There are more and more studies that show the health benefits of coffee. This is welcome news to so many of us who find it hard to get the day started without a piping hot cup of java. And I count on it throughout the day to keep my mind sharp and my energy levels up.
Although I love it and count on it; there is a part of me that views it as a guilty pleasure. This is because I’ve always heard that coffee is bad for you – it will stunt your growth, lead to high blood pressure, and might lead to a stroke. So I decided to do a little investigating to figure out whether I had reason to feel this guilt. The following is what I discovered.
The Bad News
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 who have been diagnosed and treated for irregular heartbeats should not drink caffeine. It can cause their condition to worsen. These folks should stick to the decaffeinated version of coffee.
People with osteoporosis should limit their intake of caffeine, and coffee has a lot of it. Caffeine is a diuretic, which leads to more frequent urination – and the potential loss of vital vitamins and minerals. These people really should stick to the decaffeinated version.
Excess caffeine can lead to nervousness, anxiety, trembling and heart palpitations. So drink your coffee in moderation. Different people can tolerate different amounts.
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.
Now for the Good News
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.
Those who drink coffee have a much lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes than non-drinkers. It may be due to the large amount of antioxidants contained in coffee; it could be due to the large amount of caffeine; or it could be 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.
Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than non-coffee drinkers. But this is only the case with men – sorry women.
A recent Italian study has found that coffee may have anti-bacterial properties and help to prevent cavities.
The Evidence Surprised Me
Isn’t it great to know that you can drink your coffee with total peace of mind? There is very little to be concerned about; unless you suffer with irregular heartbeats or osteoporosis. As with most things in life; do it in moderation – especially if you use cream and sugar.
With all this great news about coffee, you’re going to need a quality coffee maker. Read about the highest rated single serve coffee makers at http://www.coffeemakerspoint.com.