Is Coffee Really Good for Your Health?
Is coffee really good for your health? I decided to research on a recent five hour train trip. This is what I found out so far.
Introduction
Is coffee really good for your health? A question I ask myself every morning as I sit down with my big cup of hot black coffee!
On a recent train trip between Toronto and Montreal, I decided to search the internet and truly see what information is out there on this subject. Well, quite a lot to be frank!
The one thing that went through the back of my mind as I read differing opinions is who might have been backing up the research or funding the article. Like everything these days on the internet that is the first question, one should be asking oneself.
I will start will full transparency on my position. I love coffee. I have since my first all-nighter back in university where we shared instant coffees at 2 am in the morning with roommates. Because we were poor and had no refrigeration, we drank our no-name instant coffee black. To this day, I cannot stand the taste of coffee with milk or sugar in it.
On top of this, I promote coffee products in one of my online stores. I thus have a personal stake in saying: “Mmmmm, coffee! Please buy and drink lots of it!”
Conversely, I did this research to understand the impact my coffee drinking has on first my blood pressure which recently sent my doctor into a panic and second, I wanted to know if there was a correlation with what my doctor called my pre-diabetic state.
So here we go!
The History of Coffee Drinking
The coffee plant is indigenous to Ethiopia and was first cultivated in the Arabian Peninsula. coffee drinking spread from there.
The first coffeehouses were opened in Constantinople in 1554, followed by ones in Italy and England.
Coffee reached North America with the colonialists. The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was, at least partially, a protest tea taxes. Drinking coffee became a patriotic act!
In 1822, The New York Stock Exchange opened its doors for business and traders have been fueled by coffee ever since.
continued below ads……
Coffees for 2022
Crazy Cups Chocolate Marshmallow
Grove Square Caramel Apple
Victor Allen’s Autumn Variety Pack
Victor Allen Coffee Caramel Macchiato
Starbucks Fall Blend
Hawaii Kona Extra Fancy
Sulawesi Tana Toraja Whole Bean
Club Coffee Roasters Mocha Java
Stone Temple Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee
Turkish Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi Coffee
Mexican Chiapas
Van Houtte Mexico Signature
San Diego Mexico Blend
Biohazard Ground Coffee
Brazilian Cerrado Whole Bean Arabica Coffee
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee
Kicking Horse Three Sisters Blend
Tim Hortons Original Blend Coffee
Tim Hortons Variety pack of K-cup pods
Tim Hortons Dark Roast
Tim Hortons Dark Roast Kpods
Tanzania Dark Roast
Ethical Bean Fair Trade – Bold, Dark
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee
Kicking Horse Three Sisters Blend
Tim Hortons Original Blend Coffee
Tim Hortons Variety pack of K-cup pods
Tim Hortons Dark Roast
Tim Hortons Dark Roast Kpods
Coffee Drinking in 2022
Coffee is now the most popular beverage in the world. Coffee is grown in more than fifty countries and consumed by billions of people every day.
In North America, coffee consumption has increased by more than 50% in the last 20 years. More than 150 million Americans drink coffee every day.
Canadians are not far behind with 22% of Canadians drinking coffee daily.
How much coffee are we talking about? In 2016, Americans consumed more than four hundred million cups of coffee per day!
What are the Popular Ways to Drink Coffee?
There are endless ways coffee is now consumed. Here are just a few of the popular coffee drinks being consumed today:
-Espresso
-Cappuccino
-Macchiato
-Latte
-Mocha
-Americano
-Flat White
-Cold Brew
-Nitro Coffee
-Iced Coffee
-Bulletproof coffee
Do you drink your coffee with milk or sugar? According to the National Coffee Association, 62% of coffee drinkers add milk to their coffee and nearly one-third add sugar.
cont’d below ads……
Makers, Machines and More:
AeroPress Go Coffee Maker
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Dripper Set
Primula Aluminum Stove Top Percolator
Grosche Milano Stovetop Espresso Maker
Farberware Yosemite Percolator
Zpose Glass Teapot
Aberdeen Easy Loose Tea Steeper
Dujust Small Tea Set for Adults
Tealyra Jove Porcelain Large Teapot
Taimei Teatime Ceramic Japanese Tea Set
Russell Hobbs Electric Kettle
Black & Decker Electric Kettle
Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle
Cafe Du Chateau French Press
Belwares French Press
Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press
Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker & Hot Water
Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker
Ninja Hot and Cold Brew System
Keurig K-Slim Single Serve Coffee Maker
Keuring K-Duo Essential Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach Coffee Grinder
Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Breville Control Pro Coffee Grinder
Capresso Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine
De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine
Black or Double/Double
The next question I had after reading a Harvard article was should coffee be consumed black like I do or is it better with milk and sugar?
I found this article from the Mayo Clinic that indicated coffee itself is not a significant source of calories or nutrients. However, when coffee is “dressed up” with added cream and sugar, the calorie and sugar content can quickly add up.
For example, a 16-ounce grande caramel frappuccino from Starbucks has 380 calories and fifty-nine grams of sugar. That’s more than two times the calories and sugar of a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola!
Is Coffee Really Good for Your Health?
This is the big question and what I set out to answer
The first thing I came across was this article from the Harvard School of Public Health. After reading it, I felt coffee might be my new best friend!
According to the article, coffee drinking has been associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and suicide.
In addition, coffee drinking has been linked with a lower risk of developing some cancers, including endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer.
So far so good!
Other Thoughts on the Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Coffee has also been linked with a reduced risk of death from other causes, including liver disease and respiratory illness.
Drinking that cup of joe is associated with a lower risk of developing depression. Coffee consumption has also been linked with a lower risk and cognitive decline. And coffee drinking has been associated with a lower risk of stroke.
It would appear that coffee really is good for your health!
cont’d after ads…..
Cookbooks and more:
The Smoothie Diet
Keto Breads
$24.95
Cinderella Solution
$37.00
The Perfect Afternoon Tea Recipe Book
The Coffee Recipe Book: 50 Coffee and Espresso
The Marley Coffee Cookbook
The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions
Coffee Obsession
The Easy Cannabis Cookbook
The Official High Times Cannabis Cookbook
The Keto Soup Diet
Sale!
Coffee – diets and recipies
Custom Keto
$37.00
Sale!
Coffee – diets and recipies
Custom Keto
$37.00
Keto Breads
$24.95
Cinderella Solution
$37.00
But….Here Are Some Possible Bad Effects of Drinking Coffee
Before you start guzzling coffee by the gallons, there are a few potential downsides of coffee drinking that you should be aware of.
Coffee drinking has been linked with an increased risk of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). So, if you have problems with heartburn, coffee may not be your friend.
Coffee consumption has also been associated with an increased risk of anxiety and sleep problems. So, if you’re struggling with anxiety or insomnia, you might want to cut back on the coffee.
Finally, coffee drinking can lead to dehydration. This is because coffee is a diuretic, which means it causes you to urinate more frequently. This can lead to dehydration if you’re not careful to drink enough water throughout the day.
Are There Types of Coffee That May be Better or Worse for Health
The answer to this question appears to be yes! Some studies have suggested that coffee made with boiled water may be more likely to cause cancer. Other studies have found that coffee made with filtered water may be associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
So, it seems that the type of coffee you drink may make a difference in terms of your health. Boiled coffee may not be the best choice, while coffee made with filtered water may be a better choice.
So, Is Coffee Really Good for Your Health?
Well, I still don’t know. Based on the information that I have found so far it seems there may be a benefit if you can tick off certain boxes.
For example, when I started drinking coffee in university, I felt that I was under a lot of pressure to excel. I started to develop heartburn from a bad diet, Friday nights in the pub, and stress. The black instant coffee really did exacerbate the heartburn. So much so that after graduation, I did not drink coffee for about six or seven months.
Further, when working in a highly stressful job in my fifties, I drank so much coffee during the day that I wasn’t getting to sleep until 2 – 3 in the morning only to have to wake up at 5:30 and start the cycle again. So now I limit my coffee consumption to before noon. (Unless it is a special occasion where a coffee is deemed appropriate).
We have all heard this repeatedly about just about everything in life – “everything in moderation”.
Let’s Play
Conclusion to “Is Coffee Really Good for Your Health?”
Coffee does have some potential benefits for health, but there are also some possible downsides. It’s important to remember that coffee is a diuretic, so you need to make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day. And if you have anxiety or sleep problems, you might want to cut back on the coffee. Finally, coffee made with boiled water may not be the best choice.
So, it seems that the type of coffee you drink may make a difference in terms of your health. Boiled coffee may not be the best choice, while coffee made with filtered water may be a better choice. In conclusion, I would say that coffee is probably good for your health if you drink it.
Some links to articles to read:
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your-health/
Please note: Opinions and statements in this blog are mine only. They are not to be mistaken for medical, nutritional or health advice. Everyone MUST consult their medical practitioner before started any new diet, workout, or supplement routine to ensure it is consistent with your own personal needs and health.
