Hi Readers,
Coffee always takes a hammering in the popular press and with the hippies ( left over relics from the 60's),
but is coffee good or bad? Apparently it is a preventative for alziemers, researchers think it could be. In some trials it prevented heart disease and in others it promoted it, Michael T Murray had a good explanation for this one. In the P450 cytochrome there are enzymes that break down substances to render them harmless, some people are fast metabolisers of caffeine and others are slow. If you are a fast metaboliser you will get a cardio benefit and if you are a slow metaboliser you will receive an elevated risk. Westerners tested in Britain, USA and Australia were about 50/50 but when they tested Japanese people they found 85%, or thereabouts were fast metabolisers, and therefore would receive a huge benefit from drinking coffee.

Dr. Michael Murray
natural living

Nutrigenomics and Biochemical Individuality

Introduction

In the late 1970s when I began discovering the importance of nutrition in human health one of my major heroes was Roger Williams. This brilliant man was responsible for discovering many B vitamins including pantothenic acid and folic acid. In fact, at his laboratory at the University of Texas more vitamins and their variants were discovered than in any other laboratory in the world.

One of the concepts that Dr. Williams introduced that has proven to be one of the most provocative concepts in nutritional medicine is the idea of “biochemical individuality.” Each of us has unique biochemical traits that determine who we are and how we interact with the world around us. Biochemical individuality results from a combination of our genes and our environment – nature and nurture. These factors play a big role in determining how healthy we are and what ailments we are likely to experience.

Nowadays, the term biochemical individuality has been replaced by the term “nutrigenomics.” This term refers to the application of the study of our genetic code and the related sciences of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics as they relate to human nutrition. Though nutrigenomics is the new term, the concept behind the term clearly owes its origin to Dr. Williams.

Nutrigenomics and Detoxification Reactions

One of the major determinants of our nutrigenomic profile is a family of perhaps one hundred enzymes known as the cytochrome P450 enzymes. These enzymes play a critical role in detoxifying drugs, cancer-causing compounds, and hormones. Generally, each enzyme is designed to metabolize certain types of chemicals, but there is also a lot of overlap among the P450 family. This “back-up system” ensures that your liver is usually able to detoxify your body efficiently.

Detoxification of harmful chemicals like pesticides as well as body hormones is basically a two-step process. The first step in the two-step detoxification of toxic chemicals is referred to as “Phase I detoxification.” This process involves one of three possibilities:

* An enzyme simply breaks apart the toxic molecule into two or more harmless components.

* An enzyme changes the molecule so that it can be dissolved in water. This makes it possible for the toxin to circulate in the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it can be excreted in urine.

* An enzyme can transform the toxin into another form so that phase II enzymes can then go to work on it.

In Phase II detoxification, enzymes bind other molecules to the toxins. In essence, this is like “handcuffing” the toxin so it can be escorted out of the body by the biological equivalent of security guards. The process of adding one molecule to another is called conjugation. Conjugation either neutralizes the toxin so it will do no harm if it remains in the body, or it changes the toxin to a water-soluble form so it can be excreted. In this process, the body uses six main compounds to bind to the toxins: acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA); glutathione; glycine and other amino acids; glucuronic acid; methyl groups; and sulfur.

The activity of and interplay between Phase I and Phase II reactions is probably the single most important factor that determines our biochemical individuality. Differences in the P450 enzymes can explain why some people can smoke without developing lung cancer and why certain individuals are more susceptible to the harmful effects of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.

Nutrigenomics in Action

Incorporating aspects of nutrigenomics into clinical research is clarifying the health effects of dietary practices. For example, research on the effects of coffee consumption on heart disease has been equivocal – one study finds no correlation between coffee consumption and hypertension, while the next shows a correlation with heart attack risk while another shows elevated cholesterol for those drinking more than four cups, while the next shows no correlation, but only if paper filters are used. In these sorts of unclear relationships nutrigenomics can be invaluable in clarifying the picture.

A recent study supports this notion. The study examined the association between heart attack incidence.1 Unlike other studies looking into this association the researchers also measured the activity of the liver enzyme that detoxifies caffeine - cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2). When the researchers divided the group according to whether they possessed a form of this enzyme that quickly metabolizes caffeine (CYP1A2*1A) or slowly metabolized caffeine (CYP1A2*1F) suddenly the picture on the impact of caffeine intake became very clear. As can be seen from Table 1, those with the rapid caffeine breakdown actually decrease their risk of a heart attack by drinking coffee, while slow caffeine metabolizers actually dramatically increase their risk! Drinking four cups a day of coffee was associated with a 17% decrease risk in fast metabolizers and a 260% increased risk in slow metabolizers.

The CYP1A2 enzyme system accounts for nearly 15% of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the human liver and is involved in many detoxification reactions. In addition to caffeine, this enzyme detoxifies 20 commonly prescribed drugs. There are huge variations in population groups—for example about 50% of Caucasians have the slow variant compared to only 14% of Japanese.2 Researchers have found a remarkable 15-fold variation in its activity.3 The CYP1A2 system is also influenced by many drugs, hormones, and dietary factors. For example, it is inhibited by oral contraceptives and induced by cruciferous vegetables.4

Reexamining Medical Research

One of the major drawbacks in conventional medical research is that it is almost entirely based on the attempt to homogenize the study population. In other words, the research model assumes that we are all alike. What is becoming more and more clear is that if researchers do not determine the genomics of their study population, the results achieved may be compromised. The caffeine metabolism sample above is a very good example. By determining the genomics of the study meaningful results were obtained. If the study was conducted in Japan without profiling caffeine metabolism, the results would have likely shown caffeine consumption reduced heart attack rates since 84% of the Japanese population rapidly metabolize caffeine. If it was conducted on Caucasians in the U.S., they would have found no effect because the protection in fast metabolizers would have been countered by the slow metabolizers.

As I hope that you can now recognize, this study of coffee consumption, nutrigenomics, and heart attack rates is extremely provocative. Its results lead to tremendous ramifications. As my colleague, Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., recently stated in an editorial on this every issue:

“The bottom line: Current randomized clinical trial methodology is deeply flawed. Unless the study population is genetically homogenous in the relevant biochemistry—and lifestyle factors that induce CYP activity are controlled and the participant’s diet standardized—we cannot trust the results.”

My caveat to that is that through better understanding of biochemical individuality eventually we will be able to utilize natural medicine to an even greater extent. I believe truly in the prophetic statement of Thomas Edison:

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."

References:

1. Cornelis MC, El-Sohemy A, Kabagambe EK, Campos H. Coffee, CYP1A2 genotype, and risk of myocardial infarction. JAMA 2006;295:1135-41.
2. Nakajima M, Yokoi T, Mizutani M, et al. Phenotyping of CYP1A2 in Japanese population by analysis of caffeine urinary metabolites: absence of mutation prescribing the phenotype in the CYP1A2 gene. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1994;3:413-21.
3. Ikeya K, Jaiswal A K, Owens RA, et al. Human CYP1A2: sequence, gene structure, comparison with the mouse and rat orthologous gene, and differences in liver 1A2 mRNA expression. Molec. Endocr. 1989;3:1399-408.
4. Vistisen K, Poulsen HE and Loft S. Foreign compound metabolism capacity in man measured from
metabolites of dietary caffeine. Carcinogenosis 1992;13:1561-8


Last year researchers found coffee may help prevent gout attacks as well---


Coffee consumption and risk of incident gout in men: a prospective study.
Choi HK, Willett W, Curhan G.

Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. hchoi@partners.org

OBJECTIVE: Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and may affect the risk of gout via various mechanisms. We prospectively evaluated the relationship between coffee intake and the risk of incident gout in a large cohort of men. METHODS: Over a 12-year period, we studied 45,869 men with no history of gout at baseline. Intake of coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and total caffeine was assessed every 4 years through validated questionnaires. We used a supplementary questionnaire to ascertain whether participants met the American College of Rheumatology survey criteria for gout. RESULTS: We documented 757 confirmed incident cases of gout. Increasing coffee intake was inversely associated with the risk of gout. The multivariate relative risks (RRs) for incident gout according to coffee consumption categories (0, <1, 1-3, 4-5, and > or = 6 cups per day) were 1.00, 0.97, 0.92, 0.60 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.41-0.87), and 0.41 (95% CI 0.19-0.88), respectively (P for trend = 0.009). For decaffeinated coffee, the multivariate RRs according to consumption categories (0, <1, 1-3, and > or = 4 cups per day) were 1.00, 0.83, 0.67 (95% CI 0.54-0.82), and 0.73 (95% CI 0.46-1.17), respectively (P for trend = 0.002). Total caffeine from all sources and tea intake were not associated with the risk of gout. CONCLUSION: These prospective data suggest that long-term coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of incident gout.

PMID: 17530645 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Thanks John, very interesting. A quick Google search shows up plenty of information on the subject, and it seems that coffee can be effective in preventing and delaying the onset of Alzheimer's. Fish oil has also been linked to lowering the risk, and augmenting your overall neurological wellbeing, so fish like Mackerel and Salmon should definitely be in your diet if possible. I currently drink one cup of caffeinated coffee every morning then another one or two cups of decaffeinated throughout the day as well as the odd Tea or Green Tea, and Camomile Tea before bed to relax. However, when you enjoy tea or coffee, always make sure you have a glass of water to make up for it, as they are both diuretics and can cause dehydration in large quantities.

Thanks again for the info

Hi Butterfly Lily,
Caffeine does not cause dehydration according to good solid research. Actually the people that initially stated that coffee caused dehydration were merely speculating, they did not test the hypothesis or the null hypothesis would surely have been proven. Check this More Tea More Wee ?, Is tea a better health drink than water
Options
John Bobbin Aug 6 2007, 08:35 PM
Post #1


Full Member


Group: Members
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From: Eden, NSW,Australia
Member No.: 836



We have always been told that tea and coffee dehydrates you, and this apparently was based on the fact that large amounts of caffeine can dehydrate, but even the strongest coffee or tea apparently does not have a dehydrating effect, according to research by Dr Carrie Ruxton & colleagues at Kings College London, this is an urban myth. This research is written up in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2006. Dr Ruxton is a peer reviewer for this journal. Dr Ruxton claims that tea is a better drink for health because water only rehydrates and tea supplies antioxidants as well as rehydrates. I always believed tea was a diuretic and consequently reduced the amount of fluid within the body. Has anybody seen any unbiased research that contradicts this, that was published in the last 2 years.
John Bobbin BNat


Gloria Aug 27 2007, 06:28 AM
Post #2


Super Member


Group: Admin
Posts: 167
Joined: 11-June 03
Member No.: 2



This may be what you are looking for. A kinesiology professor published a study debunking this myth in 2002

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?D..._RVAbstractPlus



--------------------
Gloria,
Administrator

Hi Everyone,
This gets better and better each day as more and more research gets posted. I don't know about you but I absolutely love a big gutsy Italian coffee first thing of a morning, and now to know that it is good for me makes it irresistible. I'll have a big smile on my face all day, let me share it with you.

Daily caffeine 'protects brain'
Coffee
The easy way to neutralise cholesterol?

Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests.

The drink has already been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease, and a study by a US team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation may explain why.

A vital barrier between the brain and the main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement.

UK experts said it was the "best evidence yet" of coffee's benefits.


Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders
Dr Jonathan Geiger
University of North Dakota

The "blood brain barrier" is a filter which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals carried around in the rest of the bloodstream.

Other studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol in the blood can make this barrier "leaky".

Alzheimer's researchers suggest this makes the brain vulnerable to damage which can trigger or contribute to the condition.

The University of North Dakota study used the equivalent to just one daily cup of coffee in their experiments on rabbits.

After 12 weeks of a high-cholesterol diet, the blood brain barrier in those given caffeine was far more intact than in those given no caffeine.

'Safe drug'

"Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky," said Dr Jonathan Geiger, who led the study.

"High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood brain barrier.

"Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders."

A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Disease Society said that the study shed "important light" on why previous research had showed benefits for drinking coffee.

"This is the best evidence yet that caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee a day can help protect the brain against cholesterol.

"In addition to its effect on the vascular system, elevated cholesterol levels also cause problems with the blood brain barrier.

"This barrier, which protects the brain from toxins and infections, is less efficient prior to brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease or strokes."

She called for more research into whether the same effect could be seen in humans

Hi Readers,
Another positive study for coffee.

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health...se.html?feedId=

Thats all for now I have to go and get a cappuccino.

Cheers

I'm 51 and went throuogh peri-menopause for 9 years. Then the hot flashes hit like a ton of bricks the first year I went without menstruating. Coffee definitely affects the hot flash syndrome! Believe me. I was having hot flashes every 10-15 minutes for 3 week periods at a time. Geesh! It was a drag. Finally after my doctor told me 450,000 X to try getting off coffee (I only drank 2 cups a day), I stopped! A big Wow and a 1/2. My hot flashes ceased! No kidding. Two months later I had a cup of coffee with some friends. The next day or so I suffered hot flashes, and woke up during the night needing to throw off the covers. So there is a connection ladies. FYI
Megan

bad...rly bad idea..dnt do this..it will affect ur health like nything...coffee
is just nt good...just drink loads n loads of wate....!!!!

Hi Justin,
Drinking to much water can also be catastrophic.

Water Intoxication: Man, 35, Dies After Drinking Too Much Water

Thursday, January 31, 2008

When you hear of someone drinking themselves to death, most of us assume it's alcohol-related. But that wasn't the case for a 35-year-old man from the U.K., the Daily Mail reports.

An investigation into how Shaun McNamara died revealed that he drank himself to death after consuming too much water. His body was found on the floor of his bathroom last September.

At first, doctors thought McNamara had suffered a heart attack. It was not until an autopsy revealed that he had downed so much fluid, so fast, that his brain had swollen, the Mail reported.

"In 35 years as a pathologist I have never come across such a case," said Dr. Ian Reed, who carried out the autopsy.

Water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia, normally is linked to marathon runners' drinking too much water after a race. When this happens, there is so much water in the body that it dilutes vital minerals such as sodium down to dangerous levels. This can lead to confusion, headaches and in extreme cases fatal swelling of the brain, according to the report

I think I'll stick to coffee!!!

Cheers

hello all,
I see this debate is a hot topic about coffee and its not likely to end any time soon. My understanding is that the coffee fruit is loaded with antioxidants, but roasting it can destroy the precious benefits.

"Like many fruits, the coffee fruit is designed to nourish and protect its seed. The coffee bean is not the whole coffee fruit, no more than a peach pit is the peach." This company actually makes a supplement called "Coffee Berry" and is promoting it as an antioxidant----new chapter coffee berry

I also wanted to say that only some types of tea are diuretics, coffee is in fact a diuretic and can leech minerals from the body. That is why you need to drink water to replace the minerals lost from drinking the stuff!

live a clean life.....air purifier

Hi Igreen,
I would like to see the proof you have for coffee and some teas being diuretic, the researchers have proved otherwise- also did you know that one beer will re-hydrate swimmers faster than water.Read all of the evidence supplied on here about tea and coffee and see if it changes your mind?


Cheers

Hi Readers,
A post by Justin 10/9/08 still requires a comment or two. Justin you are starting to write some good stuff on here but mate I think you should really do your homework on coffee.

post Sep 10 2008, 08:26 PM

bad...rly bad idea..dnt do this..it will affect ur health like nything...coffee
is just nt good...just drink loads n loads of wate....!!!!


A lot of the stuff written about coffee stems from the 60's, when the "Hippies" were calling the shots, coffee was evil, Marihuana was a gift from the gods with no side effects. Well subsequent research has yielded different results. Marihuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, over time creates pockets in the brain, like a sponge causing a form of schizophrenia, whilst the more they study coffee the more benefits they uncover.
Today's podcast 18/9/08 by Dr Mc Cleary http://www.drmccleary.com/ states once again that 2 cups of coffee should be drank each day as a preventative for Alzheimers disease. He also calls coffee an antioxidant powerhouse.I know it makes some people jittery and sleepless because of the caffeine in it but nothing gives benefit to 100% of the population. Green tea would be a better option for people that react to the caffeine because the theonine which according to Dr McCleary tames some of the effects of caffeine.

It's time we put our bias to bed and took notice of what researchers find and stop repeating what we want them to find. British researcher Dr Carrie Ruxton and colleague at King's College, London proved that tea and coffee are NOT diuretics, even extremely strong coffee had a net hydrating effect but it would be wise to limit consumption of coffee/tea to a maximum of eight cups per day.

Research headlines
Do antioxidants make tea healthier than water?
By Stephen Daniells

Latest news headlines
28-Aug-2006 -

The antioxidant content of tea could mean that drinking three or more cups a day could reduce the risk of a wide range of health problems, ranging from cancer to heart disease, and may even be healthier than water, says a review from Britain.

"Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it," reviewer Dr Carrie Ruxton from Nutrition Communications told the BBC.

Interest in tea have mostly focusses on green tea, with consumption linked to a wide range of health benefits, including lower risk of certain cancers, weight loss, and protection against Alzheimer's.

The health benefits have been linked to the polyphenol content of the tea. Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent.

The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tealeaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin.

But Dr. Ruxton and her co-authors from King's College London report that black tea also had positive effects on general health.

"We found some research showing that black and green tea contained similar amounts of antioxidants but different types. This can be expected as they come from the same plant but go through different processing," Dr. Ruxton told NutraIngredients.com.

"Antioxidant activity in the blood is similar too so one could assume that both types of tea confer heart health benefits," she said.

The review, sponsored by the Tea Council and published on-line in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602489), searcher databases for relevant epidemiological and clinical studies that were published between 1990 and 2004.

In terms of cardiovascular disease, the reviewers report that "clear evidence was found" to link drinking three of more cups per day could reduce the risk.

Cancer risk did seem to be reduced in experimental (in vitro and animal studies) said the reviewers, but these results were not backed up by epidemiological evidence, they said.

A small note of caution however was noted by the observation that a non-effect or slight increase in risk of colorectal cancer with consumption of black tea.

The researchers also tackled the old wives' tale that drinking tea leads to dehydration, due to the diuretic caffeine content of the beverage. This was not backed up by the science, said the reviewers, with normal levels of hydration maintained when the tea contained less than 250 mg per cup.

"Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid," Dr. Ruxton told the BBC.

The reasons for these benefits was proposed to be related to the antioxidant action of tea polyphenols, wrote the reviewers.

"There was sufficient evidence to show risk reduction for CHD at intakes of more than three cups per day and for improved antioxidant status at intakes of one to six cups per day," concluded the reviewers.

"A maximum intake of eight cups per day would minimise any risk relating to excess caffeine consumption. Black tea generally had a positive effect on health."

The global tea market is worth about €790 (£540, $941) million. Green tea accounts for about 20 per cent of total global production, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) accounts for about 78 per cent.

Another study in PubMed by a Kinesiologist found the same results.

1: Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002 Jun;12(2):189-206.Links
Caffeine, body fluid-electrolyte balance, and exercise performance.
Armstrong LE.

Departments of Kinesiology, Nutritional Sciences, and Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-1110, USA.

Recreational enthusiasts and athletes often are advised to abstain from consuming caffeinated beverages (CB). The dual purposes of this review are to (a) critique controlled investigations regarding the effects of caffeine on dehydration and exercise performance, and ascertain whether abstaining from CB is scientifically and physiologically justifiable. The literature indicates that caffeine consumption stimulates a mild diuresis similar to water, but there is no evidence of a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to exercise performance or health. Investigations comparing caffeine (100-680 mg) to water or placebo seldom found a statistical difference in urine volume. In the 10 studies reviewed, consumption of a CB resulted in 0-84% retention of the initial volume ingested, whereas consumption of water resulted in 0-81% retention. Further, tolerance to caffeine reduces the likelihood that a detrimental fluid-electrolyte imbalance will occur. The scientific literature suggests that athletes and recreational enthusiasts will not incur detrimental fluid-electrolyte imbalances if they consume CB in moderation and eat a typical U.S. diet. Sedentary members of the general public should be a less risk than athletes because their fluid losses via sweating are smaller.

I hope this is convincing enough, I do know what it's like to be told something all of your life and then find out it was not true, but the more you learn the less mistakes you make.

Cheers

Enzyme this .... enzyme that.......

The bottom line - 16 oz a day for regular coffee is fine. Constant studies are battling whether it's good or bad. Too much causes negative cardiac conditions... but supposedly ppl who had more coffee in their diet (4 cups) had better blood glucose control.

16 oz per day. That's the answer.

Thanks,
J.R. - Registered Dietitian

Hi Joshh83,
From what I can find in abstracts on coffee the bulk of evidence supports drinking of coffee as being beneficial to health, some small studies that have been condemned as being too small to be meaningful have yielded some funny results, but overall coffee consumption seems to be supported by the literature. The last podcast also suggested coffee may have a role in preventing alzheimers. I haven't seen any abstracts that said to limit coffee to 16 ozs, could you post one for us please?

Faqs.org homepage :: Abstracts index :: Health
Coffee, caffeine and cardiovascular disease in men

Article Abstract:

Several papers over the past decade have linked coffee drinking with an increased incidence of heart attack. However, this putative association has not been proven, in part, because most studies have not included a sufficiently large population. The present prospective study examined the relationship between coffee drinking and heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, and stroke in a large population. The study group of 51,529 professional men (dentists, pharmacists, podiatrists, veterinarians, osteopaths, and physicians) was surveyed, and pertinent medical and family histories, which included smoking and heart disease, were abstracted. Individuals with a prior history of heart trouble, coronary artery surgery, or stroke were eliminated. The remaining 45,589 men were included in a two-year follow-up study. During this period, 221 participants suffered a non-fatal heart attack, 136 underwent coronary artery surgery, and 54 experienced a stroke (a cerebrovascular accident). In this group of men, the relative risk of drinking regular coffee failed to reveal any association with heart disease or stroke. There was a slight, but statistically significant increase in cerebrovascular disease associated with increased consumption of decaffeinated coffee. This study, which included a large population, failed to confirm any association between caffeine consumption from all sources and the incidence of heart attack, coronary artery surgery, and stroke. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
author: Colditz, Graham, Stampfer, Meir, Rimm, Eric B., Giovannucci, Edward, Grobbee, Diederick E., Willett, Walter
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1990
Cardiovascular diseases, Physiological aspects, Heart attack, Stroke (Disease), Stroke, Caffeine, Decaffeinated beverages

Cheers

Great discussion, as always when coffee is under scrutiny...I myself gave up coffee 8 years ago and enjoy tea almost daily

Hi Readers,
Read HealthCastle's position on coffee, it's a pretty good explanation.


Caffeine's Role in Our Health

Written by Sejal Dave, MS, RD/LD, CDE
Published in June 2008

caffeine coffee health(HealthCastle.com) Pure caffeine is a bitter, white, crystalline substance that acts as a stimulant drug. That's not exactly the kind of ingredient you would want to see listed on the side of a Starbucks coffee mug. Yet caffeine is a big part of our lifestyles, and has recently become an even bigger topic of interest in research studies, which have drawn a wide range of conclusions on its effects. One day caffeine is shown to be a great antioxidant; the next day we're told to avoid it altogether. The constant debates and studies can cause a great deal of confusion, especially for those of us who are not only concerned about our health, but hate to think of giving up our morning cup of coffee.
Caffeine: The Positive Side

On the plus side, studies have shown that regular consumption of caffeine can reduce the chance of developing Parkinson's disease. Caffeine has also been linked to protecting the body against gallstones and improving alertness. In addition, it appears to enhance mood, temporarily improve physical stamina, and relieve headaches. These are all benefits that most people would love to enjoy from a common, everyday beverage. Keep in mind, however, that participants in these studies drank 2-3 cups or less of coffee or other caffeinated beverages to yield these positive results. More isn't necessarily better.
Caffeine: What to Beware Of

On the flip side, caffeine can interfere with certain other aspects of your health. It has been reported that sleep patterns are definitely disturbed when you drink caffeine a few hours before bedtime. That makes sense, of course: if caffeine is meant to keep you alert, then you can probably forget about trying to fall asleep quickly after a cup or two of java. Furthermore, contrary to its reputation, caffeine does not effectively help "wake" us up after a poor night's sleep or diminish the effects of alcohol. You may feel more alert, but a cup of coffee will not help you drive better or improve your judgment.

Unfortunately, sleep isn't the only thing that caffeine can disturb. Fertility rates and miscarriages are reported as being negatively impacted by as little as 1 cup of coffee per day. Health Canada states that women who may be trying to conceive should have no more than 300 mg/day of caffeine.

Limiting caffeine intake can be difficult these days because of an explosion of products with caffeine additives. A quick check of grocery shelves will reveal caffeine in energy drinks, in chewing gums, and even in non-consumables such as soap!

Beverage
Caffeine (mg)
Coffee, generic brewed (8 oz.)
133
Starbucks Brewed Coffee (Grande - 16 oz.)
320
Tea, brewed (8 oz.)
53
Diet Coke (12 oz.)
47
Dr. Pepper (12 oz.)
42
Pepsi (12 oz.)
38
Coca-Cola Classic
35
Monster Energy (16 oz)
160
Red Bull (12 oz)
114

Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest (Sep. 2007)
The Bottom Line

Caffeine is going to continue to be a big topic of interest among researchers and consumers. Many studies indicate that having caffeine in moderation as part of a healthy diet can be beneficial to your health. In excess amounts, caffeine could lead to health concerns, especially for women of child-bearing age and people who have difficulty sleeping. Large studies claim that caffeine is not a significant health concern for people with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or osteoporosis. A recent large-scale study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June 2008 found that regular coffee drinkers, especially women, didn't suffer any negative health effects. However, researchers warned that if you are not a coffee-drinker, the result of this study is not a reason to start drinking it. Check with your family doctor about what's best for you, and in the meantime remember that moderation is always the key to staying healthy.

Cheers

From what I've read it has its ups and downs but in my mind like many things moderation should be the word.

Hi...


Coffee has recently been found to contain some very important antioxidants that prevent cancer and attack free radicals in your body. I would say that was good. Caffiene is good for your skin. However, like anything else, you can go overboard, so drink up in moderation and enjoy your coffee! Godloveya...

I dont drink coffee,,,,, but i have tea,,,, having coffee is not good for health also...