Any drink that is taken to stimulate the mind and feel more active and alert is called a stimulant.
The most important stimulants are coffee and tea which we take in large quantities every day.
Some of us literally live on pots and pots of tea.
Some of us need coffee every few hours.
There is nothing wrong in a cup or two of coffee or tea when is absolutely fagged out or needs that little extra bounce.
Coffee and tea are habit-forming due to their caffeine content. A maximum of four cups of tea or coffee is not harmful to one’s body. Black coffee may be preferred by some to avoid the calories from milk, but it can be extremely irritating to the stomach. Light tea is the best kind of stimulant one can have. It serves its purpose sans its addictive and harmful effects.
Excessive intake of these beverages can cause:-
*hyper acidity and gastric irritation
*certain types of heart problems
*addiction
Milk necessary
It has been proved that milk may be essential in childhood because for a growing child it forms the complete food. But after age of seven years, milk is not necessary.
Then there is the myth about calcium and milk. Yes, milk does contain calcium, but it cannot supply the daily need of calcium in the quantities we drink. There are other sources of calcium too. It is a myth to think that a person who does not drink ilk develops calcium deficiency. Anyway, milk is taken in the form of coffee and tea daily.
Milk protein can trigger a few diseases, like asthma in some, bowel disorders in others and skin allergies in a few. This happens basically due to allergy to milk protein in people who are sensitive to milk proteins.
Milk powder is not safe for continued use because it is a processed food.
Milk fat can increase the cholesterol content in the body. That is the reason why patients who have high cholesterol levels are asked to drink black coffee and lemon tea.
Buttermilk is the healthiest form of milk product. It does not contain much fat and also has certain bacteria which are good for the intestinal environment. Buttermilk is a low calorie food and can be safely taken in free amounts even by diabetic patients. It is a good substitute for other foods, especially for those who want to lose weight.