Whether you take it black, with cream or sugar, or have developed a special language for your daily cup that only you and your barista understand, it's undeniable, coffee is the world's energy-boosting beverage of choice. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and can make you feel more alert. Take it in excess, however, and it can lead to restlessness, anxiety and abnormal heart beat. Some people find that if they abstain from coffee, they experience headaches and fatigue. It may lead you to wonder what coffee's benefits really are.
Coffee
Coffee begins as cherries on a coffee plant. After harvest, they undergo an extensive process that begins with hulling the cherries and ends in that familiar smoky aroma of fresh roast beans. Coffee contains 108mg of caffeine per cup. According to the Mayo Clinic 200 to 300mg of caffeine is considered safe. Caffeine increases wakefulness, alleviates fatigue and improves concentration and focus. In higher doses, it can upset your stomach, cause nervousness, muscle tremors and insomnia. If you take medication, you should talk to your doctor about drug interactions because caffeine may interfere with the effects of certain drugs.
Fighting Chronic Illness
The negative effects of coffee are directly linked to over consumption of the beverage. However, some individuals can experience caffeine sensitivity. Researchers studying the effects of moderate coffee consumption have found that it is a beneficial food, high in free-radical fighting antioxidants. In fact, the Harvard School of Public Health has compiled a number of studies that show coffee may offer protective health benefits. It appears to lower the risk of developing chronic disease, including heart disease and stroke, Type-2 Diabetes, Parkinsons, liver cancer and cirrhosis, and gallstones.
Protection from Disease and Pain
Coffee appears to help reduce exercise pain. According to a study published in the Journal of Pain in 2003, cyclists reported significant muscle pain reduction after high dose caffeine intake. Additionally, a University of Washington study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2009, revealed that coffee appears to inhibit DNA damage associated with the sun's UV rays and may offer protection against skin cancer. A 2008 study published in Science Direct Neuroscience, revealed that caffeine was responsible for the reversal of some aspects of Alzheimer's Disease in animal studies, giving scientists greater understanding in possible treatment of this devastating cognitive disease.
Enjoy Coffee In Moderation
With Americans drinking just over three cups of coffee per day and spending about $40 billion annually on their caffeine fix, coffee's popularity is well established. Experts are quick to caution that additions to your morning cup of joe can present some drawbacks. Cream is high in fat and sugar is a refined carbohydrate, both increase risk of obesity and other illnesses. However, with scientific findings showing the health benefits offered by drinking coffee in moderation may be something else to savor while you enjoy your next cup of coffee.
References
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine
- Mayo Clinic-Nutrition and Healthy Eating: "Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?"
- Science Daily; "Roasting Coffee Beans a Dark Brown Produces Valued Antioxidants, Scientists Find"; staff
- Harvard School of Public Health: Coffee: The Good News
- The Journal of Pain: Effect of Caffeine on Perceptions of Leg Muscle Pain During Moderate-Intensity Cycling Exercise
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology: ART-Chk1 Pathway Inhibition Promotes Apoptosis After UV Treatment in Primary Human Keratinocytes: Potential Basis for the UV Protective Effects of Caffeine
Member Comments