Coffee is practically super food: Myth or fact?

March 4, 2018 Sushil Singh

The health impacts of coffee have long been a controversial topic, as there are two sides to every story. Pro-coffee connoisseurs promote coffee’s antioxidants, while those on the other side name the downsides, such as insomnia, increased heart rate and blood pressure.

If you chose fact, you’re right. New studies this week add to dozens more reporting the health benefits of coffee, including protection from type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s, computer back pain and more.

But if you chose myth, you’d also be right. There are times when coffee is bad for you, and it depends on your genetics, your age and even how you make your coffee.

How many Cups A Day Is Okay ?

A study on 25,000 subjects in South Korea found that moderate daily consumption of coffee, or three to five cups, is correlated with a decreased risk for coronary artery calcium. The moderate or four cups of coffee, was found to reduce one’s risk of melanoma, a very dangerous form of skin cancer. A high amount of coffee consumption, or four to six cups a day, reduced coffee-sippers risks of getting multiple sclerosis (MS).

Black Coffee or with Whitener ?

Drinking coffee with a loaded amount of cream and sugar and calling it “healthy” is the equivalent to deep frying potatoes and calling it healthy. (French fries for health!) If you can’t stand drinking completely black coffee, opt for a little bit of cream and a little bit of sugar. Just keep it to a minimum and be sure to choose all-natural sugar as opposed to artificial sweeteners.

Coffee Reduces Depression

Studies conducted in past showed that coffee consumption lowers the rates of depression in both men and women. In several studies, the data suggested a relationship between coffee consumption and depression: in other words, heavy coffee drinkers seemed to have the lowest risk (up to 20 percent) of depression.

Coffee Lessens Your Risk of Type II Diabetes

A study from the Archives of Internal Medicine shows 22% lower risk of diabetesthose who consumed six or more cups of coffee a day. In a study of U.S. women aged 26–46 years at baseline, consumption of two or more cups of coffee per day was associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes during 10 years of follow-up. This association was similar for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and for filtered and instant coffee. The inverse association between coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes was independent of caffeine intake.

Coffee for you Liver

The study on 2,400 people from the Rotterdam Study, a population cohort of people 45 years and older living in Rotterdam, showed that coffee consumption was significantly associated with less scarring of liver tissue. And frequent consumption of both coffee and tea was associated with less liver stiffness, even when consumed in small amounts, suggesting that drinking just a little of either each day may help prevent long-term tissue damage that can eventually lead to liver disease.

The study was published in the Journal of Hepatology.

Final Tip

Some people can find coffee consumption potentially harmful. People with sleep issues or uncontrolled diabetes should consult their doctors before increasing caffeine to their daily routine. Also be sure to keep minimum 8 hours of gap between your coffee and bed time to avoid sleep issues.