Is Coffee Healthy?

Posted on November 12, 2007 in Latest News

There is lots of good news on this front recently. Coffee has been a part of our diet for the past 1000 years. It has been a subject of frequent discussion about its health attributes. There is much ado about whether it is actually healthy or not. According to researchers from the Harvard University, this cuppa coffee when taken in limited quantities has many positive effects on the body.

Cancer

According some recent research, coffee has some anti-cancer properties. Japanese researchers came to a conclusion that people who have coffee have a 50% less chance of suffering from liver cancer as compared to the non drinkers. It has also been connected to reducing colon cancer as well. However the research has not been done to such an extent where we can make sweeping generalizations.

Heart Disease

A Scottish heart health study have assured that there is a reduced risk of heart diseases in heavy drinkers. Even if some coffee smokers experience an increase in pulse rate, coffee is not connected to it. coffee contains anti -oxidants that can offer some heart protection, but it also increases the homocysteine that may also have some negative impacts. But even if there is any harm then it is too minor to be measured.

Cholesterol

With cholesterol the news is again mixed, the American heart association says that it increases due to decaffeinated coffee as opposed to caffeinated ones. The investigators attributed the cholesterol causing element to the beans used in making it. Another truth is that substances in coffee like Kahweol and cafestol which usually stay away when you filter your coffee.

Diabetes

There have been many studies that said that heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as a light or a non drinker. The question that arises is why this happens? It maybe because it contains ingredients like chlorogenic acid that reduces blood sugar. A regular coffee habit also increases your resting metabolism rate which keeps diabetes away.

Gallstones

Researchers several years back have said that coffee drinkers are less likely to suffer symptomatic gallstone disease, mainly because coffee changes the cholesterol levels of the bile produced in the liver. The researchers at Harvard also claim that coffee drinkers may not have the risk of kidney stones as well.

Parkinson’s Disease

Coffee seems to protect men and not women from Parkinson’s disease. This could be because estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to mobilize. Another support this claim is that women who have never used post-menopausal hormones are less likely to get Parkinson’s disease if they have coffee.

Points of concern

Coffee is not completely without its dangers. Pregnant women are asked to avoid it because it could affect the fetal health and miscarriage. Some people benefit with its uses, like alertness, but many also face problems like insomnia, anxiety or tremors. Regular or loyal drinkers of coffee develop dependence and when withdrawn they could face temporary headaches or even depression.

Some coffee drinkers benefit with an increase in bowel movement, especially for those suffering from constipation. On the other hand for some it could cause heartburn. Finally coffee is also said to widen the bronchial tubes giving people who are asthmatic some relief.

So what conclusion can we draw from this? The simple conclusion is that there is not really a great harm with a hot coffee cup. If it bothers you then cut down its consumption. On the other hand if you enjoy it, then have a cup or 2 or 3 or even 4 and have a great time.

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