Coffee and Health: Good, Bad, or Indifferent?

[Innocent chinenye]

Coffee contains hundreds of biologically active compounds that could play a
potential role in human health.
The potentially beneficial effects from
coffee are a modest reduction of the incidence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and depression. Moreover, habitual coffee consumption either has
no effect or is modestly beneficial for prevention of heart
disease and stroke.

Overall mortality from both cardiovascular and other
causes seems to be favorably influenced by coffee consumption. Benefits from coffee seem to stem from better asthma control and a lower risk of certain neurologic and gastrointestinal disorders. On the other hand, certain risks of coffee consumption are attributable primarily to its caffeine
content. These include anxiety, insomnia, tremulousness, and
palpitations. There also is a possible increased risk of bone loss and fractures. Moreover, coffee prepared by boiling appears to raise levels of cholesterol in the blood, whereas
filtered coffee lacks this effect. Whether these latter differences make a difference in long-term outlook are
unclear.

So, overall, coffee seems to receive a reasonably clean bill of health, provided it is not consumed in excess. The upper
limit of safe consumption is not clearly established, but approximately 2-3 cups per day, preferably by the process of
filtration, appears to be safe and attended by neutral to beneficial effects. Or at least it does not seem to pose any real risk to health or longevity.

[Lincolnshirelass]

Fascinating information. I know I could not manage without my coffee! Decaff just doesn't work .... it isn't that I find it actively unpleasant, it's just that, like non-alcoholic wine, it doesn't fulfil the purpose it's supposed to. In both instances would prefer to drink something else entirely.

[Kolig595]

I do believe that coffee does offer beneficial qualities to health as well. The compounds in coffee are well known to reduce negative health risks like you stated.

Another positive benefit of coffee is that if someone actually drinks a cup prior to exercise, it will yield greater results as individuals will push themselves harder and farther.

[EllieA]

It seems that for most people the benefits of coffee outweigh the risks, which is great news for me because I love coffee! But I do wonder if the effects of decaf are the same as regular coffee-- I hope so.

I find that drinking caffeinated coffee eventually results in me being more tired during the day, not more energized, so I actually prefer decaf most of the time. I love sitting outside first thing in the morning with a mug of hot, rich coffee and kind of decompressing before the day begins.

[Eryn Bradshaw]

Coffee definitely has some benefits to it, as does tea. I used to drink quite a bit of coffee, but I've found tea just works better for me since I don't have to keep downing it. Even read benefits of drinking red wine, like it could prevent cancer. I do think moderation is key though, as with anything. But hey! If it gives you an excuse to keep downing your favorite drink, why not?

[Ernie6988]

Wow a lot of good information in there...I have a friend who is going to want to read this too. The coffee didnt moderately reduce my obesity lol I better drink more. Lol

[Helen_Combe]

Wow, that was an interesting read. I can’t understand why research into foods keeps veering back and forth. I remember being told that coffee would dehydrate me, then that it would rehydrate me. So how did the initial research come up with the wrong result?

[Jeyasivananth]

I am a coffee addict. So although I love your balanced research on the benefits and demerits of drinking a coffee. I choose to be blind and biased and look at just the merits.

[Helen_Combe]

I’m in a confusing position at the moment, I can’t sleep at night, so I’m told not to drink coffee, yet I can’t stay awake during the day without it.

[Helen_Combe]

Fascinating information. I know I could not manage without my coffee! Decaff just doesn't work .... it isn't that I find it actively unpleasant, it's just that, like non-alcoholic wine, it doesn't fulfil the purpose it's supposed to. In both instances would prefer to drink something else entirely.

Totally agree, non alcoholic wine, what is the point?

[Eryn Bradshaw]

I’m in a confusing position at the moment, I can’t sleep at night, so I’m told not to drink coffee, yet I can’t stay awake during the day without it.

I think with that, you should stop drinking a few hours before you go to sleep. I just don't remember the exact amount of time. Somewhere between 3-5 hours I think.

[Helen_Combe]

I’m in a confusing position at the moment, I can’t sleep at night, so I’m told not to drink coffee, yet I can’t stay awake during the day without it.

I think with that, you should stop drinking a few hours before you go to sleep. I just don't remember the exact amount of time. Somewhere between 3-5 hours I think.

Thank you

[P0tt3ry]

I’m in a confusing position at the moment, I can’t sleep at night, so I’m told not to drink coffee, yet I can’t stay awake during the day without it.

I'm at the "one cup in the morning" stage of life. It's green tea the rest of the day, much as I'd like that second shot of caffeine coursing through my veins.

[[Valerie Allen]]

Kudos to the very informative topic. But I do not drink coffee.

[revna01]

I have two (rather large) cups in the morning, and that's it on my caffeine intake for the day. I hope coffee does add a bit of preventative health, but realistically, the way some of us drink it (myself especially), it has got too much cream/sugar to be healthy; it's most likely unhealthy in that regard.