Coffee The Good and The Bad

There have been literally thousands of studies done on the benefits or risks of coffee consumption. The latest study was done by Harvard researchers and they have found that drinking six or more cups of coffee daily reduced mens risk of developing diabetes by 54% and womens by 30 % over non coffee drinkers. This study was done using 126,000 people for as long as 18 years. This is good news to the millions of Americans who drink coffee on a daily basis. Thomas DePaulis PhD of Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, which does its own studies on coffee and tracks coffee studies from around the world states," Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than harmful". There are six studies that show a reduced risk of Parkinson's by upwards of 80%, and three of those studies show the more coffee consumed in a day the lower the risk becomes. Other research shows that a minimum of 2 cups of coffee daily reduces the risk of colon cancer by 25 %, an 80% reduced risk of liver cirrhosis and almost 50% reduction in the risk for gallstone. Some research shows that coffee can also offset damage by other vices such as smoking. Dr. DePaulis also states, " People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't". There is also some evidence that coffee may help control asthma, headaches, and boost your mood.

It has been thought for many decades that coffee is bad for you. And most studies show that simply isn't true. However some people have a low tolerance for caffeine. In these people caffeine or coffee can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Coffee can also raise cholesterol in some people and may contribute to artery clogging. But most recent studies show that for healthy people coffee is a good thing. Those who should avoid or limit their coffee intake are pregnant women, heart patients, and those at risk for osteoporosis. There still seems to be more good than bad when consuming coffee.

It is the caffeine in coffee that makes it so good for you. Coffee has 85 mg of caffeine and is full of antioxidants. Some studies show that it's the caffeine that reduces the risk of Parkinson's and there are drugs now being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine for use by Parkinson's patients. Caffeine is also widely used in medications for the treatment of headaches. Some over the counter headache medications contain up to 120 mg of caffeine. Caffeine also improves the performance of athletes by stimulating the brain and nervous system, helping the athlete to ignore fatigue. Caffeine may also have a direct effect on the muscles, giving the athlete more strength and endurance in certain activities. Because of these powerful enhancements to athletes until just recently the Olympic Games Committee deemed coffee and caffeine  a " controlled substance", and was only allowed in small designated amounts to competing athletes. 

What this means is go ahead have a cup of coffee. If you are a healthy person and caffeine does not bother you, most likely a cup of coffee will do more good than harm. No need to feel guilty about wanting and having more coffee in your day. Personally I love my coffee and am on my 3rd cup, and if there is a chance of reducing some of the diseases that plague us humans, I for one am going to partake in the consumption of coffee. So go ahead fire up that coffee pot.