Coffee is one of life's simple pleasures but in small amounts is it beneficial? So what are the pro's and con's of drinking coffee and is there any truth to those shady, independently funded research findings.
The Cons
• Coffee stimulates the nervous system resulting in heightened awareness and more energy but long term this results in a crash to even lower energy levels as the effects wear off. This creates an addictive cycle by necessitating cup after cup, and can lead to adrenal exhaustion.
• Coffee has never been conclusively linked to cancer but it does have known carcinogens like caffeine and other chemicals produced when roasting the beans.
Coffee results in the constriction of blood vessels and higher blood pressure by raising Cortisol levels
• Coffee has been linked to low birth weight, birth defects, miscarriages, premature birth, inability to conceive, and sluggish sperm.
• Many of the chemicals in coffee and decaf cause an increase of stomach acid leading to digestive disorders.
• Coffee, including decaf, has large amounts of vitamin K which is bad news for people at risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clots as it affects the coagulation ability of the blood.
• Decreases quality of sleep.
• Caffeine may cause interfere with blood sugar control after meals for type 2 diabetics.
• Coffee interferes with digestion resulting in shorter transit times and less absorption of essential minerals and vitamins such as magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, and B's.
• Coffee contributes to tooth decay.
• Coffee causes more frequent urination and results in the loss of various Vitamins and minerals such as B, C, calcium, iron and zinc.
• Caffeine may aggravate osteoporosis by leaching calcium from the bones.
• Coffee is one of most heavily pesticide sprayed crops.
• Caffeine aggravates stress in people who drink it every day.
Pros
• There are scientific studies that refute most if not all of the previous listed negative effects.
• Caffeine increases intellectual activity when fatigued or bored.
• Caffeine speeds up fat metabolism during exercise while conserving glycogen and glucose thus maintaining brain activity and reducing hunger.
• Caffeine reduces risk of developing gallstones.
• Coffee helps to protect against colon cancer, asthma and cirrhosis of the liver.
• Coffee may lower the risk of Parkinson's disease due to its high antioxidant levels.
• Coffee has four times the antioxidants of Green Tea, makes an excellent antidepressant, and enhances performance and memory.
• Caffeine dilates the arteries of the brain and may counter migraines. (Caffeine is also a cause of migraines.)
• Coffee may reduce the incidence of kidney stones and bladder cancer by increasing the flow of urine and decreasing its concentration.
• Coffee could reduce the release of histamine thus having anti-allergic properties.
With all of these conflicting studies, its best to exercise common sense as the best person to judge whether any food is disagreeing with you is always you.
Written by Stuart Rendell. Visit my blog for more information on Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing
