Lately, there’s been a lot of stories in the news about coffee and whether it’s bad for you or not. We thought we help 
stir the cup by casting light on some facts and fantasies about this oft maligned beverage.
First – Is caffeine a diuretic?
Sort of – Strictly Yes but in practice No – Caffeine only becomes a diuretic when consumed in amounts above 575 milligrams, or about 3.8 Grande Caffee du Jour’s (at approximately 150mg of caffeine each). Therefore, a typical Coffee Store Latte will cause little difference in urine production and will hydrate as well as water.
Will long term coffee drinking raise my blood pressure?
Here’s another sorta answer – Modest coffee drinking is associated with a small increase in blood pressure, Johns Hopkins investigators say, but it’s probably not enough to substantially increase your risk of hypertension.
In a long-term study of more than 1,000 men, drinking a daily cup of regular coffee raised systolic pressure (the upper number) by 0.19 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) by 0.27 mmHg.
Is Caffeine in coffee bad for me? – No – As with most things taken in moderation coffee and caffeine are actually good for you.
John Hopkins University School of Medicine reported that some of the health benefits of coffee include an improved sense of well-being, happiness, energy, alertness and sociability.
Another study conducted at the John Hopkins Arthritis Center examined the possibility that coffee consumption may protect against the development of gout. Increasing coffee consumption was associated with a decreased risk of incident gout, in the highest consumption group (6+ cups per day) demonstrating a significant 56% reduction in the risk of incident gout. Reported coffee consumption of 4 to 5 cups per day was also protective, with a 40% reduction in incident gout.
The New York Times has reported that the effect of 330 milligrams of caffeine in 16 ounces of ordinary brewed coffee enhance mood and mental and physical performance. However, in levels higher than 575 milligrams, caffeine can cause anxiety and an upset stomach.
A study done by J.A. Greenburg that coffee and tea drinking reduces the risk of Type II Diabetes. His research suggests that drinking coffee and tea may reduce the chances of a person getting type 2 diabetes. Drinks with caffeine may help the body use up energy faster, possibly leading to weight loss.
Other research conducted as part of studies on Parkinson’s Disease have found a connection between increased levels of coffee and tea consumption and decreased risk for Parkinson’s Disease. As part of a long-term study of the Honolulu Heart Program, a team of researchers examined the relationship between coffee intake and the incidence of Parkinson’s disease in 8,004 Japanese-American men over a 30 year period.
The incidence of Parkinson’s disease was found to be lower in those who drank coffee. In fact, the men who drank the most coffee were the least likely to get Parkinson’s disease. Men who did not drink any coffee were five times more likely to exhibit symptoms of Parkinson’s disease than men who drank more than 28 ounces of coffee each day.
Consumption of caffeine from other sources such as green tea, black tea, chocolate and soda was also associated with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. So go ahead and enjoy your daily taste, whether it be coffee, tea or chocolate – just remember to keep your consumption moderate.
Link to this article here ==> SupplementalScience.com
