Earlier this month, a study announced that coffee consumption on a regular basis might actually reduce the chances of heart disease. As a card-carrying Starbucks fanatic, crazed for its superior coffee, nutrition facts for coffee are always of keen interest. Anything to justify my daily latte, don’cha know.
A 2002 study by Harvard nurses claimed that women who regularly drink at least four cups of caffeinated coffee each day had a lower risk of gallstones. Personally, I find such studies as these pretty ridiculous. Yes, there may actually be a lower risk in the gallstone department – but isn’t it quite likely that there are many other results from drinking a quart of a highly acidic beverage every day.
The study announced this month was sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and along with the nurses health study, involved 125,000 participants since the 1980s.
Their conclusion? That regular coffee consumption did not increase the risk of all-cause mortality (a.k.a. dying of anything) for either gender, and in the case of women, it actually provided a protective effect. This was mainly because of the reduced chance of heart disease.
Coffee drinkers who consume large amounts are more likely to have some unfortunate health habits and so this group IS more likely to die, but apparently coffee is not the culprit.
The facts about coffee are, of course, that there isn’t much benefit at all in coffee consumption. Coffee has virtually no calories but it certainly doesn’t offer any benefits to the human body, either. The problem is all the stuff we put in that cup of coffee. My latte, for instance, includes soy milk and syrup, with just a relative dab of coffee. The truth is that I don’t much like coffee and would never drink just a plain old cup of coffee. Yick. But I do love the Starbucks latte and plan to go on drinking it. However, I’m not going to kid myself that there is any nutritional value or that it’s a positive health habit. There isn’t. Sorry.
brad says
All medical research on coffee should be discontinued and these resources spent on other health issues. After 1,000 years of consumption, we can safely conclude that coffee is pretty much irrelevant to health. Time to stop flogging that dead horse.
Sydney Johnston says
Brad, I couldn’t agree more. All we’re doing is looking for justification for one of our habits.
Raja says
Quite suprising results. I tought that consumption of coffee affect Human health. Thanks for this nice article. Will drink coffee without any worries from now on.
Aditya Gupta says
I do believe, coffee can do good for body, if taken proper amount, various studies show that it helps to prevent heart diseases. Or else if coffee can’t do good for the body, then it can’t harm too
Michelle says
There will always be studies to suggest coffee is either good for us or bad for us. My husband swears coffee is good for him. He’s a truck driver so it does keep him awake while driving all night. That’s a good thing! :-)
dove2679 says
ANYTHING in excess is not good for ones body. However, as an avid excercise enthusiast, I must say that it is more than helpful to have a cup of coffee before a run. Not only does it stimulate my brain, but it actually speeds up my metabolic rate, thus allowing for more calorie burn off in less time. Plus it’s tasty!
sanjha says
Well so far i thought that too much coffee is not good for health, this is the first time i’m reading the opposite. I’ll definitely consult a doctor and see he says. i really love to drink coffee, so i need to confirm before increase my consumption.
hiral says
coffee is gud in minor vols. Don’t expect it to be gud if u gulp down huge glasses. It makes u feel irritable…