What are the Health Benefits of Coffee?
According to a large and growing number of studies, the health benefits of coffee cannot be denied. As a coffee drinker, that comes as welcome news to me. I look forward to my morning brew and afternoon pick-me-up. I enjoy the taste and certainly enjoy the added energy boost that it gives me.
But, I've always felt a little guilty about drinking it. People have always told me that coffee is harmful to your health - it will stunt your growth, it can damage your heart, it could lead to a stroke, etc. So I began looking at the evidence and here is what I found.
There are Some Negatives
I could find no evidence to support that coffee will stunt your growth - not so much of worry, as I'm not a kid anymore. And I was relieved to find out that there is no evidence to support that coffee increases blood pressure or leads to cardiovascular disease - which have always been my chief concerns. But there are some drawbacks.
If you drink a lot of unfiltered coffee (French Press, percolated, espresso), then you might want to cut back or limit it. It can lead to elevated levels of cholesterol. Filtered coffee, like most people drink, poses no such danger.
People with irregular heartbeats need to limit their intake of caffeine - and coffee contains a whole lot of it. These folks need to drink the decaf variety.
If you suffer with osteoporosis, then you should limit your intake of caffeine. Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which leads to frequent urination. This excess loss of fluids can mean the loss of vital minerals and nutrients which are essential to maintaining bone density. Decaf coffee is the wisest choice if you still want your coffee.
Drinking too much caffeine (coffee has a lot) can lead to shaking, nervousness, and anxiety. So be sure to drink your coffee in moderation - don't overdo it.
Many people put a large amount of cream and sugar in their cups of coffee - which can lead to health problems. Although this can't be blamed on coffee - it sometimes goes along with it.
The Positives of Drinking Coffee
In my research, I found it very difficult to find any negatives related to coffee consumption - it seemed to all be positive. Here are some of the things I found.
Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes than non-drinkers. This may be related to the high levels of caffeine or the high levels of antioxidants; or both.
There are studies that show a decreased risk of developing liver, rectal, colon, and breast cancer in coffee drinkers. This probably has much to do with the large levels of antioxidants contained within coffee.
Male coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease than non-coffee drinkers.
There is a new Italian study that shows an anti-cavity and anti-bacterial connection with coffee consumption.
In Conclusion
After all of my research, I have to admit, I was surprised. I expected to find many more negatives than positives when it came to coffee - but the opposite turned out to be true. The health benefits of coffee far outweigh the few risks associated with it. I am so happy that I can drink my coffee with a clear conscience.
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Tags: coffee, coffee drinkers, health benefits of coffeeDecember 21 2009 | coffee | No Comments »