If you’re reading this story during
the morning — or maybe even the afternoon — there’s a good chance you have a
cup of coffee in your hand. Some even take coffee in the evening to relax their nerves or warm their bodies.
Coffee is slightly acidic (pH 5.0–5.1) and can have a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content. It is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways. The effect of coffee on human health has been a subject of many studies; however, results have varied in terms of coffee's relative benefit.The majority of recent research suggests that moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial in healthy adults. However, coffee can worsen the symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, largely due to the caffeine and diterpenes it contains. In fact, doctors have been interested in the health effects of coffee since at least 17th century Europe, says cardiac surgeon Marc Gillinov, MD, co-author of Heart 411: The Only Guide to Heart Health You’ll Ever Need.
But what should consumers do with
the results of these studies — especially when some tout the health benefits of coffee while others warn against the drink’s ill effects? The
latter is the case with a recent study from Mayo
Clinic that links excessive coffee
drinking with premature death.
“Observational studies cannot prove
causality. They suggest something, but they don’t prove cause and effect.”
What
the study says
In this long-term observational
study of 44,000 subjects, researchers found that drinking 4 cups of coffee per
day may increase the risk of premature death by 21 percent. Among deaths of
people in the study, 32 percent of them were related to heart disease.
Does this mean you should put down
that cup of coffee? Not so fast, says Dr. Gillinov.
“This is an interesting study, but
keep in mind that it is an observational study,” Dr. Gillinov says. “Observational studies cannot prove
causality. They suggest something, but they don’t prove cause and effect.”
The
message is moderation
When it comes to coffee, assessing
health risks and benefits can be as muddy as a strong cup of joe. For example,
people who drink it regularly are much less likely than non-drinkers to
experience a mild rise in blood pressure or heart rate, Dr. Gillinov notes.
In addition, this particular study
focused on excessive coffee drinking — in this case defined as 28 cups or more
a week. With that in mind, if people do take away a message from the study, then it
should be a message of moderation.
“The message turns out to be the
same old message about everything: alcohol,
chocolate,
saturated fats,” Dr. Gillinov says. “None of these in moderation is going to
kill you outright. But it is possible that too much can be harmful.”
reference; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee
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