Coffee: The Risks vs. The Rewards

By Sally Moe, Times Total Media Correspondent

Coffee is as entrenched in American culture as burgers and beer. According to the 2020 Atlas of American Coffee, 62% of us Yanks drink coffee every day and 70% drink it every week. (Those numbers are on the rise: 2022 figures have daily coffee drinkers at 64%.) But as much as we love the stuff, we have been exposed to reams of conflicting information over the years about whether it’s good or bad for health. Chalk that up to flawed studies, and failure to take into account such other lifestyle factors as smoking, alcohol use, or lack of exercise.

But WAIT! There’s more!

• Boosting energy levels (You knew that, of course – but one small study found that consuming caffeine increased time to exhaustion during a cycling exercise by 12%, and significantly reduced subjective levels of fatigue in participants.)

• Support of brain health: According to one review of 13 studies, people who regularly consumed coffee had a significantly lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. What’s more, caffeine consumption also slowed the progression of Parkinson’s over time. Another review of 11 observational studies in more than 29,000 people also found that the more coffee people consumed, the lower their risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies have demonstrated that moderate coffee consumption could be associated with a lower risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

• Promoting weight management: Coffee could help support weight management and may be linked to decreased body fat. One study also found that people who consumed coffee were more likely to be physically active.

• A lowered risk of depression: According to one review of seven studies, each cup of coffee people consumed per day was linked to an 8% lower risk of depression.

• Reduced risk of early death: Compared with non-drinkers, those who drank 3-5 cups of coffee daily were 15% less likely to die early from all causes, including cardiovascular disease, suicide, and Parkinson’s disease. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee provided benefits. The study authors suggested that bioactive compounds in coffee may be responsible for interfering with disease development by reducing inflammation and insulin resistance.

Right now, with those factors accounted for in studies, the consensus is that the good well outweighs the bad. So let’s start with the good. For instance: Did you know that coffee has more antioxidants than black and green teas? Research into the effects of coffee has plenty more to say. Studies indicate regular consumption offers protection against:

• Type 2 diabetes (one review of 30 studies found that each cup of coffee test subjects consumed per day was linked to a 6% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is thought to be due to coffee’s ability to preserve the function of beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.)

• Liver disease, including liver cancer: research shows that the more coffee people drink, the lower their risk of death from chronic liver disease. Drinking one cup of coffee per day was tied to a 15% lower risk, while drinking four cups per day was linked to a 71% lower risk. As little as 2-3 cups of coffee a day can result in a 38% reduction of risk of developing liver cancer.

• Heart attack and stroke: Some research shows that drinking coffee could be linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Furthermore, habitual coffee drinking has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease in women.

Obviously, there are many benefits associated with regular coffee intake, but it’s still not for everybody, due to a number of factors. For instance:

• Coffee can temporarily raise blood pressure

• Too much coffee can increase your heart rate, cause palpitations, and increase production of stress hormones

• Coffee can irritate your stomach and GI tract

• In sensitive individuals, coffee can worsen anxiety

• Coffee may worsen the symptoms of GERD, because it relaxes the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus, enabling acid reflux

• Unfiltered coffee (Turkish coffee, French press, espresso) contains diterpenes, which raise LDL cholesterol and triglycerides

Finally, coffee is not good for kids under 12; and should be consumed with care or avoided by those who have IBS; overactive bladder; Crohn’s; glaucoma; hypertension; arrhythmias; epilepsy; anxiety or panic disorder; or are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you love coffee, but are uncertain about whether it would help or hurt you, don’t go to Facebook University – get the 411 from your doctor.

Information for this article was sourced from healthline.com, mayoclinic.org, hsph.harvard.edu, ncausa.org, and eatthis.com.

Interna Medicine-GeriatricMedicine