Food is Art: Coffee

I am a self described coffee addict. I grew up in the home of Coffee (Washington St.) and Ive been drinking the stuff since I was 12. But is this vice of mine bad for me? Or does coffee have health benefits?? I've heard arguments on both sides. So I decided to look into it abit and compare the negative and positive health effects. Here they are:

Positive Health Effects:

• According to WebMD coffee drinkers are "less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and dementia" and "have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes"
• Antioxidants have numerous health benefits including protection against heart problems and cancer. Coffee is rich in antioxidants and is, in fact, the number one source of antioxidant in the American diet.
• The Huffington Post reports that Coffee could lower the risk of depression in women and Prostate cancer in men.
• The Huffington Post also reports benefits to the Brain. They say:

?"A study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests that there's something in coffee -- though researchers have yet to determine what exactly that "something" is -- interacts with caffeine to boost the levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), a growth factor that seems to be able to fight off Alzheimer's disease in mice."

WebMD article: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food
Huffington Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/coffee-health-benefits_n_1064577.html#s440649&title=Coffee_Or_At)

Negative Health Effects:

• Caffeine (coffees main ingredient) is an addictive stimulant (a fact I am all too aware of!)
• Caffeine can increase heart rate and blood pressure
• Caffeine also has the following effects: Insomnia, Stomach upset, irritability, muscle tremors and restlessness.

Mayo Clinc article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/NU00600
Harvard Medical School Article: http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/coffee_health_risk/

Conclusion: from the articles Ive read it looks as though Coffee its self is not detrimental to your health (and can even provide a number of positive health benefits) but the caffeine content (which, lets face it, is a big part of why we drink coffee. A well made cup of coffee is enjoyable, but many of us will drink a bad cup because no matter how awful; we need that caffeine) has a number of negative consequences.

All of the articles, however, made it very clear that there is no problem with drinking 1-2 cups a day and that the problems arise from over doing it. Like I say about most things: Moderation in everything, but enjoy that cup o' joe!

Source: http://www.kristinsfoodisart.com/2012/08/coffee.html

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