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Good News, Coffee Lovers!
Your Health
Kim Painter
Kim Painter
For decades, coffee lovers sipped their favorite beverage under a cloud. Coffee, like cigarettes
and greasy food, was thought to be unhealthy stuff.
But, despite the occasional new red flag — and the fact that caffeinated coffee does cause real
sleeping problems for many people — most of the scientific news on coffee these days is
downright sunny.
"Coffee has gotten a bad rap," says Peter Martin, professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville and head of a research group that has received grants from coffee
producers. "In the past, people were mostly interested in demonstrating how bad coffee was. ...
Unfortunately, a lot of these negative findings stick with people over time."
Among the ills linked to coffee in the past: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and heart disease.
Follow-up studies refuted the cancer links. And the newest, biggest studies show that coffee —
though it can temporarily raise your heart rate and blood pressure — probably does not
contribute to heart disease, at least in most people.
"At this point, I wouldn't say coffee is good for your heart, but I would say that it is unlikely to
be bad," says Frank Hu, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School
of Public Health.
Meanwhile, the possible benefits of coffee now include decreased risks of:
•Parkinson's disease.
•Alzheimer's disease.
•Suicide.
•Liver damage in alcoholics.
•Gallstones.
It won't surprise coffee drinkers to hear that the beverage, at least when caffeinated, also has
been found to improve mood and memory, increase safe driving in tired drivers and boost
endurance in athletes. Some speculate that coffee might aid weight loss, but that has not been
proven.
One possible coffee benefit that has excited interest lately is an especially important one: Large
studies now suggest that people who drink coffee have a significantly reduced risk of type 2
diabetes.
Because diabetes is a major, growing cause of disability and death, researchers are trying to
figure out just what ingredients in coffee might confer the benefit. One thing they know: It's
not the caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee seems to work at least as well as the high-test version.
"A cup of coffee is about 2% caffeine and 98% other stuff," says Terry Graham, chair of the
nutritional sciences department at the University of Guelph in Ontario. The "other stuff" might
easily include "another 50 or 100 active compounds," Graham says.
Among them are quinides, fats that are produced when coffee beans are roasted. Some studies
suggest these fats may favorably affect blood-sugar control.
Scientists also are interested in anti-oxidants — substances that may protect against cell damage
and inflammation. One recent study showed that coffee is the biggest source of anti-oxidants in
the American diet (both because coffee is rich in the substances and because we consume a lot
more coffee than blueberries and broccoli).
No scientist would suggest coffee as a substitute for more nutritious anti-oxidant-rich fruits,
vegetables and whole grains.
And most aren't ready to urge non-coffee drinkers to take up the habit. Caffeinated coffee,
especially, remains a problem for many people, including insomniacs and anyone prone to coffee-
induced jitters. And while most experts believe a daily 8-ounce cup or two is OK for pregnant
women, the safety of larger amounts remains in question. Nursing moms should abstain, says
the American Academy of Pediatrics.
But the rest of us? We can drink up without guilt.
(Good news, coffee lovers - USATODAY.com)
and greasy food, was thought to be unhealthy stuff.
But, despite the occasional new red flag — and the fact that caffeinated coffee does cause real
sleeping problems for many people — most of the scientific news on coffee these days is
downright sunny.
"Coffee has gotten a bad rap," says Peter Martin, professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville and head of a research group that has received grants from coffee
producers. "In the past, people were mostly interested in demonstrating how bad coffee was. ...
Unfortunately, a lot of these negative findings stick with people over time."
Among the ills linked to coffee in the past: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and heart disease.
Follow-up studies refuted the cancer links. And the newest, biggest studies show that coffee —
though it can temporarily raise your heart rate and blood pressure — probably does not
contribute to heart disease, at least in most people.
"At this point, I wouldn't say coffee is good for your heart, but I would say that it is unlikely to
be bad," says Frank Hu, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School
of Public Health.
Meanwhile, the possible benefits of coffee now include decreased risks of:
•Parkinson's disease.
•Alzheimer's disease.
•Suicide.
•Liver damage in alcoholics.
•Gallstones.
It won't surprise coffee drinkers to hear that the beverage, at least when caffeinated, also has
been found to improve mood and memory, increase safe driving in tired drivers and boost
endurance in athletes. Some speculate that coffee might aid weight loss, but that has not been
proven.
One possible coffee benefit that has excited interest lately is an especially important one: Large
studies now suggest that people who drink coffee have a significantly reduced risk of type 2
diabetes.
Because diabetes is a major, growing cause of disability and death, researchers are trying to
figure out just what ingredients in coffee might confer the benefit. One thing they know: It's
not the caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee seems to work at least as well as the high-test version.
"A cup of coffee is about 2% caffeine and 98% other stuff," says Terry Graham, chair of the
nutritional sciences department at the University of Guelph in Ontario. The "other stuff" might
easily include "another 50 or 100 active compounds," Graham says.
Among them are quinides, fats that are produced when coffee beans are roasted. Some studies
suggest these fats may favorably affect blood-sugar control.
Scientists also are interested in anti-oxidants — substances that may protect against cell damage
and inflammation. One recent study showed that coffee is the biggest source of anti-oxidants in
the American diet (both because coffee is rich in the substances and because we consume a lot
more coffee than blueberries and broccoli).
No scientist would suggest coffee as a substitute for more nutritious anti-oxidant-rich fruits,
vegetables and whole grains.
And most aren't ready to urge non-coffee drinkers to take up the habit. Caffeinated coffee,
especially, remains a problem for many people, including insomniacs and anyone prone to coffee-
induced jitters. And while most experts believe a daily 8-ounce cup or two is OK for pregnant
women, the safety of larger amounts remains in question. Nursing moms should abstain, says
the American Academy of Pediatrics.
But the rest of us? We can drink up without guilt.
(Good news, coffee lovers - USATODAY.com)
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