Coffee Good for Health?

Coffee Talk: Some Surprising Health Benefits
Written by RealAge, Inc., peer-reviewed by Dr. Axel Goetz, October 2005

One of the best ways to ward off chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, is to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. But many of us do not eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables—considered superior sources of antioxidants.

So guess where many people are getting their antioxidants instead? Recent studies reveal coffee may be a surprising source. In fact, it is the top dietary source of antioxidants in many populations, including in the United States. Moreover, roasted coffee residues retain their antioxidant ability; it isn't lost in processing.

Enjoy your java? You're not alone . . . Researchers estimate about 54% of U.S. adults drink coffee every day. Countries such as Germany, Austria, and Finland consume twice as much coffee as the United States.

And there may be related benefits to this brew. Although most of the research is in the early stages, studies show that drinking coffee may be linked to some desirable health outcomes, such as:

• decreased risk of Parkinson's disease: A study revealed that men may experience up to a 40% reduction in risk by drinking as little as one cup per day. However, the effects were not observed in postmenopausal women who take estrogen replacement. In this case, coffee drinking may actually increase Parkinson's risk.
• reduced risk of type 2 diabetes: However, this reduced risk is only linked to people who drink excess amounts of coffee, which is not recommended; the risks of drinking too much coffee outweigh this possible benefit.
• decreased risk of liver cancer: Drinking coffee may be especially helpful reducing the risk of liver cancer caused by cirrhosis, a type of liver disease that causes scarring of the liver.

If coffee does have health benefits, it's not clear what they are from. Coffee contains not only antioxidants, but also caffeine and other yet-to-be researched compounds.

But even if there are clear health benefits to the brew, there are caveats. Although coffee consumption does not seem to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, research shows that chronic consumption may increase aortic stiffness. Plus, unfiltered coffee can raise levels of blood fats, and excessive caffeine intake may be bad for people who are sensitive to caffeine. Coffee can contain anywhere from 72 to 130 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving, depending on the bean source and the brewing methods.

So there is give and take with coffee. If you don't already drink it, the recent news about antioxidants is not necessarily a reason to pick up the habit. And for people who already drink it, it's no excuse to stop eating fruits and veggies. Finally, because of the caffeine content, moderation is still the key to enjoying it healthfully.

Your best bet is to eat your fruits and veggies, and try to limit yourself to about one or two small cups—about 8-ounces—of coffee per day. That way you stay within the recommended limit of no more than 250 milligrams of caffeine per day.

Tea time
If you're not a coffee drinker, there's another steamy brew with multiple health benefits and less need for moderation. The health benefits of tea are widely established and are likely due to antioxidant flavonoids, as well as possibly the caffeine. Tea contains less caffeine than coffee, though, so you can drink more without worrying about excessive caffeine intake. Green tea can contain anywhere from 9 to 50 milligrams per 8-ounce serving while black tea typically contains between 42 to 72 milligrams per cup.

The well-established health benefits of tea include:

• decreased risk of LDL cholesterol oxidation and improved blood lipids after eating a high-fat meal, which may in part translate into reduced risk of cardiovascular disease • decreased risk of heart attack and stroke Regular tea drinkers might also have: • a possible decreased risk of Parkinson's disease • a possible decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease Although several compounds in tea

The downside of caffeine Caffeine may cause: • nervous, jittery feelings • sleeplessness • rapid heartbeat • increased blood pressure • stomach upset Caffeine may not be recommended for people who have: • overactive bladder • heartburn • high blood pressure • arrhythmia • anxiety disorder • insomnia

have been found to have anticancer properties in both cell and animal studies, no definitive evidence exists yet proving tea's anticancer potential in humans. Larger studies are needed to prove or disprove these findings. RA