Is Coffee Really that Bad for You?

Coffee, it’s a requirement for most people every morning. We all know that one person who is just unbearable until they’ve had their morning coffee. But there’s this negative stigma around it. People are always trying to cut back, or cut it out all-together. But is it really that bad?

When studies were first conducted on the effects coffee, smoking was much more popular, and many of the heavy coffee drinkers were also heavy smokers. Unfortunately, many of the negative effects of smoking cigarettes were attributed to drinking coffee, and that’s where the bad rap came from.

Let’s look at some of the real negatives first, from http://www.healthambition.com/negative-effects-of-coffee/.

• Provokes heartburn and acid reflux.
• Coffee acts as a laxative, which can lead to dehydration, and food not being properly digested.
• Affects mineral absorption, like iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.
• Promotes the release of the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine, and norephinephrine. This increases heart rate, blood pressure, and tension levels.

And now let’s look at some of the positives, from https://authoritynutrition.com/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee/.

• Improves energy levels and various brain functions including memory, mood, vigilance, reaction times, and general cognitive function.
• Can help you burn fat by boosting the metabolic rate by 3-11%
• May lower risk of Type II Diabetes by 25-30%. May lower risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia by up to 65%. May lower risk of Parkinson’s by 32-60%
• Fights depression and make you happier. Separate studies showed that women who drank four cups or more per day had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed, and people who drank four or more cups per day were 53% less likely to commit suicide.
• 40% lower risk of liver cancer, 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer, and 20% lower risk of stroke.

There are more effects that fit into each category, but I’ve focused on the ones that caught my eye and I thought were the most interesting. Now it’s your decision, is coffee really that bad?

 

x Laura