carbohydrates; up to 5 mg calcium; 0.6 mg vitamin B3; 9 mg potassium; 7 mg phosphorus; 2 mg iron.

Types of instant coffee, what is their difference

The inventor of the instant drink is the Japanese scientist Satori Kato, who lived in America. The discovery dates back to 1901. The production of the drink was industrialized in 1906 by the English chemist George Constant Washington.

However, the popularity of the product was brought by the Second World War, during which the quick and convenient preparation of the drink was to the liking of both military personnel and civilians.

At the moment, the sales volume of instant drink is in second place after oil. For industrial purposes, two varieties of coffee trees are grown - Arabica and Robusta.

The modern food industry presents several types of instant coffee, which differ in the method of production and, as a result, in their taste and impact on the body.

Initially, the coffee beans are roasted, ground and boiled for several hours using sealed vessels until a thick coffee syrup is formed. Further, the cooking technology is different.

• Powdery. It is the oldest, cheapest and most widespread of all types of instant drinks. After brewing, the coffee syrup is cooled and filtered. To obtain fine powdery grains, the extract is exposed to hot air, which leads to the evaporation of the liquid.

It is made from leftover raw materials or low-quality grains, contains no more than 5% caffeine, numerous additives and does not have good quality. However, the drink has an acceptable pricing policy, which makes it popular.

• Granulated. Its production differs from the powdery final stage, during which the grains stick together under the influence of hot steam treatment and are converted into granules.

Such processing of the grains leads to a deterioration in the aroma and taste of the drink, but gives it a richer color and good solubility. Granules contain more caffeine than powder, which gives it an advantage over powder. In high-quality granular coffee, there are no visible impurities, the granules are brown and do not stick together.

• Freeze-dried. Manufactured using a technology different from the above. The coffee concentrate obtained during brewing is instantly frozen and dried in a vacuum, bypassing the transition to a liquid state. Evaporation of water and the formation of dry matter, which later crumbles into small granules.

This technology is quite lengthy and expensive, but the quality of raw materials is not always high enough.

Freeze-dried coffee has the same color, taste and aroma as freshly brewed coffee. The beneficial substances contained in coffee beans are not lost during processing. The price of the freeze-dried version is 30-50% higher than that of the granulated and powdery one, but the taste of the drink fully justifies it.

The good quality of the freeze-dried product is evidenced by light brown large granules with a dense texture. They dissolve in water in a short period of time with the formation of a thin white film. The powder found on the bottom of the package indicates poor quality.

On the beneficial and harmful effects on health

Until now, experts have not come to an unambiguous conclusion about the benefits and health risks of instant coffee. The drink has a double effect on the body, which leads to the need to analyze its properties.

How does it affect the nervous system

Drinking instant coffee helps to increase brain activity by an average of 10%, thanks to the natural psycho-stimulant caffeine it contains. The ingredient provokes the expansion of blood vessels in the brain, which significantly speeds up blood circulation and some biochemical processes.

Acceleration of the transmission of nerve impulses through neurons increases nervous excitability and, as a result, causes vigor, energy, increased attentiveness.

The benefits of the drink are undeniable for intense mental activity, long-term driving, as well as for persons over the age of 50. It promotes increased attention and response, resistance to stress and performance. Able to improve mood and eliminate depression (due to the property of the product to stimulate the production of serotonin, "the hormone of happiness" in the body).

The property of the drink to relieve headaches (except for pain in hypertension) is a scientifically proven fact.

However, an overdose can lead to nervous exhaustion and overexcitation, tremors of the limbs and other unpleasant symptoms. In addition, the emergence of addiction, similar in strength to alcohol or nicotine, requires a careful approach to the amount of drink drunk.

How it affects the digestive system

The product contains organic acids (malic, citric, oxalic, chlorogenic, etc.), which stimulate the production of gastric secretion, which in turn accelerates the digestion process. This property is positive, however, in the presence of stomach ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis and other diseases, it can lead to their exacerbation.

When alcoholic beverages are abused, coffee prevents cirrhosis. The tannins contained in the product saturate the body with vitamin P and activate metabolic processes with the participation of vitamin C. The tanning properties of tannins make it possible to use a coffee drink for the treatment of stomach ulcers. Tannins impart a bitter taste to the beverage, which can be eliminated by drinking coffee with milk.

How the heart and blood vessels react to coffee

The product contains numerous components that have an effect on the cardiovascular system. Drinking large quantities of the drink leads to a short-term increase in blood pressure and tachycardia.

This property can cause irreparable harm in diseases of the heart and blood vessels. However, one cannot fail to note the positive product on blood vessels. Reasonable dose of the drink helps to strengthen the vascular walls and improve microcirculation.

Effects on the respiratory system

Some facts about the health benefits

Drinking coffee in moderation has positive health effects:

• stimulates central nervous system;
• activates the brain;
• stimulates muscle activity;
• increases muscle tissue tone;
• reduces stress levels and improves mood;
• activates metabolism;
• reduces appetite;
• improves digestion;
• normalizes the microflora in the oral cavity and intestines;
• enhances the effect of antibacterial and analgesic drugs;
• reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease;
• has antiallergic effect;

prevents and inhibits the development of cancer cells.

Some facts about the harm to the body

Instant coffees contain more acids in their composition than natural (grain) coffees. So they contain about 5,800 g of amino acids and 0.418 g of fatty acids per 100 g of powder. This affects the increase in acidity of gastric juice, which causes heartburn, in addition, they negatively affect dental health, thinning tooth enamel. This is evidenced by the increased sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, to sour.

Coffee with milk. Coffee with milk helps to reduce the effect of acids on teeth, since milk has an alkaline environment, which to some extent smooths out the aggressiveness of acids. You can add to the finished drink not only cow, but also, which will reduce:

• acidity of coffee
• its destructive effect on tooth enamel,
• reduce the likelihood of heartburn,
• will reduce the degree of staining of the teeth.

Manufacturers in the process of technology add colorants to all types of instant coffee to match its natural color. Even the most expensive freeze-dried coffee contains some colorants that affect the whiteness of the teeth. In this regard, coffee with milk somewhat protects the teeth from the deposition of dyes on the enamel. But in any case, experts recommend brushing your teeth after a cup of coffee.

There is a risk of harm from excessive coffee consumption, in other cases, even a one-time overdose of coffee drinks can lead to:

• increased heart rate;
• dizziness;
• weakness;
• nausea;
• decreased vision clarity;
• loss of consciousness or orientation.

These symptoms can occur when consuming a product with a caffeine content of at least 600 mg, which causes an excess of adrenaline and increased pressure on blood vessels.

Numerous studies show that the systematic consumption of a drink in large quantities cannot contribute to the onset of diseases, but can lead to an exacerbation of chronic pathologies.

When drinking the drink, be careful when:

• chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system and pancreas;
• during pregnancy and lactation;
• regular psychological overload, in order to avoid excessive excitation of the nervous system.

Coffee for women and men

For a more vulnerable and sensitive female body, even 3 cups of coffee a day will have a tangible effect:

• reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 20%;
• relieve headache caused by changes in weather or pressure drops.

Drinking during pregnancy is controversial. The increase in uterine muscle tone caused by the drink can lead to premature birth. On the other hand, its consumption in moderation prevents the risk of fetal death.

Experts so far cannot come to an unequivocal opinion about the effect of a coffee drink on men. Some of them believe that as a result of its excessive use, a female hormone, estrogen, accumulates in the body of the stronger sex, which negatively affects potency.

Other scientists have the exact opposite opinion. Their reasoning is based on the stimulating effect of the product and, as a result, an increase in sperm motility, which leads to an increase in sexual desire and an increase in the likelihood of fertilization.

For the elderly, moderate coffee consumption in the absence of contraindications reduces the risk of sclerosis and decreased thinking functions.

The widespread opinion about the benefits of coffee for weight loss is not well founded. Indeed, it improves metabolic processes, but does not contain ingredients that burn fat. For the figure, the benefits of the drink are manifested only against the background of active physical exercise.

Frequently asked questions and answers to them:

How much instant coffee can you drink per day?

When consumed up to 4 cups a day, the drink will have a positive effect on the body. With an increase in dosage, the stimulating effect of the product ceases, and the destructive effect begins to appear.

How many calories does the drink contain in a teaspoon?

A teaspoon of dry instant coffee contains from 5 to 6 Kcal. When sugar, cream and other ingredients are added to the drink, this data increases.

How much caffeine does a cup of coffee contain?

A cup of instant coffee contains 60-100 mg of caffeine at the rate of 10 g of powder per 150 water.

What is the best coffee?

If we consider this issue from the point of view of composition and quality, then it is better - freeze-dried coffee, in which the composition of useful properties is richer, there are small differences in the content of caffeine, in comparison with powder or granular. It has a somewhat peculiar taste and smell, slightly different from natural. Many people like it, but real connoisseurs do not recognize this coffee.

And if we talk about the usefulness of the drink, then a drink made from grains is considered the best by gourmets. Natural coffee has the greatest healing effect on the body, allowing you to feel cheerfulness and energy, unsurpassed aroma and exquisite taste.

Instant coffee, the benefits and harms of which are now known, is a product that is not entirely ordinary, due to the production technology and the increased content of caffeine. It also has a beneficial effect on the body, but its excessive use can lead to undesirable consequences.

Be attentive to your health!

☀ ☀ ☀

The blog articles use pictures from open sources on the Internet. If you, suddenly, see your author's photo, inform the editor of the blog about it through the form. The photo will be removed, or a link to your resource will be placed. Thank you for understanding!

Disputes about the dangers and benefits of such a world-famous drink as coffee have been going on, probably since the time of its discovery. And the opinions of scientists at the same time differ, some of them insist on its exceptional usefulness for human health, and their opponents argue that coffee is a real evil, comparable to poison. In this article we will talk about the soluble form of this drink and try to determine whether it is really that bad for our body.

Manufacturing

Instant coffee is actually an extract. There are three types of this product: granular, powder and freeze-dried. The difference between them lies only in the final stage of production.

At first, coffee beans are ground and boiled in special tanks. The resulting concentrate is then dried under high pressure. The finished powder is just the powder coffee - the cheapest in production.

For the production of granular coffee, the powder is additionally treated with steam, resulting in the formation of granules. The freeze-dried product is obtained after freezing (dehydration) and subsequent crushing into small particles.

Various cereals are usually added to powdered coffee, for example, barley, so the percentage of pure product in such a mixture rarely exceeds 15%. This production is absolutely legal, but the manufacturer must indicate the composition on the package.

Quite a few fakes are found among coffee in bags, but if you want to purchase a quality product, give preference to freeze-dried coffee. It will never be cheap, because expensive varieties are used to make it.

In order to check the quality indicators of the selected drink - just prepare it. High-quality coffee will dissolve in hot water completely, without the slightest residue. If anything remains at the bottom of the mug, these are various additives.

If you have already thought about the uselessness of instant coffee and are planning to give it up, remember that the negative qualities of this product are more related to powder and granular types. If you have the opportunity - purchase a freeze-dried drink from one manufacturer, after making sure that it is natural.

Caffeine

Many people drink instant coffee just because they are confident in the health benefits of caffeine. This substance is able to drive away drowsiness and add vigor, and there is no way to argue with that. However, many stress on another property of caffeine - the ability to accelerate the breakdown of fats and reduce appetite. But, unfortunately, such properties are characteristic only for classic custard coffee, and instant coffee cannot boast of them.

It's important to consider that caffeine can raise blood pressure. Therefore, if you suffer from hypotension - low blood pressure, then after drinking a cup of aromatic coffee, you will feel much better. But with hypertension, such consumption can be fraught with a sharp jump in blood pressure and even the development of a hypertensive crisis.

In addition to caffeine, instant coffee contains a special substance - benzopyrene resin, and its amount directly depends on the degree of roasting of the beans. This substance negatively affects the functioning of our body.

Contraindications

Expectant mothers need to be especially careful in matters of consumption of instant coffee, since a high intake of caffeine in the body can harm the developing fetus. Statistics confirm that those lovers of this aromatic drink who regularly drank it during pregnancy often give birth to babies with reduced body weight.

Instant coffee is also dangerous if a person has some kind of ailments of the cardiovascular and genitourinary system, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. It should not be drunk in old age, since it can not only exacerbate various dormant diseases, but also provoke insomnia and even cause the development of peptic ulcer or gastritis. The latter properties are explained by the fact that caffeine acts on the mucous membranes of the stomach in an irritating manner.

The consumption of caffeine-containing substances causes strong nervous excitement in children, since they have a negative effect on the developing nervous system.

Influence on the figure

Instant coffee contains many preservatives and some of them can trigger the development of cellulite. Most nutritionists advise to completely abandon this drink at the stage of weight loss in order to achieve the most effective result.

Scientists are still working on the dangers and usefulness of instant coffee. In addition to the benefits for patients with hypotension, this drink has another noticeable plus - it provokes the synthesis of endorphin, the so-called hormone of happiness. This effect is achieved by increasing the concentration of serotonin in the blood. In addition, instant coffee can be made very easily, and in our crazy times it is also a significant positive quality.

So, the usefulness and harm of instant coffee can be assessed only when applied to each individual person. Much depends not only on the needs and desires, but also on the physical and emotional state. When consuming coffee, you need to remember about moderation, then you can get the maximum benefit and minimum harm from it.

More than half of the total amount of coffee that is drunk in the world every year is made up of instant drink. Moreover, people constantly argue about whether it is harmful or not. They are interested in such questions as: what is the composition of this product, what is the technology of its manufacture, to whom and why it should not be drunk. Find out more about this type of coffee below.

How is instant coffee made and what is it?

It is important to note that this is a drink made from coffee beans, which, using various technological processes, are transformed into a substance that can be dissolved in water. Instant coffee can be in the form of granules or powder. After adding boiling water, a drink is obtained that, in all its characteristics, is similar to grain coffee. It is important to note that some manufacturers of instant coffee, in addition to dehydration, also carry out decaffeinization - a decrease in the caffeine content.

According to the technology for making the drink, coffee beans are first thoroughly roasted, ground and poured over with hot water. The resulting concentrated drink must be dried. For this process, choose one of several popular methods:

1. Freeze-drive. After processing, freeze-dried or frozen coffee is obtained. It is produced by the freeze-drying method. Cold-treated coffee crystals are completely dehydrated by sublimation in a vacuum space. This complex process perfectly preserves the components of the extract. However, due to the heavy and energy intensive processing method, it is much more expensive compared to other varieties of instant coffee beverage.
2. Spray-dry. It is a popular coffee powder that is produced using the spray drying method. The coffee extract is carefully sprayed in a stream of heated air. As a result, it dries up and we get coffee powder.
3. Aggregation. Thanks to this method, granulated or agglomerated coffee, popular all over the world, is obtained. It is important to note that it is produced using the aggregation spray drying method. This unique process is the wetting of coffee powder in order to subsequently obtain granular coffee.

It is important to note that there is at least one instant coffee manufacturer that offers customers a product in the form of a concentrated liquid that can be used to make coffee.

What is the calorie content and BJU of instant coffee?

Instant coffee nutritional value

How much coffee is in instant coffee and does it contain caffeine?

Often, instant coffee is preferred over grain coffee for quite objective reasons. And it's not just the cost, but also the amount of caffeine. Some people mistakenly believe that there is much less of it in granular or powdered coffee, therefore, it is healthier. But this is by no means the case. The thing is that it is in the considered drink of this substance as much as in natural grain. For comparison: while freshly brewed coffee contains approximately 90 mg per 100 ml, instant coffee contains approximately 68 mg.

However, the brewed drink may even contain less caffeine, because if you cook it quickly in a Turk and bring it to a boil once, then the concentration of this substance will be less high. But when brought to a boil about two times, the coffee turns out to be richer, more aromatic and, accordingly, harmful.

By all parameters and properties, caffeine is a rather complex substance that can have the most negative effect on the general condition of a person. It activates the nervous system, gives vigor, but, despite this, it is capable of provoking the onset of arterial hypertension. Despite this, coffee is indicated for taking hypotensive patients, since it is famous for its ability to influence low blood pressure monitor readings.

This delicious drink can also improve your mood thanks to the serotonin it contains. This substance is also called "the hormone of happiness". It is not recommended to overuse coffee as more than two cups a day can trigger a caffeine addiction. And with a complete rejection of the drink, the body will be in the so-called state of abstinence. During this period, a person feels apathy and aggression, lethargy and drowsiness. In addition, headaches may appear.

Instant coffee contains a fairly large amount of caffeine and all kinds of dyes. But manufacturers of a cheaper product even save on it and try to replace natural coffee with other components. It should be noted that the natural product does not contain any preservatives or flavorings.

One of the most damaging effects on the body is an increase in stomach acidity. It is for this reason that doctors forbid this drink to their patients who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

If you drink it wisely, then you can, on the contrary, improve the performance of the stomach and intestines. Some overweight women believe in its ability to accelerate metabolism, which helps to get rid of centimeters at the waist and hips. But beauty experts argue that excessive consumption of coffee reduces skin tone, as a result of which it becomes flabby and cellulite forms on it.

It also flushes out an impressive amount of vitamins, nutrients from the human body, and it also loses vital water. If a person constantly drinks this drink for five or more years, he becomes completely dependent on it. His skin also takes on a dull, dehydrated and painful appearance.

Advice. In order not to get an unwanted addiction to coffee, doctors recommend drinking no more than one cup of it a day.

Freeze-dried and instant coffee: what's the difference between them?

At the moment, you can find several varieties of instant coffee in supermarkets. It is a drink in powder, granular and freeze-dried form. The most expensive is the latter. It can be recognized by its compressed, slightly shiny particles. This type of drink retains all the qualities of the coffee beans.

* Swipe left-right to view the full table on your mobile phone

Is instant coffee harmful to the body?

To understand the negative aspects of this unique drink, it is necessary to speak on the basis of two main aspects: psychological and physical. It is important to note that with regular consumption of instant coffee, addiction to it occurs. For many, this drink is associated with rest, relaxation, pleasure, therefore, when you stop using it, a person experiences complete dissatisfaction. And this signals that a person has a certain dependence on coffee. That is why, in order to fill this emptiness, a person begins to drink more and more. Over the years, the current situation is radically aggravated - in the morning it is difficult for him to wake up and refuse another cup of a fragrant drink. A little later, certain physical health problems begin to be traced.

All varieties of instant coffee are dangerous enemies of all organs and systems of the body. First of all, the vulnerable nervous system suffers. Some medical professionals have argued that coffee actually induces addiction similar to drug addiction. A person is not able to start working without a cup of invigorating drink, he becomes irritable, aggressive. Pronounced deviations in behavior appear. Over time, without getting another dose of coffee, he falls into a serious condition called depression.

As for the health of internal organs, many people know that the type of coffee in question is capable of oxidizing the body. Subsequently, certain diseases of the stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines appear. A person can develop diseases such as gastritis and ulcers. Among other things, the drink negatively affects the state of the gallbladder. Also, experts advise against drinking coffee on an empty stomach. Because of this, intoxication of the body may appear. In order for instant coffee not to be harmful, you need to drink it after a meal.

Do not forget that this product is capable of dehydrating the body. The drink has a strong diuretic effect. Even against the background of constant consumption of the drink, one can trace the leaching of calcium from the human skeleton. Doctors recommend drinking a glass of clean water about ten minutes after a cup of coffee.

Everyone knows that coffee, especially instant coffee, should not be drunk by those who have problems with the heart and blood vessels. It is also especially harmful if consumed at the same time as smoking a cigarette or other tobacco product.

In fact, which coffee is healthier: ground or instant coffee, and how do they differ?

Many people think that natural ground coffee is healthier. But is this so, let's see a comparison of these drinks in the table:

From this information, we can conclude that it is ground coffee that is much more useful, since it retains all the useful substances and vitamins.

Advice. Some brands of elite instant coffee can boast of preserving vitamins, minerals and some useful substances in its composition. This is due to the use of special technologies. But, such coffee is even more expensive than ground coffee and you cannot find it in our supermarkets.

Can expired instant coffee be drunk? Shelf life of the drink

Many people wonder how and for how long instant coffee can be stored. The question remains relevant: is it possible to drink a drink with an expired shelf life and what consequences this can lead to.

The shelf life of instant coffee directly depends on the type and conditions. With this type of drink, things are much better. Typically, instant coffee has an average shelf life of two years. This is due to the fact that during its manufacture, the product is processed using high temperature conditions. Moreover, an impressive percentage of the oils present in natural coffee simply disappears from the drink during the manufacturing process.

It is important to note that the natural ingredients in the product in question are replaced by analogs of chemical origin. But, nevertheless, opened packaging should not be stored longer than 20 days. During this time period, all components that are natural simply disappear from the coffee. You can increase the shelf life by moving the drink into a special hermetically sealed container. In such a container, it can be stored for 90 days.

Instant coffee with milk: the benefits and harms of a popular drink

There are several ways to prepare instant coffee with milk. Moreover, it is the recipe that can affect the benefits or harms of the drink.

It should be noted that the benefits of coffee with milk will be greater if you drink it without sugar. It is in this component that the harm that it can inflict on the human body lies. In other words, two natural products: coffee and milk cannot harm your health. It is for this reason that this drink can be considered useful.

It is recommended to drink for people who suffer from low blood pressure. In addition, it will help you quickly regain strength and feel a surge of vivacity. Caffeine has the ability to flush calcium out of the body, but milk will help restore its balance. For this reason, the combination of these products is called very successful.

As for the dangers of the drink, coffee can negatively affect the performance and condition of the heart and blood vessels. It is not recommended to overuse coffee. It is also forbidden to use it for people who have lactose intolerance.

Can instant coffee be used for pregnant women or not?

As noted earlier, some experts classify coffee as a narcotic substance because it is addictive. Women in an interesting position only endanger their lives when they decide to drink a cup of a fragrant drink. In addition, the life of the fetus at this moment is also under threat.

Constant drinking of coffee leads to a lot of problems. It flushes calcium out of the fetus, which prevents the formation of its musculoskeletal system. But the negative influence of the drink can provoke the appearance of complications in the mental development of the unborn child.

Few people know, but instant drink contains a high concentration of benzopyrene resins. This is known to increase the risk of miscarriage.

Advice. Do not forget that any instant coffee, even from the elite category, can cause irreparable harm to an unborn child. Therefore, you should not endanger his life.

The main symptoms of instant coffee allergy

Of particular note is the intolerance of caffeine and other constituents of instant coffee. Many people even have no idea that they may have an intolerance to this product. Therefore, they do not exclude it from their own diet. Allergies can appear both spontaneously and constantly. The only way out of the situation when an allergy to this drink was diagnosed is to completely abandon it.

As for the symptomatology, it resembles a reaction to certain foods. Some of the most common signs of an intolerance to this product are:

• the appearance of itchy spots on the skin, urticaria;
• shortness of breath, cough, sneezing;
• bloating, hiccups, digestive problems.

Among other things, an allergic reaction can manifest itself in the form of an unpleasant chill, pain in the heart muscle, migraine. Even in the presence of an irritant, a person can even react to the smell of coffee: as a rule, he sneezes, strangles him. It is these symptoms that are quite alarming. It is very important to pay attention to them, as this can be a rather alarming sign. If a strange reaction to a drink appears, you must stop drinking it and contact your personal doctor. He will prescribe special antiallergenic drugs that will relieve the symptoms of the disease. It should not be forgotten that it is impossible to cure coffee intolerance.

It should be noted that an allergy to a product such as instant coffee can occur quite suddenly and be taken by surprise. Moreover, it does not happen once. It can become a recurring phenomenon. Usually, the manifestations of intolerance directly depend on the type and type of coffee. It is the instant drink that provokes the most severe allergic reactions. After using it, blisters, flaky spots, rashes, redness may appear on the skin. They usually appear on the face and head. Often, patients notice swelling, severe pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. These symptoms indicate the appearance of allergic gastroenteritis. In more severe and dangerous cases, an allergic reaction to instant coffee is accompanied by fever, fever, and Quincke's edema.

A person may experience allergy symptoms not due to a component such as caffeine, but due to the presence of impurities, dyes, flavors and other chemical components in the drink. Overuse of instant coffee can trigger serious gallbladder problems.

It is not uncommon for people to develop an aversion to the smell of the drink. Moreover, it can provoke not only nausea, but also vomiting.

Advice. When allergies appear, you need to start taking strong antihistamines. An allergic patient should always have Suprastin on hand. After that, it is recommended to contact your doctor.

Can a nursing mother drink instant coffee?

Caffeine is harmful to newborns, so it should not enter the body along with breast milk. This is due to the fact that the internal organs of the child are simply not able to assimilate this substance. It is for this reason that you can get a lot of problems. But, this only applies to those cases when newly-made moms abuse this drink.

With moderate consumption of coffee, there will be no problems. Among other things, a substance called caffeine is found not only in drinks, but also in foods such as chocolate, black and green tea. Moreover, it is green tea that has more caffeine than coffee. But, nevertheless, lactation is not a reason for refusing it.

Unfortunately, when drinking coffee while breastfeeding, there is a possibility of an allergy in the baby. It is important to carefully monitor the baby's condition, especially in the first hours after feeding.

Coffee for a nursing mother should only be of high quality and natural. If you prefer an instant drink, then it should not be cheap. Powdered and granular coffee is not recommended at all for obvious reasons. If this rule is neglected, then the life and health of the baby can be seriously endangered. The consequence of drinking low-grade coffee can be: a strong allergic reaction, itching and hives in the baby.

It is advisable to refuse this drink in order to completely eliminate the likelihood of undesirable consequences.

From this article, we can conclude that it is better to give preference to natural coffee. It is advisable to just buy grains and grind them yourself. Only in this case, you can be sure of the quality and benefits of this product. But instant coffee should be completely abandoned. It contains a minimum percentage of natural grains, instead of which dyes and flavors are present, which can harm the body and provoke a strong allergic reaction. As can be understood from all the information above, you should completely avoid any type of coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dear readers, hello! Today, instant coffee is in every home. Perhaps, there will be a very small number of people who do not like this aromatic and awakening drink. Many people prefer strong black coffee without sugar, someone loves sweet coffee with cream, and true gourmets try it in combination with various spices and additives (with cinnamon, cognac, lemon, salt). Instant coffee is very easy to use at home. It is enough to warm up the water, put the required number of spoons of coffee in the cup, pour boiling water over and the delicious drink is ready. But few of us think about how it acts on our body, benefits or harms, and whether there is caffeine there. In this article, I will tell you in detail what kind of coffee brings great health benefits, to whom it is harmful and from what it is made.

It is believed that the inventor of instant coffee was New Zealander David Strang. In 1890, he not only invented this drink, but also patented it. There are other data in which the inventor of coffee is (at the beginning of 1901) a scientist from Japan Satori Kato. After the invention, progress did not stand still, and already in 1906 a chemist from England developed the first coffee for serial production and sale. Since then, it has spread all over the world, and has become the favorite drink of modern mankind.
Did you know, dear readers, that the well-known brand of Nescafe coffee has been the most famous and widespread since 1938. It appeared thanks to the joint efforts of the well-known company Nestle and the Brazilian government.

Instant coffee health benefits and harms

Scientists have been constantly studying all aspects of the influence of coffee on the human body as a whole for a long time. Instant coffee can be both beneficial and harmful to your health. The influence of this drink directly depends on the individual characteristics of the organism of each person. It's no secret that the main ingredient in coffee is caffeine, which can significantly raise blood pressure. From this it follows that it can harm hypertensive patients, but a person with low blood pressure will relieve lethargy, give strength and raise blood pressure. Let's look at the harm and benefit in order and in more detail.

Benefit

There are benefits for the body from taking coffee. According to some reports, this drink contains antioxidants and vasodilators. Drinking coffee with milk can eliminate heartburn. Most people are afraid to drink black coffee, as it tends to stain tooth enamel. There is a way out - drink instant coffee with the addition of milk (the enamel will not acquire a yellowish tint).
Black strong coffee is very useful for people whose work is related to thinking, as it increases intelligence, increases vitality, eliminates lethargy and increases blood pressure.

Harm

Unlimited coffee consumption can cause significant harm to the body. Since this delicious drink is capable of dehydrating the body, the condition of the skin suffers from this. The skin looks dry and flabby. Instant coffee cannot be classified as a natural product, so it can undermine the health of the body as a whole.
The main harm that coffee can cause is an increase in blood pressure, leaching of nutrients, irritation of the gastric mucosa. It is harmful for women during pregnancy, as well as for children. Also, you can not drink this drink for people suffering from sleep disorders, because caffeine increases nervous irritability.

Calorie content of instant coffee

100 grams of instant coffee contains approximately 120 kcal. If you are watching your weight, then you should not drink more than 1 cup a day. 1 teaspoon contains 6 kcal, from here you can calculate the calorie content of the prepared drink, based on how many teaspoons of dry product you use to make coffee.

Nutritional value of instant coffee per 100 gr. dry product:

• Protein - 15 g;
• Fat - 3.5 g;
• Carbohydrates - 7 g.

In addition to fats, proteins and carbohydrates, coffee contains riboflavin, niacin, calcium, sodium, phosphorus and iron.

How instant coffee is made

The technology for making instant coffee is very simple: the beans of the coffee tree are first roasted, then ground and treated with boiling water. Concentrated freshly brewed coffee is obtained. But they dry it in various ways:

• Freeze dried is obtained by freeze drying. The resulting frozen crystals are dehydrated in vacuo. This type of coffee is considered the most delicious and healthy, but the price for it is much higher than other methods;
• Powdered is made by spraying a concentrated beverage. In hot air, it dries quickly in powder form;
• Granular is an ordinary coffee powder that has undergone an aggregation process (the powder is wetted to obtain granules).

The price of powdered coffee is the lowest, granulated coffee is more expensive, but freeze-dried coffee is the most expensive type of instant coffee.

Recently, more and more assortment of instant coffee appears on store shelves every day. You can even buy an instant drink, where, after adding boiling water, you get frothy coffee. This drink will appeal to people who love a delicate and mild taste.

How much coffee is in instant coffee

Although instant coffee is made from natural coffee beans, there is almost no instant coffee. The thing is that raw materials of poor quality and poor grade are used for its manufacture.

There are two types of coffee varieties: Arabica (expensive) and Robusta (cheap). So, for an instant drink, they usually take Robusta. After various treatments, the finished product is completely devoid of the most important thing in coffee - coffee oils. They give coffee that very natural and unsurpassed taste and aroma.

The instant drink is enriched with various additives that help the powder acquire the taste and aroma of real coffee.

Instant coffee - which is better

Of course, many readers have a question: which one is better to buy coffee and how much does it cost. It is clear that nothing can compare with natural ground black coffee brewed in a Turk. But, judging by the polls, most people prefer to drink instant coffee. The best coffee is freeze-dried. It should cost at least 300 rubles. Quality cannot cost little. It has been proven that expensive brands of coffee contain twice as much caffeine, so their taste is noticeably different from that of a cheap drink. If we talk about packaged coffee, such as a "3 in 1" sachet, then there is no coffee at all, only flavors and artificial additives.

Today, ground coffee is even produced in instant. This drink has a richer taste and aroma.

How to make instant coffee

There are a huge number of recipes for making instant coffee. It is also prepared with ice, cinnamon, cognac, vanilla, cream and milk, and so on.

How to choose the right instant coffee

Well, the last piece of advice. How to choose the right instant coffee.

Good coffee is always packed in a tin or glass can. Pay attention to the granules - they should be even, there should be no powder at the bottom. Responsible producers always indicate on the label the degree of roast of the beans, the type of coffee beans.
If 100% natural coffee is indicated - do not take it. Right and right - 100% Arabica.
You can check the quality of your coffee at home. It is enough to pour a spoonful of coffee into cold water. If the coffee is of high quality, then it will dissolve quickly, without leaving various impurities.

Dear readers, you have now learned that instant coffee can be both beneficial and harmful to health. And whether to drink it or not, the choice is yours.

By definition, instant coffee, the benefits and harms of which are causing a heated debate among scientists, marketers and nutritionists, is a drink made from coffee beans, which, through a special technology, are converted into soluble powder, or, more correctly, into granules.

There are not many large manufacturers of instant coffee in the world, and each of them has its own secret of processing raw materials to obtain a drink.

In general, the technology looks like this: first, the refined grains are roasted, mixed with water and heated for some time. Then the suspension is separated from the grains and processed in two ways:

• In the high-temperature process, a powder is obtained from it, which is either left as it is, or is doused with steam to obtain granules;
• With the low-temperature method - sublimation - excess moisture is removed by freezing, crushing and placing in a vacuum

The resulting mixture contains, as a rule, a large proportion of dyes, preservatives, flavorings, in contrast to natural grain coffee: 80-90% of the mixture can be such additives. The remainder is low-quality robusta beans, which are cheaper and more caffeinated than relatively high-quality Arabica. Therefore, most often, after drinking such a drink, a person does not feel vigor, but, on the contrary, a desire to sleep.

The history of the creation of instant coffee

According to various sources, instant coffee was first produced in Chicago by the Japanese American Satori Kato between 1899 and 1901. The coffee was intended for the soldiers and therefore did not enter widespread production.

Thanks to Max Morgenthaler, a chemical technologist at Nestlé, who perfected the Satori technology, instant coffee hit the industrial rails. The first time the novelty appeared on the shelves under the name "Red E Coffee" in 1909. And only in 1938 the world famous brand Nescafe was formed, close to the pinnacle of world coffee domination.

Types of instant coffee

The choice of instant coffee is limited to three types (and in most Russian stores - one or two):

• freeze-dried;
• granular;
• powdery

The first one is considered the most "quality" of them, since due to its structure it preserves the quality of the original raw product a little more.

Instant freeze-dried coffee, its benefits and harms are shifted more towards benefits, more costly in production, since the technology of its production is quite costly and is fundamentally different from the other two types. The ground coffee is mixed with water, then frozen, separating from the liquid, resulting in "tiles". Then the latter are ground again. With this method of production, the properties of the grains are best preserved, allowing you to minimize the addition of preservatives, dyes, and flavorings.

Powdered coffee cheap in every sense: inexpensive production, poor aroma achieved by flavors, "liquid" color due to the abundance of dyes. So that the buyer can pour it into his cup, finely ground grains are passed through a liquid under vacuum and dried, increasing in volume and turning into powder.

Granular coffee- the same powder, but having undergone the steam treatment procedure twice and in structure resembling small granules with an even worse smell and taste than that of powdered instant coffee, but dissolving better.

Pros of instant coffee

Even such an ambiguous product as instant coffee, the benefits and harms of which are still not clearly defined, has undeniable advantages.

At first, quickness: the time taken to empty the contents of the packet and fill it with water and to thoroughly prepare natural grain coffee differs by an order of magnitude.

Secondly, simplicity: the cooking technology is also much easier.

Thirdly, storage: grains require more difficult storage conditions and may remain usable less than instant powder.

Fourth, the combination of the first three points with the smell of an instant product, for a non-connoisseur almost identical to grain coffee gives the feeling "why complicate your life?"

The rest of the merits are not so indisputable

• Like any caffeinated beverage, instant coffee can improve the well-being of people suffering from hypotension;
• By increasing the content of serotonin in the blood - the hormone of happiness - instant coffee invigorates and improves mood;
• Since a cup of coffee contains practically no calories, it is considered to be a diet drink that can help you lose weight;
• A kind of cult, actively supported by the media and giants of coffee producers, glorifies the morning ritual of "a cup of coffee to help wake up"

Cons of instant coffee

The harm of instant coffee has been scientifically proven.

Scientists have found that preservatives, which contain all types of instant coffee, without exception, have an extremely negative effect on the course of metabolic processes. Even imaginary dietary benefits are leveled by the risk of cellulite in the most unnecessary places.

If a person suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and especially the stomach begins to drink instant coffee on an ongoing basis, then he will feel a sharp deterioration in health almost from the first days. The substances that make up this product negatively affect the gastric mucosa and lead first to the development of gastritis, and then to peptic ulcer disease. This is due to the sudden increase in acidity and the acceleration of digestion processes. By the way, because of the latter, weight loss can be noted in the early stages. But soon 2-4 pounds dropped will turn into all the same diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, a deterioration in the condition and general lethargy of the skin.

If a person persists in eating instant coffee, and because This product causes some dependence, and not just one cup a day, it methodically dehydrates its body, simultaneously depriving it of iron, potassium, calcium and other vitamins, minerals and nutrients necessary in life. And coupled with a depressing skin condition, it can look like a chronic patient or an alcoholic (swelling, bags under the eyes are attached).

But is it?
To reduce the cost of production, companies replace the drink deprived of coffee oils during the production process with synthetic or, at best, not so valuable natural oils.

After all, what can be useful from grains that have undergone several hours of hydro and heat treatment?

It is widely known that deep roasting in the beans increases the content of benzopyrene - a resin harmful to the human body.

Caffeine, which is the original purpose of buying a drink, will not necessarily be natural, and its percentage may be more than in a regular cup of coffee made from beans.

Some nutritionists classify coffee - and instant coffee, respectively - as narcotic, which is only one-third true. Of the three addictions that a drug should cause - physical, psychological and addiction - coffee drinks correspond only to the latter.

Who can’t be categorically

1. Elderly people: hypertension coupled with insomnia - two bosom friends of caffeine-containing drugs;
2. People with diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, kidneys. Disruption of metabolic processes can provoke a sudden deterioration and the transition of the disease to the acute stage;
3. Children. This is due to the influence of coffee on the nervous system, which has not yet been formed in children;
4. Pregnant women. If you really want coffee, then you should choose a high-quality grain drink in the amount of no more than one or two cups. In large doses, drinking coffee will lead to disturbances in the normal metabolism in the body of the expectant mother;
5. It is categorically contraindicated for drivers, since it can by no means cause vigor, but an irresistible and imperceptible desire to fall asleep right behind the wheel.

Looking for a compromise

If you want coffee very much, and only an instant drink is found in the nearest store or on hand, it is advisable to perform a quality check.

To begin with, evaluate the appearance of the contents of the bag. The coffee powder should dissolve in water without sediment - and the faster this happens, the higher the quality of the product. Granular coffee should be homogeneous, with the same granule size.

Smell and taste should not have a hint of "chemistry" as much as possible.

If you have to drink instant coffee in the morning, it is highly recommended to eat something before that, add milk to the cup with the drink and drink a glass of water after 15-30 minutes. Thus, the harm of instant coffee is partially neutralized: increased secretion of gastric juice and leaching of calcium from the body.

Outcome

Every day in the world more than two billion people drink coffee, of which 50% prefer instant coffee. Whether instant coffee is harmful, everyone decides for himself. A person makes his choice based on his needs and capabilities, however, it is better to give preference to more natural products, rather than surrogate substitutes for the original drink. After all, as they say, you cannot buy a new life and you cannot return the lost health.