How Healthy is Coffee?
TweetCoffee has long been a staple of the American diet. Americans frequent establishments like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks to get their daily caffeine fix on the way to work, perking up those difficult, early mornings. Americans love coffee so much that they drink approximately 146 billion cups every year, dwarfing the amount of tea consumed by a considerable amount. Over half of adults drink coffee daily, and an additional 25 percent consume coffee every so often.
Coffee has somewhat of a bad reputation, probably created by its caffeine content. It’s also a diuretic, which can dehydrate people, and can stain teeth if drunk excessively, leading many to consider tea as a healthier alternative. Coffee’s addictive properties contribute to its bad reputation, with caffeine impacting sleep cycles and day to day stress levels.
However, researchers have found that coffee may actually have many health benefits. Analysis by scientists found that people who drank four or more cups of coffee every day actually decreased their likelihood of oral cancer by almost 40 percent. The University of Utah coordinated the study while using information from nine studies conducted by the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium.
How Healthy is Coffee?
The rates of oral cancer in the United States have been rising every year, hitting a high of an estimated 36,000 new diagnoses in 2010. Oral cancer has been linked to tobacco use—especially chewing tobacco—and alcohol consumption. While oral cancer has a high survival rate when detected early, in most cases, the cancer is not detected until it’s too late. The results of this study may prove beneficial in the prevention of oral cancers.
Another study in 2009 indicated that coffee may reduce risk for prostate cancer. Men who drank more than six cups of coffee each day were almost 60 percent less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer than their less. Decaffeinated coffee was just as effective as caffeinated. While the study warns that it is a little too soon to start excessively drinking coffee to prevent cancer, remember that prostate cancer is something to think about while enjoying your morning Nantucket Blend.
Coffee has also been linked to lower heart disease risk. A study in the Netherlands revealed that drinking both coffee and tea in moderation can cut down on heart disease. Tea was most beneficial to heart health, but coffee consumption proved helpful as well. People who sipped between two and four cups daily saw a 20 percent lower risk of heart disease. Another study determined that coffee is also a source of antioxidants. According to Joe A. Vinson, Ph. D, coffee is the top source of antioxidants consumed by Americans: such antioxidants the same as found in chocolate and red wine.
All in all, despite its unhealthy qualities, coffee does indeed have some health benefits. While brewing a pot in the morning or stopping by Starbucks, keep in mind both the positives and negatives. Maybe coffee isn’t so bad after all. Perhaps all this new research can legitimize America’s love affair with coffee.
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