Your morning joe could be your new BFF

Despite many myths surrounding coffee, research shows it is a most beneficial beverage for your health.

By Observer Staff
| 6:00 a.m. June 16, 2016

Health

Coffee facts

In 17th century England, the popularity of coffee produced a number of coffeehouses, which were called penny universities, because with one penny a person could buy a cup of coffee and have intellectually stimulating conversations with other people. Bless that caffeine.
Today, more than 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed every year, making coffee one of the world’s most popular drinks.
Starbucks, started in Seattle in 1971, today operates 23,768 stores across the globe.
Locally, just a mere 15-plus years ago, we all went bonkers over the first free-standing close-to-downtown Starbucks, which opened in Mid-Town Plaza. In the interim time who knows how many coffee shops have sprung up; what I do know is that I stopped counting coffee shops on Google after reaching 40, and that didn’t count Dunkin’ — no offense to its coffee, which I know most people who grew up in the Northeast find synonymous with java. I just think ridiculously delicious fried dough predominates in that establishment.

When I was growing up, the sound of the electric percolator signaled the beginning of the day — that mug of coffee. I was enthralled with this essential element of the morning, but like most of us was told, “coffee will stunt your growth.”

Thus began the first of a litany of myths about coffee: It is dehydrating; it will give you the jitters and harm your heart; drinking coffee leads to smoking cigarettes and thus causes lung cancer; and probably many more of which I’m not aware.

Erase all those messages from your cerebral cortex and replace it with this new one: Coffee is just fine. In fact, its better than just fine. It’s pretty great.

Debunking the myths

What scientists know for sure is that coffee is a complex cocktail of chemicals, including, of course, naturally occurring caffeine. Alongside this much-studied, consumed and oft-appreciated stimulant are a whole host of interesting chemicals. In fact, coffee includes more than 1,000 distinct and exotic-sounding compounds, which create a variety of physiological effects, some of which may surprise you.

Over the past several years, a number of studies have been subjected to systematic review as well as something called meta-analysis looking at the long-term consumption of coffee and cardiovascular disease as well as several other major health risks.

Here’s what they discovered: People who drank a moderate amount of coffee (fewer than five cups per day) experienced a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases like Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes and suicide. It has also been associated with better laboratory values in those at risk for liver disease, and with those who have liver disease, it’s associated with a lower risk of death. The authors of that review recommended that daily consumption of coffee should be encouraged for those with chronic liver disease.

The New York Times reported on two meta-analyses published over the past several years that included data from several million people. Both found that coffee was associated with, “a significantly reduced chance of death.” Wow. Excuse me while I run to my Keurig machine. (I recommend Peet’s Dark Roast, by the way, for home brewing.)

Caveat emptor however, we are talking black coffee here. Once you start adding the fat and sugar of your favorite mocha, smoka, latte, fatta all bets are off. If you must doctor it up, do so with judicious care — a little skim milk and maybe a stevia.

And how much is too much? Health research has shown that up to five cups a day is beneficial for your body — more than that has not been shown to have any positive effects.

Besides Coffee: The Other Good-for-You Beverage

If you’re looking to lose weight, a study in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found even more evidence that water is your best drink choice.

Researchers at the University of Illinois worked with more than 18,000 adults in recording their intake of beverages and foods. The researchers found that the participants who drank the most plain water in their daily diet consumed fewer total calories — plus took in less fat, sugar, salt and dietary cholesterol. Bottom line? They discovered that increasing water consumption could decrease calorie intake by up to 200 calories a day. That’s significant. So, reach for the faucet. Women need a minimum of 3 quarts (96 ounces) of water a day and men 4 quarts (128 ounces), and in the summer when you face the greatest risk of dehydration, you might want to increase that amount.

Happy drinking!

About the author

Kristine Nickel is a marketing communications consultant and former marketing/PR exec. For over 30 years she has relieved her stress by writing features for publications across the country.