Americans drink a lot of coffee. According to CBS News, upwards of 50 percent of people in the United States drink three to four cups of coffee each day. The love of coffee can even be celebrated in September every year during National Coffee Month. Coffee, made from a bean native to Ethiopia, offers little nutritional value, primarily potassium, calcium and trace amounts of protein; however, there are both good and bad health effects from coffee.
Caffeine Addiction
One of the effects most heard about coffee is the possibility of caffeine addiction. A 5 oz. cup of coffee contains anywhere from 80 g to 160 g of caffeine, according to the International Coffee Organization, and the American Psychiatric Association reports that coffee drinkers can develop "caffeine intoxication" with just 300 mg of caffeine. The Health Tree website reports that coffee, a stimulant, constricts blood vessels, which decreases the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain and triggers the pituitary glad to release adrenaline, producing the energy boost associated with coffee consumption. When addicted, withdrawal symptoms may occur when coffee drinking eases or stops. These symptoms include fatigue, irritability, muscle pain, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
Improved Cognitive Function
A positive health effect to drinking coffee may be improved brain performance, according to the Harvard Medical School website. Research published in the July 2005 journal "Psychopharmacology" reveals that ingesting 3 mg of caffeine improves reaction time and motor function. Evidence in the August 2007 journal "Neurology" indicates that caffeine consumption relates to the prevention of cognitive decline in women. A September 2009 article in "Current Neuropharmacology" reports that researchers are exploring caffeine's effect on the cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients.
Reduced Breast Size
A possible side effect of drinking coffee may include smaller breasts in women. An October 2008 article in the "Daily Mail" cites a research study undertaken by Lund University in Sweden that measured coffee consumptions and breast size. It concluded that drinking three cups of coffee per day can result in decreased breast size, and the phenomenon appears to increase with each cup of coffee consumed. This effect of drinking coffee has to do with coffee's reaction with estrogen, a female sex hormone.
References
- Harvard Medical School: Coffee Health Risks
- Psychopharmacology: The effect of caffeine on cognitive task performance and motor fatigue
- Neurology: The neuroprotective effects of caffeine
- Current Neuropharmacology: The Role of Adenosine in Alzheimer's Disease
- Daily Mail: Drinking three cups of coffee a day 'shrinks women's breasts'
- Chart Attack: Dave Grohl Sees Doctor Due To Caffeine Addiction
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