Do you feel like a zombie in the morning, slowly dragging into the kitchen…stumbling over the kid toys, in order to reach your coffee machine to make a wonderful brew of coffee?  Does the aroma of the coffee brewing, miraculously transform you back to a ‘normal person’?  If you are not the type that makes the special brew at home do you find yourself running late, because you MUST stop at Starbucks for your fix?

If you need a caffeine fix, in order to function you are not alone.  Coffee addiction has actually reached epidemic proportions within the global community.  The question is this – is our dependency on coffee setting us up for disease?  Some scientists say, ‘Maybe’, however ongoing research has identified  several disadvantages of coffee consumption, but you will be glad to know that the research has   also found some benefits as well.

Some of the Pros:

• May Lower Kidney Disease and Gout Risk – Some preliminary research has found that moderate coffee consumption may ward off gout and kidney disorders.  This is done by reducing a coffee drinker’s blood concentrations of uric acid, a chemical that is associated with both of these conditions.  One study compared the serum uric acid concentration in over 2,000 Japanese men who drank coffee or green tea.  The results noted that the coffee drinkers had 7 percent less serum uric acid, compared with those who drank the green tea.  Researchers believe that the diuretic properties contained in the caffeine, which makes individuals rush to the bathroom, make account for these findings.  (Britain Journal of Nutrition 2000)
• Reduces Parkinson’s Disease Risk – Although the research is not completed yet, it has revealed that those who consume their daily java, are significantly less likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease, when compared to those who avoid coffee.  The Journal of the American Medical Association, published that data compiled on over 8,000 Japanese-American men between the ages of 45 and 68, showed that those who consumed coffee were at less risk of developing the disease than those who did not drink coffee.  Caffeine from non-coffee sources was also associated with a reduced risk.
• Promotes Weight Loss – Caffeine that is found in coffee is actually a stimulant.  This stimulant appears to assist some individuals in losing weight.  The weight is lost because the caffeine increases your activity and lowers your appetite.  This is one main reason that caffeine is often found in weight loss medications.  However, researchers warn that stimulant drugs such as caffeine are not effective in long-term weight management.  Sorry, the coffee diet will not work..
• Possible Antidepressant – Does the image of relaxing with a good cup of coffee put a smile on your face?  New research has shown that the connection many consumers feel between coffee and well-being isn’t completely due to aggressive marketing campaigns by the coffee industry.  Research suggests that a daily dose of your favorite java may fend off the blues, especially in those recovering from alcohol or drug addiction.  The caffeine in the coffee as well as other chemical called chlorogenic acids, have antidepressant properties.

Now for the Cons:

• Heart Disease Advancer – Research indicates that high blood concentrations of the chemical called homocysteine is an accurate indicator of stroke and heart disease risk, more so than cholesterol levels.  Coffee, especially the gourmet unfiltered variety, increases blood levels of this chemical.  In one study, 64 volunteers with normal homocysteine levels drank 6 cups of unfiltered coffee or a ‘control’ beverage for 2 weeks.  Coffee actually increased the subjects’ cholesterol levels and homocysteine concentrations by 10 percent each.  This boost means that there is a 10 percent elevated risk of heart attach or stroke, according to the study. (American Journal Clinical Nutrition, 2001)
• Increases Miscarriage Risk – Moms-to-be who drank 5 or more cups of coffee a day double their risk of miscarriage.  According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers reviewed data on 591 women who had miscarriages and 2,558 women who had live births.  Although drinking small amounts of coffee a day does not appear to affect a pregnant woman’s risk of miscarriage, it is advised to play it safe and avoid any type of caffeine all together.  Remember caffeine can be found not only in coffee, but in soft drinks and sweets as well.
• Increases the Chances of Arthritis – According to a report I found, coffee addicts are at an elevated risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.  This particular study tracked over 25, 000 people.  The more coffee a person drank the more likely he or she was to have high blood levels of ‘rheumatoid factor’, a marker of rheumatoid arthritis.  This elevation was seen in those who drank at least 4 cups of coffee a day for 15 years, and those who drank more than 11 cups of coffee a day had 15 times the risk, compared with their peers who did not drink coffee. (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2002)
• Headache Trigger – Many times headaches are associated with the areas of the cervical spine (neck area) where movement is restricted or bones are out of alignment, subluxations.  As Chiropractors, we locate those areas and with gentle maneuvers called adjustments, restoration is achieved.  Coffee promotes changes in the blood flow associated with several types of headaches such as migraines and tension headaches.  According to scientific studies, coffee boosts blood flow by dilating the arteries that supply the brain.  These arteries will become accustomed to caffeine induced fluctuations and adjust for them, by contracting and restricting the blood flow.  Many coffee drinkers will get excruciating headaches when they have missed their caffeine ‘fix’.  The reason for this is because the arteries continue to adjust for the expected caffeine rush, so the blood flow is restricted which will trigger a headache.  This is known as a ‘drug rebound headache’, the drug here is coffee.

So after all this research, the question still remains, Is Coffee Good or Bad?

Depending on the individual’s health concerns, moderate coffee consumption may either have postive or negative health effects.  One thing is for certain, excessive coffee intake and addictive coffee drinking will increase the risk of disease.  As for many things, moderation is key.  Meeting a friend for a cup the occasional cup of coffee may not impair your health, however, chugging several cups of coffee a day, dripping with cream and sugary syrups will certainly do you more harm than good.  You be the judge and make the right choice.

Until next time…