Doctor reveals stomach-churning reason why millions may be allergic to ground coffee

A doctor has warned that coffee drinkers are unknowingly sipping microscopic spores of cockroaches when they buy pre-ground coffee.

GP from London Dr. Sermed Mezher shared the grim fact with his 290,000 Instagram followers.

He explained that during the harvesting, processing and grinding of coffee beans, it is virtually impossible to completely eliminate contaminants such as insects, which may come into contact with the beans in fields, storage facilities or production plants.

Such insects include cockroaches, which are abundant in tropical and subtropical environments where coffee beans are primarily grown and manufactured.

The American health watchdog FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) estimates that up to 10 percent of each bag of coffee beans may be contaminated with insect fragments, including those of cockroaches.

However, the body says that this low level is safe for human consumption.

‘While the idea of ​​insect particles in coffee may be unpleasant, it is important to note that these levels are low and do not pose a health risk,’ said Dr Mezher.

But he warned people with shellfish allergies to avoid ground beans because patients tend to react to a protein called tropomyosin found in cockroaches.

In people with a shellfish allergy – up to 2 million people in Britain – symptoms usually occur soon after eating, according to Anaphylaxis UK.

The charity explains that mild to moderate symptoms typically include a red rash that can appear anywhere on the body, a tingling or itching sensation in the mouth, swollen lips, face or eyes and stomach pain or vomiting.

In more severe cases, people with a shellfish allergy may experience anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, and can be fatal within minutes.

It is a serious and potentially life-threatening reaction and is considered a medical emergency.

Light-headedness or fainting; breathing difficulties – such as rapid, shallow breathing; wheezing; a fast heartbeat; clammy skin; confusion and anxiety and collapse or loss of consciousness are all signs of onenaphylaxis.

Dr. Mezher admitted that he still drinks two cups of coffee a day and advises his followers to do the same if they want to reap the health benefits.

Coffee has been linked to numerous benefits, including reducing type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke and the risk of dementia.

Scientists at the University Hospital of Basel in Switzerland found that people over 65 with an irregular heart rhythm were less likely to experience memory-robbing symptoms if they were heavy coffee drinkers.

Additionally, recent research published in the European Heart Journal found that drinking coffee before noon reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 31 percent, compared to those who drink it throughout the day.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) advises that most people can safely consume up to 300mg of caffeine per day – the equivalent of three cups of coffee.

That’s because research has shown that intake of more than 600 mg per day – twice the recommended amount – is linked to insomnia, nervousness, irritability, increased blood pressure and stomach upset.

But if you are pregnant you should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine per day as this could increase the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight, the NHS warns.