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There seems
to be an ongoing controversy around coffee. One day the news is telling me its
killing me and the next day it’s supposedly protecting me against deadly cancer.
Which is it?! There is an overwhelming amount of information out there on
coffee, with seemingly good arguments both for and against it. For every
cleanse or detox I have ever tried or read about, coffee is always on the list
of things to give up completely. I spent a weekend at a well-known yoga and
wellness center in western Massachusetts and was told by one of the instructors
that drinking my regular store-bought coffee was tantamount to drinking poison!
Really? Aren’t we maybe being a tad bit dramatic?
I will grant you, not all coffees are created equal and I do now buy higher quality beans, which I grind myself, but what about all the studies that tout all the benefits of drinking coffee? (Assume you know I am talking about plain coffee minus the milk and sugar - none of those grande mocha frappucinos with whipped cream!) A number of research studies have shown evidence that coffee can protect us from deadly diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's. Coffee is chock full of antioxidants, which considering how much we Americans LOVE our coffee, it is one of the greatest sources of antioxidants in the American diet!1 Coffee also contains chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.2
I will grant you, not all coffees are created equal and I do now buy higher quality beans, which I grind myself, but what about all the studies that tout all the benefits of drinking coffee? (Assume you know I am talking about plain coffee minus the milk and sugar - none of those grande mocha frappucinos with whipped cream!) A number of research studies have shown evidence that coffee can protect us from deadly diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's. Coffee is chock full of antioxidants, which considering how much we Americans LOVE our coffee, it is one of the greatest sources of antioxidants in the American diet!1 Coffee also contains chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.2
- 2 cups of coffee
/ day reduces the risk of Colon Cancer & Uterine Cancer
- 3 cups of
coffee / day reduces the risk of Breast Cancer
- 4 cups of
coffee / day reduces the risk of Head & Neck Cancer by 39%
- 5 cups of
coffee / day reduces the risk of Brain Cancer by 40%
- 6 cups of
coffee / day reduces the risk of Prostate Cancer by 60%
Now these
may seem like excessive amounts to some and he cautioned that these are not
meant to be recommendations, but rather to show that there are documented
benefits to that daily cup of Joe. He also noted that the same effects are not
seen with decaffeinated versions and that one reason may be that studies have
shown that the caffeine may stimulate the suicide of cancer cells.
Clearly some
people with certain medical conditions or taking certain types of medications
should avoid coffee. Additionally, some people are just very sensitive to
caffeine in general. I have plenty of friends who get very jittery or have
interrupted sleep when they have too much caffeine and once they give up the
Joe they report less headaches, feeling less fuzzy and not as agitated. I think it
really depends on the person.
I for one am
not quite ready to give up my coffee. I can’t say I have ever really noticed an
issue with it or caffeine in general, for that matter. I am super proud of
myself for giving up my diet coke addiction many years ago. I have given up
coffee at different points and I certainly could survive without it. I really
only drink it in the morning…I have been never been that person who drinks it all
day or makes that regular afternoon Starbucks run. For me it’s just the whole
experience; I love the smell of waking up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee and
it is one of the joys of my weekend morning routine. I sit and enjoy my coffee
while watching morning TV or reading (sometimes back in bed) and it just feels like a treat, especially
those cold winter mornings here in NYC!
Although
more and more studies are showing the positive benefits for coffee, concerns
still remain. I recently read about a new kind of coffee that supposedly boosts
immunity called NutriCafe. It is fair trade, organic coffee that is lower in
caffeine and less acidic than most coffees, which can cause digestive issues for some people.
Additionally it contains an immune-supporting mushroom blend.4 I
have been drinking it and must say it’s pretty yummy!
1 Vinson JA. The potential
health benefits of antioxidants. Presented at the 230th meeting of the American
Chemical Society. August 28, 2005. Washington, DC.2 Zhang Y, Lee ET, Cowan LD, Fabsitz RR, Howard BV. Coffee consumption and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in men and women with normal glucose tolerance: The Strong Heart Study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 Jun;21(6):418-23.
3 Featured on Dr. Oz’s show: “Dr. Oz Cancer Proof Your Life”
4 Natural News: The best-tasting organic gourmet coffee ever? Nutricafe delivers immune mushroom blend with low-caffeine 'health coffee'
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