The Health Implications Of Drinking Four Cups Of Caffeine

Caffeine can cause elevated blood sugar in diabetics, and it can raise blood pressure slightly in healthy adults. However, research has not found that drinking up to six cups of coffee a day has negative effects on other health factors, according to Rob van Dam of the Harvard School of Public Health. In fact, caffeine may have beneficial health effects.

Blood Glucose

In a study published in the journal "Diabetes Care" in 2004, Duke University researcher Dr. James Lane found that caffeine caused elevated blood glucose, or blood sugar, in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Subjects had 8 percent higher average blood glucose on days when they took two 250 mg doses of caffeine, or the equivalent of four cups of brewed coffee, than on days when they took placebos. They also experienced higher spikes in blood sugar after each meal on days when they took caffeine.

Blood Pressure

Caffeine can cause an increase in blood pressure, especially in people who do not regularly consume caffeine. Caffeine's impact on blood pressure decreases with regular consumption, however, notes Rob van Dam of the Harvard School of Public Health. Caffeine consumption has not been linked to increased risk for hypertension in the general population, but people with hypertension may want to drink decaffeinated coffee, suggests van Dam.

Diabetes Risk

In a 2011 study published in the journal "Diabetes," researchers at UCLA found that women who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Coffee consumption can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 50 percent, according to the study. Subjects who regularly drank coffee had higher levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, a hormone-regulating protein that helps keep sex hormones in check. Sex hormones have long been considered a contributing factor to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Other Disease Risks

Recent research suggests that regular consumption of caffeinated coffee may reduce your risk for a variety of health conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. Rob van Dam of the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that coffee provides a healthy beverage choice for most people, but that those who don't like it should not feel compelled to start drinking it regularly.

Calories

While coffee may provide health benefits, many other caffeinated beverages, such as sodas, contain high amounts of calories and sugar. Adding sugar or cream to coffee can boost its caloric content significantly, contributing to caloric excess and weight gain. When you need a source of caffeine, stick to unsweetened coffee or tea with skim milk.