Coffee is no doubt one of the most popular drinks in the United States and probably worldwide, but it has gotten a bad wrap over the years. Claims that it raises blood pressure, or even that it stunts your growth, have been disproven over the years. The question still remains whether or not coffee can actually help boost your immune system function. There is some evidence to support that it does.
Antioxidants
Coffee beans have been shown to contain levels of antioxidants, which may be beneficial to help fight free radicals in your body that can cause sickness and disease. According to Donald Hensrud, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic, coffee contains high levels of antioxidants, although over-consumption of coffee can actually do more harm than good. To benefit from these antioxidants, you only need a few cups of coffee or less each day.
Scientific Study
A study originally published in the "International Journal of Immunopharmacology" back in 1990 took a scientific approach to determining whether coffee helps the immune system. It found that coffee affects immunity but not necessarily in a good or bad way. It found no change in T-cells or B-cells -- white blood cells that fight bacteria and improve immunity -- in coffee drinker and nondrinkers. The conclusion of this study was that more research is necessary to conclusively say that coffee benefits the immune system or not.
Benefits
Aside from supplying your body with bacteria-fighting antioxidants, coffee has several other benefits. According to Harvard University Health, coffee has been scientifically proven to help fight some cancers, such as liver, colon, breast and rectal cancers. It also helps reduce the risk of diabetes by lowering your blood sugar and increasing your body's metabolism. It may also help protect men from Parkinson's disease, although it doesn't seem to have the same effect on women.
Amount
As with pretty much anything, moderation is the key to coffee consumption. Dr. Hensrud says four to seven cups or more per day is too much. You will not get more of a health benefit from coffee by drinking more of it. He says excessive coffee consumption can cause anxiety, restlessness and other symptoms associated with excessive caffeine intake. If you exhibit these symptoms already, you may need to cut back on your coffee intake.
References
- MayoClinic.com What Does the Research Say About Coffee and Health? Is Coffee Good or Bad for Me?; Donald Hensrud, M.D.
- International Journal of Immunopharmacology"; Coffee and the Immune System; Melamed I., Kark JD, Spirer Z; 1990
- Harvard University; Coffee Health Benefits : Coffee may Protect Against Disease; Feb. 2006
