Years of positive scientific evidence on coffee and health just cut through the cluttered media landscape in a prominent and powerful way.
Scientists charged with scouring the literature to study how Americans can eat healthy acknowledged that 3 – 5 cups of coffee a day have a place in a healthy diet.
It’s all part of the US government’s review of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – which gave us the “food pyramid” and newer “MyPlate” pictographs we’ve all seen on pamphlets and cafeteria walls. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) join forces every five years to revise the Guidelines.
They commissioned the independent panel to deliver an expert opinion on what the recommendations should be. After several meetings and drafts, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee (DGAC) issued its final report yesterday.
Throughout the process, the NCA, the National Coffee Association of USA, has been tracking the DGAC’s deliberations and submitted formal comments to the committee, drafted with significant input by NCA’s Scientific Advisory Group.
To rebut specious arguments submitted by another organization, the NCA also filed a second set of comments.
In their report, the DGAC states that 3 – 5 cups of coffee a day not only is “not associated with increased long-term health risks among healthy individuals,” but also cites “consistent evidence” that coffee is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as “moderate evidence” of a protective association between caffeine and risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Not surprisingly, the committee also cautions that coffee, as commonly consumed, can deliver added calories from cream, milk and added sugars, and suggests minimizing those added calories.
In short, the committee concludes that “Therefore, moderate coffee consumption can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern, along with other healthful behaviors.”
This is but one part of a sweeping report. In other sections of the report, the DGAC also recommends that Americans eat diets that are “rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, seafood, legumes, and nuts; moderate in low- and non-fat dairy products and alcohol (among adults); lower in red and processed meat; and low in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and refined grains.”
The committee also addressed lifestyle factors, advocating “reducing screen time, reducing the frequency of eating out at fast food restaurants, increasing frequency of family shared meals, and self-monitoring of diet and body weight as well as effective food labeling to target healthy food choices.”
With respect to coffee, the report also touches upon sustainability and coffee, identifies areas for additional research, focuses on heavy caffeine consumption by individuals, and makes recommendations with respect to consumption of coffee by pregnant women.
In terms of the DGAC’s work and recommendations, there are further steps in the process. The DGAC report is now open for public comment through April 8, and a public oral comment meeting is scheduled for March 24.
After receipt and review of public input, the USDA and HHS must draft final recommendations, which ultimately become formally adopted 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The NCA will review this lengthy report more closely, relying upon guidance from our Scientific Advisory Group, and determine if additional NCA submissions may be beneficial.
Nonetheless, the DGAC recommendations may be the long overdue breakthrough the industry has sought – signaling comprehensive, yet succinct government recognition of the rich body of scientific evidence associating coffee with health benefits. News coverage of the recommendations may also pierce consumer consciousness with the added imprimatur of government review.
It is for this reason that attendees at the recent NCA’s Convention heard from a number of speakers on the topic of coffee and health, including representatives from the tea, avocado and blueberry industries, a noted medical correspondent, and members of the NCA Scientific Advisory Group as we dig more deeply into the opportunities that may exist to more effectively spread the good news about coffee and health.
