Coffee.......Friend or Foe?

That delicious, aromatic drink that wakes up a large number of people, and keeps many more running, has a split persona. There are numerous health benefits being discovered that coffee helps with. However, with any good thing, it is possible to cause harm, and with coffee, there are some negative aspects to the dark liquid. With Americans drinking on average 3 cups of coffee per day, a little information can go a long way. Coffee beans start off as a bright red fruit and then go through a series of steps, drying, roasting, to bring out the flavors and dark rich color people are familiar with.

Health Benefits

There have been studies demonstrating that the antioxidants and bioflavonoids found in coffee can help reduce the risk of several diseases including type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, several different cancers, stroke and improve the function of good gut flora. But the research is still extremely limited as to the extent of the effect of coffee relative to each of these conditions, so don't ditch the meds for a cup of joe yet. These studies are often on a small scale and cannot account for too many outside variables. Many people will enjoy a cup as part of morning routine, but stick with a high quality organic bean that you grind yourself and brew at home for maximum benefit, because this will reduce the likelihood of introducing contaminants, which will ruin both the health benefits and the flavor.

Drawbacks

For every study there is demonstrating the health benefits of coffee, there is likely to be at least one study contradicting the results.  There are studies demonstrating that individuals dealing with heart disease, high cholesterol, chronic dehydration, autoimmune diseases, strokes, insomnia, and anxiety should be avoiding coffee. Many of these are because of how coffee acts as a stimulant affecting many of these conditions. There is also research regarding how coffee can interfere with the body's ability to regulate cholesterol and homocysteine. The suggested mechanism is that it disrupts or inhibits the actions of select B vitamins.

Caffeine - The good and the bad

Caffeine, the most used and abused drug in our culture, with over half the American population drinking coffee every day, this doesn't include the caffeine consumed in other sources such as sodas, chocolate and energy drinks. In moderation, a little bit of caffeine can do some good. As a mild stimulant, it can give an individual a boost by inhibiting adenosine, an amino acid that slows brain activity and induces sleepiness. This can prove to be beneficial when used occasionally, but not relied on as the sole source of energy. Caffeine also acts a mild vasodilator, which has been shown to help mitigate several types of headaches with a vascular cause.

Caffeine does have a less appealing side. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it puts additional stress on the adrenal glands and will force the body to manage an artificial fight or flight response. This will consequently raise heart rate and blood pressure in individuals. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, increasing urine output. So, if an individual has a medical history involving the cardiovascular, endocrine or urinary systems, they should evaluate their caffeine intake and strongly consider reducing or eliminating it all together.

  

Additives

All this talk of coffee operates under the assumption, that one will consume a single 6 oz serving of black coffee. Not many individuals enjoy their more brew this way. Of the five types of taste, bitter is the one that humans have developed an aversion for, and that is because many poisonous or un-ripened fruits have a bitter taste. And because coffee is naturally very bitter, most people find the need to add something to 'take the edge off.' And this is where any health benefits are negated. Cream and sugar is what most people will add to their coffee, often times to excess. Now include the head-spinning list of concoctions that can be found in the local coffee shops with super-human sized drinks. A 30 oz coffee is the equivalent of 5 standard cups, then add in all the sugar needed to make it palatable with some whipped cream and artificial caramel syrup on top for good measure, it's a wonder more people aren't walking around with severe tremors. Recently, there has been a trend of adding butter and coconut oil to strong coffee stimulating ketosis, reporting improved energy, increased mental focus and weight loss. But often times these results are often short lived.

In Health, 

Dr. Sean  McKnight