Many long-standing beliefs about the negative effects of coffee have been disproven in recent years. For example, if you drink coffee in moderation, it will probably not put you at risk for cancer or heart disease. The antioxidants in coffee may actually protect you against cardiovascular problems. However, coffee can make you jittery, nervous and sleepless, and some types may elevate your cholesterol levels.
Moderation
Because of coffee's potential adverse effects, it is best to drink it in moderation. The American Heart Association defines moderate coffee consumption as one or two cups a day. An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine. Tea and cola generally contain less caffeine than coffee, but some energy drinks contain more. Many people can safely drink large amounts of coffee, but you should avoid the beverage if it gives you heartburn or makes you agitated.
Caffeine
The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that accelerates your heart rate. If you drink more than a couple of cups a day, you may become restless and agitated. If you’re prone to anxiety, coffee may worsen the condition. Although coffee does not cause heart problems for most people, it could put you at risk if you metabolize caffeine slowly. Some people have a genetic mutation that makes it difficult for them to efficiently metabolize caffeine, which means the stimulant stays in their system longer than intended, which can keep their heart rate elevated for unhealthy lengths of time.
Cholesterol
If you drink boiled or unfiltered coffee, including French press coffee, chemicals called diterpenes may be found in your coffee. These can raise your triglycerides, which are a type of fat, and low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol, levels in your arteries, according to a study conducted by N. Naidoo and colleagues at the Yong Loo School of Medicine in Singapore. Drinking filtered coffee did not elevate cholesterol levels, according to the report published in May 2011 in “Nutrition Journal.” A Pennsylvania State university study published in “Toxicological Reviews” in 2006 found a link between drinking unfiltered coffee and elevated triglycerides. But that study, led by I.M. Rodrigues, did not find a correlation between coffee consumption and LDL levels.
Considerations
Drinking more than six cups of coffee or consuming more than 600 milligrams of caffeine from any source may cause dehydration. Consuming smaller amounts will hydrate you, according to Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic. Coffee is acidic and may aggravate stomach ulcers or acid reflux disease. Although recent research seems to dispel many myths about the dangers of coffee drinking, the beverage is not safe for everyone. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of drinking coffee.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Coffee and Health -- What Does the Research Say?; Donald Hensrud, M.D.; May 2010
- "Circulation Research"; Polyphenols and Cholesterol Efflux: is Coffee the Next Red Wine?; M.F. Burke, et al.; March 2010
- "Toxicological Reviews"; Boiled or Filtered Coffee? Effects of Coffee and Caffeine on Cholesterol, Fibrinogen and C-Reactive Protein; I.M. Rodrigues andL.C. Klein; 2006
- MayoClinic.com; Nutrition and Health Eating: Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More; October 2009
- American Heart Association; Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease; September, 2010
- American Heart Association; Coffee or Tea: Enjoy Both in Moderation for Heart Benefits; June 2010
- "Nutrition Journal"; Cholesterol-Raising Diterpenes in Types of Coffee Commonly Consumed in Singapore, Indonesia and India and Associations with Blood Lipids: A Survey and Cross Sectional Study; N. Naidoo, et al.; May 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Coffee: Is it Dehydrating or Not?; Katherine Zeratsky; August 2011
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