Update on the “Cup of Java”
14 Sep 2013
A glowing ad once stated “A very wholesome and physical drink that helpeth indigestion, quickeneth the spirits, maketh the heart lightsome, is good against eye sores, coughs, head-ache, gout and the King’s evil”. It was the year 1657, when coffee was first introduced into London, England from the Middle East. And what was the King’s evil?
In recent years people have considered coffee drinking a questionable habit with some refusing coffee for health reasons. So what are the pros and cons for drinking a cup of java?
First, the good news. Coffee contains over 1,000 naturally occurring chemicals. Caffeine is actually a natural pesticide that helps to protect coffee plants from predators. Brewed coffee contains between 60 to 120 milligrams of caffeine that stimulates the nervous system, improving alertness and mood. It’s therefore not surprising that a British Medical Journal reports an Australian study that shows caffeine decreased the risk of accidents for long-distance truck drivers.
Over 20 studies show that coffee also helps to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes caused by obesity. Coffee contains chlorogenic acid which decreases the absorption of glucose from the bowel. The less glucose in the blood, the less strain on insulin production. But coffee is of no help for those who already have diabetes.
What about the risk of cardiovascular disease? Finnish researchers followed 20,000 coffee-loving Finns for 10 years. They concluded that coffee and non-coffee drinkers shared the same risk of coronary attack or dying of heart disease. In 2012 a large German study reached the same conclusion. Later, a Norwegian study reported that older women, drinking one to three cups of coffee daily, were 24 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than non-drinkers.
For years people have worried about the effect of coffee on blood pressure, but there is no consensus on this issue. A Finnish study of 27,000 healthy men and women who took coffee revealed that after 13 years there was a 14 percent greater risk of hypertension. However, a Harvard study of 45,000 people, failed to link coffee with increased blood pressure. And even better news, a Swedish study revealed a decreased risk of stroke.
A report in Experimental Neurobiology states that coffee appears to have a protective effect against the development of Parkinson’s Disease. The Finns love their java and those who consumed 10 or more cups daily had an astounding 84 percent decreased risk of developing this disease. In addition, those who drank six or more cups daily had a 40 percent decreased risk of gout.
The news about cancer is good and bad. Some studies show a link to pancreatic malignancy, an increase in leukemia, stomach and bladder cancer. But other research shows protection against colon, rectal and liver cancer.
Do you want to live longer? A report in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that those who drank at least two cups of coffee (regular or decaf) were 10 to 15 percent less likely to die over a 14 year period.
Now the bad, bad news. Studies show that only 35 percent of people drink coffee black. Milk, cream and sugar add calories. Moreover, specialty shops have added significant calories to a cup of java. So it pays to be prudent about what you add. The best choice is skim milk or low fat milk. Or consider artificial sweeteners, cinnamon or spices that don’t add calories or fat. But whatever way you like your java you end up with a cup that contains either a low of 16 calories or a whopping 500!
It’s prudent for pregnant women to limit the intake of coffee. Some studies show that excessive amounts of coffee increase the risk of miscarriage.
So enjoy your cup of java. Common sense dictates that not many evils lurk in coffee unless it’s overloaded.
But could a cup of java cure “the King’s evil”? Years ago, it was believed that the King’s touch could cure a tuberculosis swelling of lymph glands in the neck. This royal touch was first used by Edward the Confessor. Later folk lore has it that Charles II touched 90,000 victims. My bet is these people should have stayed home.
