Is Coffee Bad for you

1. Is Coffee Bad For You? The debate over whether coffee is bad for you or not has been raging between health experts on both sides for decades now, with no sign of letting up anytime soon. As with the majority of serious debates of this nature, there is no clear cut black and white answer and the truth of the matter lies somewhere in between. Studies during the 1970s and 1980s seemed to paint coffee as a drug, a stimulant that could greatly affect a person's ability to avoid heart disease and cancer. However, these older studies did not take a number of factors into account, including the amount of cigarettes a person smoked. Modern research has been modified in order to include all of the unhealthy habits a person may have already possessed. In order to ascertain the potential harmful effects of coffee, health and diet data has been analyzed. There was no evidence found that linked drinking coffee to death from cancer or cardiovascular disease. Even those who consume over 48 ounces of java per day were not at increased risk for diseases and studies found that coffee drinkers can also decrease their overall risk for mortality. As recently as a decade ago, these findings would have been cause for celebration by all of the coffee enthusiasts out there, the people who simply cannot fathom being able to start their day off without a piping hot cup of Colombia's finest. Modern studies have also linked coffee drinking to a decreased risk for Type 2 diabetes and a decreased onset of Parkinson's disease. A number of research studies have also found links between the intake of coffee and a person's overall energy and mood levels, as well as an improvement to their memory. Caffeine could also serve as a shield between you and a form of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer known to man and caffeine helps to interact with a gene that repairs the cells before this cancer has an opportunity to take place. Coffee's antioxidants have also been linked to the decrease in disease for those who drink it each day. Some of you may have already stopped reading by now, believing that you have seen enough. After all, if coffee can provide all of these health benefits, what could possibly be the downside? Before you run off to put on another gallon of java, it is important to learn more about the ill effects of drinking too coffee. While coffee is certainly not bad for you, per se, there are a number of dangers associated with excessive consumption. There are still a variety of reasons why people should remain careful at all times with their coffee drinking habits. Pregnant women must keep their coffee drinking to an absolute minimum and there are many doctors who will suggest that they avoid drinking coffee at all costs, since it can have various negative effects on the development of an unborn child. Coffee intake is not proven to cause miscarriage, but there is a small link between the two.

2. If you are already struggling to keep your cholesterol down, then coffee may not be the best choice. Certain types of coffee that contain LDL cholesterol can cause spikes for people who have high cholesterol to begin with. Should you decide to drink coffee when you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, be sure to use paper filters when brewing, as these help to filter out many of the harmful compounds that cause higher cholesterol. Espresso and French pressed coffees should be avoided in these instances. Another common issue that typically goes ignored when it comes to coffee consumption is insomnia and the inability to slow down your heart rate. When you notice either of these ailments, they are the symptom of a much larger problem and typically mean that you should cut back on your coffee intake immediately. For people who are already in good shape, black coffee is considered to be a healthy choice. Its a beverage that is low in calories and allows the person to remain fit, without consuming too many additional sugars and fats. While it should go without saying, it does bear mentioning that all of the aforementioned health benefits do not apply to those who are reliant on drinks that are coffee based, but tack on additional bells and whistles, which is bad news for all of the Starbucks addicts out there in the world. The benefits that you can receive from drinking coffee are canceled out when you come to rely upon sugary coffees that tack on the starches and syrups. Mocha flavored coffee drinks also fall under this unfortunate umbrella. Coffee is simply far too complex of a beverage to be easily categorized as being good or bad for you. Since it contains hundreds of various compounds that have a different effect on each person who drinks it, it is important to evaluate your lifestyle and personal needs before making any drastic changes to your morning routine. People who have not yet picked up the coffee drinking habit are certainly not being recommended to start now, nor should those who are already drinking coffee start to panic. If you have developed a love for coffee, can adhere to the aforementioned guidelines for safe consumption and it is not causing any ill effects from a health standpoint, then continue to enjoy coffee responsibly!