The Truth About Coffee – Is It Killing Your Skin?

As a society we consume more coffee than almost any other beverage, but there are still so many things about coffee that we don’t understand.

Coffee contains over 1,000 chemical compounds. Some of these chemicals are amazing for us and can lead to increased focus, a better mood, and of course, improved energy.  While these are all positive things, there are also negative side effects of coffee consumption that are bad news for your skin and you should be aware of them.

Research has shown that coffee can impair mineral absorption from our food, which in turn can wreak havoc on our skin. Our skin stays happy and glows when we are properly absorbing vitamins and nutrients, so anyone with acne or other skin issues should stay away from coffee as acne can be worsened by deficiencies in minerals like selenium, zinc and iron especially.

Also, long-term coffee drinkers often find liver spots or dark patches on the skin because too much coffee over time prevents your liver from purifying your blood. This impure blood affects the cells in our body, including our skin cells, which causes the liver spots to occur. 

Coffee can also magnify your bodys response to stressful events in your life because of what’s known as “hyperadrenalism”. This occurs when your adrenal glands release hormones unnecessarily.  These hormones are triggered by too much coffee and stress and they can affect our skin greatly.

I suggest drinking only 1-3 cups of coffee weekly and then slowly cutting back or eliminating it completely. Although there are many benefits to coffee, when it comes to our skin it’s best to avoid the side effects and replace it with tea or extra glasses of water throughout the day.