The science behind coffee - healthy or harmful?

Would you like to know a bit more about your favorite drink? Here is a science packed article to help you figure out whether coffee is healthy or harmful. What does this have to do with crafting? Absolutely nothing. Enjoy! ☺️

Here’s an excerpt from an online article:

Coffee is in the news regularly and it seems the body of data suggests that it could be beneficial for a number of medical conditions is steadily growing. It’s an amazingly potent collection of biologically active compounds which have far reaching effects on the body. As such it needs to be perceived and respected as a potent drug.

Caffeine, the most widely known compound in coffee, only makes up a mere 1% to 2% of the bean. The other ingredients such as chlorogenic acids, caffeol, polyphenols, phytoestrogens and diterpenes are now being researched regarding their effects on health.

Did you know coffee was made up of such a small amount of caffeine? I sure didn’t. (Read the full article here: https://www.naturimedica.com/drinking-coffee-pros-and-cons-from-a-medical-perspective/)

After reading this brief overview, I decided to research the effects of caffeine as well. Here is an excerpt that will tell you a bit about where caffeine is found and what it does to your body. 

Caffeine is naturally found in the leaves and fruits of some plants. It is in coffee, black and green tea, cocoa, cola soft drinks and energy drinks. It may also be in chocolate bars, energy bars and some non-prescription medications, such as cough syrup . . . . Guarana (a popular additive in energy drinks) is also a natural source of caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it increases activity in your brain and nervous system. It also increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in the body. 

In small doses, caffeine can make you feel refreshed and focused. In large doses, caffeine can make you feel anxious and have difficulty sleeping.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/caffeine#:~:text=Caffeine%20is%20well%20absorbed%20by,last%20up%20to%2012%20hours.

I had heard a brief overview of everything, but I got curious and wanted to do a deeper dive. And I wondered if some of my followers were interested in coffee or the science behind it. I know I am. So I researched what the exact negatives and benefits were, and here is what I found: 

Some people enjoy their coffee and apparently have no health issues with drinking it. There are however some potential negative effects of coffee, particularly at certain times and when it becomes so addictive that you find it difficult to go a day without it.

In small, occasional cups there is possibly a case to be made for some benefits to coffee. If it’s fresh, high-quality and ideally organic (regular coffee is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world) then a raft of studies have shown that it can improve alertness and long term it may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, gallstones, kidney stones and liver cirrhosis for heavy drinkers.

Conversely, in the longer term it has been associated with an increased risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

https://healthambition.com/negative-effects-of-coffee/

After reading this, I decided to search for the percentages of people who actually drink coffee. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans have been working from home, and for some, that means drinking more coffee.

According to a recent survey by Statista, 79 percent of American coffee drinkers are consuming at least two cups per day when at home on a weekday.

Only 21 percent of respondents said that they drank just one cup of coffee or fewer when at home.

The survey, which was sourced from Statista, analyzed the habits of 831 daily coffee drinkers in the US aged 18-74.

By comparison, 31 percent of respondents drank 4-6 cups of coffee per day while 20 percent consumed 3 cups and 27 percent consumed 2 cups of coffee per day.

https://newsdirect.com/news/79-of-americans-drink-2-cups-of-coffee-per-day-survey-finds-620695205#:~:text=74%25%20Of%20Americans%20Drink%20Coffee%20Every%20Day&text=A%20whopping%2073.9%20percent%20of,that%20responded%20%E2%80%9Cmost%20days%E2%80%9D.

That is a lot of coffee! But after tons of research, I found an article that I think answers if coffee is beneficial or not. 

Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day was linked to the largest reduction in early death, compared to people who drank no coffee, according to the statement. Ground coffee consumption lowered the risk of death by 27%, followed by 14% for decaffeinated, and 11% for instant caffeinated coffee.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/29/health/coffee-live-longer-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Drinking%20two%20to%20three%20cups%20of%20coffee%20a%20day%20was,coffee%2C%20according%20to%20the%20statement.

So in the end I came to a conclusion - coffee is good for you if you drink it moderately. If you drink too much coffee, you can feel addicted and not your best self. But overall, if you enjoy coffee, go ahead and drink it! Just stick to 2 cups a day, ok?