Many patients ask me about the health implications of drinking coffee.
A review of the literature doesn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth. A number of studies conclude that coffee consumption results in either no adverse health effects or a slightly beneficial effect – that is, as long as you keep it at a reasonable level of about two cups per day.
Studies on tea consumption reveal that it is a healthier option. There is less caffeine in a cup of tea as compared to coffee and tea contains ECGC, an antioxidant that has been shown to be health promoting.
For some people, that morning cup of coffee acts as a bowel stimulant. Since we know the importance of having at least one healthy bowel movement per day, it would appear that a cup of coffee in the morning is helpful in this situation. It might also be helpful to consider buying organic since coffee beans are often contaminated with pesticides, similar to so many other traditional crops.
Realize that these studies are done looking at the health implications of black coffee. When we start adding dairy creamers, sugar and artificial sweeteners, all bets are off. The creamer adds fat calories and hormones that come in cow’s milk. Sugar adds to the risk of weight problems, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Coffee can also be problematic for people with Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD/heartburn), urinary incontinence, glaucoma (high pressure in the eye), sleep disorders and possibly for those with seizures. The literature related to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) is controversial but my recommendation would be to avoid excess caffeine in a person with significant heartbeat issues.
There are concerns when it comes to drinking several energy drinks per day since they contain high levels of caffeine and sugar.
As with anything you consume on a regular basis, discuss the health implications with your physician or health care provider if you have any concerns. Learn to focus each day on feeding your body with healthy food and drink, regular exercise, quality sleep and stress reduction.
