Coffee, healthy or not?
Whether coffee is healthy for you or not, more than half of Americans over the age 18 are consuming coffee each day. According to the National Coffee Association’s National Coffee Drinking Trends 2015 report, 27 percent households own single-cup brewing machines which is up from 7 percent in 2011. Over the years, coffee has been marketed as having health benefits, but also has been deemed unhealthy by many. You often hear people say they want to quit drinking coffee due to the caffeine content. So, is coffee healthy or not? As a registered dietitian and coffee drinker myself, I want to know what the latest research has to say.
Researchers from Harvard studied the relationship between coffee consumption and mortality by following healthy women and men in their 40s and 50s for 18 to 24 years. In this study, they monitored diet and lifestyle habits along with coffee intake. Good news! Researchers did not find that there is an increased risk for poor health outcomes. In fact, they found that an individual could possibly drink up to six cups of coffee per day without seeing an increased risk for chronic disease. Keep in mind that some coffee drinkers also use cream and sugar, which could add extra calories and fat, depending on what is used to spruce up their coffee. The cream and sugar is a totally separate subject than the intake of coffee.
Dr. Rob van Dam, one of the researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and involved in the above study, states that there may even be health benefits to drinking moderate amounts of coffee daily (3 to 5 cups). According to other recent research, results suggest that coffee may provide protection against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and even heart disease; however, there is always a “but.” Much more research is needed to be conclusive in these findings so don’t go start drinking coffee for the health benefits.
It is important to note that coffee or caffeine consumption is not recommended for certain populations: pregnant women, people with hypertension and people who already have type 2 diabetes. Drinking caffeine/coffee during pregnancy could have detrimental health effects on the unborn baby. Those with hypertension could see an increase in their blood pressure as a result of caffeine consumption, making it hard to control. In addition for those with type 2 diabetes, caffeine from coffee could possibly reduce the effectiveness of insulin which in turn could lead to higher blood sugar than expected. These mentioned populations should consult their health care provider about the consumption of coffee/caffeine and may try drinking decaffeinated instead.
Dr. Rob van Dam suggests using filters when brewing coffee to decrease the amount of cafestol in coffee. Cafestol is a substance found in the oily part of coffee and is thought to raise LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol). Filters help trap cafestol, which tends to be higher in French press or Turkish coffee because they aren’t filtered.
**Bottom line — for the general population with no health concerns, it’s okay to indulge in moderate amounts of coffee. If you are trying to decide whether to give up coffee for health reasons, more power to you, but also consider other lifestyle changes such as increasing healthy options in your diet and physical activity. This article is not intended to be medical advice, rather to showcase recent research about coffee consumption to help consumers make educated decisions. Consult your health care provider if you have questions about your health and coffee intake.
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Kimberly Young, MS, RDN, LD, is the WIC Coordinator at Panhandle Health District and a graduate of the University of Idaho Dietetic program.