health benefits of coffee

Coffee – Another “wonder food”

Coffee is, possibly the second most popular drink in the world, behind tea. Millions of people drink coffee every day, and many to get that “caffeine jolt” to wake them up in the morning. But, others say there are a variety of health benefits that come from coffee. Some say it can lower the risk of type II diabetes by nearly 50%. Others swear it can wake you up better than an afternoon nap. Others claim it will lower your risk of colon cancer and parkinsons disease. For those who drink heavily, coffee is rumored to lower the risk of liver problems. Coffee is even supposed to lower the risk of getting cavities, and reduce pain!

So, for all these wonderful statements…where is the proof? What is the real deal with coffee? And most importantly, what are the real dangers associated with coffee consumption?

The Real Deal:

It turns out coffee really can reduce a persons risk of contracting type II diabetes, but only if they drink quite a bit each day.

In a study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, over 88,000 women were studied for an 8 year period. In that period, 1,263 cases of type II diabetes developed in this sample group. However, the development of type II diabetes was reduced by over 40% in people who drank 2-3 cups a day, and almost 50% by those who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day. These results were consistent regardless of whether the coffee was caffeinated or decaf.

This study is documented in the U.S. government run website, the national library of medicine.

As for coffee and napping, it turns out there is some truth to it, particularly the older you get. A French research team decided to test the effects of coffee, napping, and driving in 24 subjects. They found that middle age folks, between 40-50, coffee was substantially better than taking a 30 minute nap to stay alert. Touching or crossing the dotted yellow line occurred 89% less when middle age drivers had a cup of joe, compared to a 30 minute nap that only reduced yellow line crossings by 24%. The differences for young drivers between 20-25 was much smaller. A nap was almost as effective as a cup of coffee. Mind you, this is caffeinated coffee, not decaf.

Ok, so we know coffee can help us stay alert, but reduce the risk of a serious illness like parkinsons? Where’s the proof? Well, there was a study published in the Journal of American Medicine that involved over 8,000 Japanese American Men. The researchers found that the people in the study who drank at least 4oz of coffee a day reduced their risk of parkinsons disease by 2X-3X the national average.

The problems with the study are it was specifically for Japanese American men living in Hawaii . Coffee may not work across racial and gender boundaries. But it is promising, and the research team believes it has to do with the caffeine in coffee.

Now, what about the second great American medical boogie man…colon cancer? This cancer is the 2^nd leading cause of death in the U.S…and coffee can stop it? Maybe. A german research team took a coffee extract, and introduced it to human colon cells. They found that the introduction stimulated activity of phase II enzymes. Analysis of this extract found the most active chemical in the coffee is methylpyridinium, a known anti-cancer chemical compound.

A similar study was conducted in rats, and the rats were fed a diet of the coffee extract. Those rats that ate the coffee showed a 24%-40% increase in phase II enzymes.

So, all signs point in the right direction, but more research must be done to make this research conclusive.

This study was provided by the American Chemical Society.

And for those who drink heavy, coffee can lower the risk of liver diseases, such as cirrosis. Kaiser Permanentne medical group came out with a large study of 125,000 people between 1978 and 1985. They found that for each daily coffee drink, incidents of liver disease dropped by 22%.

This conclusion is echoed by another study published in “Gastroentorology” in 2005.

So there is some evidence that coffee can indeed lower the incidence of liver disease. But what about cavities?

Another study produced by the American Chemical society found that coffee has certain antibacterial properties against a known tooth decaying bacteria, S. mutans. Coffee actually helps reduce the adhesive nature of S. Mutans, therefore minimizing the chance of cavities forming.

Coffee produced from roasted coffee beans produced an inhibition rate varying between 41% - 98% in all the samples. Decaf or regular coffee made no difference though instant coffee produced slightly better results than regular brewed coffee.

While this is hopeful, these were studies conducted on the cellular level, and they need live animal research to make proper conclusions.

Coffee Exposed:

Ok, so coffee does seem to be pretty good for you overall. It will increase your alertness, particularly if your older, and if you’re a drinker, it’ll help prevent liver disease. It also will reduce the incidence of parkinsons disease in Japanese American Men…and probably in most people.

It MAY help fight cavities, and it MAY help prevent colon cancer…though the jury is still out on these last two benefits.

But for now…drink up. Coffee does more harm than good, and the science proves it.

Health Benefits of Coffee - Exposed