‘Sorting out coffee’s contradictions’ – Jane E. Brody, International Herald Tribune, 7/08/08
Another article I missed out in print.
The International Herald Tribune has recently published an article summarising coffee’s health pros and cons.
Just as I said in 2 posts before, ‘ Hardly a month goes by without a report that hails coffee, tea or caffeine as healthful or damns them as potential killers.’
‘Can all these often contradictory reports be right? Yes. Coffee and tea, after all, are complex mixtures of chemicals, several of which may independently affect health.’
I am going to condense the article a bit simpler.
Hydration- Although caffeinated beverages have long been thought as diuretics (something that increases the flow of urine), studies reviewed last year showed that people who drank up to 550mg of caffeine produced no more urine than when they drank caffeine-free beverages. Above 575mg, caffeine was a diuretic. Therefore, drinks containing usual amounts of caffeine (less than 550mg), are hydrating.
Heart disease- Heart patients, especially those with high blood pressure are often told to avoid caffeine (a known stimulant). But studies have found that there is “little evidence that coffee and/or caffeine in typical dosages increases the risk” of heart attack, sudden death or abnormal heart rhythms.
In a separate study that followed women, those who drank 1-3 cups a day reduced their risk of heart disease by 24%…although this benefit lessened as the quantity of coffee rose.
Hypertension- Caffeine simulates a small, temporary rise in blood pressure. However, studies showed that coffee played little overall role in the development of hypertension. A higher risk of hypertension was found from drinking colas.
Cancer- Scientists found coffee drinking had little effect on the risk of developing pancreatic or kidney cancer in a review last year. Another review suggested that those who drink coffee have half the risk of developing liver cancer than those who don’t drink it.
Bone loss- caffeine very slightly reduces calcium absorption. This negative effect on calcium can be offset by as little as one or two teaspoons of milk.
Weight loss- Caffeine speeds up metabolism, (100mg burning an extra 75-100 calories a day) but no long-term benefit to weight control has been demonstrated. In fact, a study showed that an increase in caffeine consumption gained more weight than those who didn’t.
Mood and mental and physical performance- reports have been made that drinking up to 200mg of caffeine improves sense of wellbeing, happiness, alertness, energy and sociability. However, higher amounts sometimes cause anxiety and stomach upset.
Parkinson’s disease- those who drank caffeinated coffee had lower risk of Parkinson’s disease than those who didn’t.
Diabetes- those who drank 4-6 cups of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee a day had 28% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, probably because of coffee’s antioxidants and chlorogenic acid
Hmm…I still find it confusing.
The article put in a lot of facts about coffee, but I don’t think many can remember all the benefits and not-so good points about coffee. It often explained that one study found something about coffee, but another found something else. Put together with the various figures, it is quite difficult to follow.
I was surprised to learn that coffee is hydrating. Personally, I found that coffee and tea makes my throat dry.
To conclude…I guess drinking your daily cup of coffee doesn’t hurt.
Oh, but one thing I experienced after working in a coffee shop for one and a half years is that coffee can stain your teeth. Be careful…
