The Truth About Coffee
Coffee is truly a worldwide phenomenon. It is arguably the first thing that comes to mind for so many people when they wake up in the morning. We all know at least one or two people that can have a Jekyll or Hyde personality depending on whether they have their daily coffee fix. There are so many different coffee stores in towns and cities all over the world it is hard to understand how they can all stay in business. That said, more and more keep popping up. There is no doubt whatsoever as to the popularity of coffee. However, the big question is whether it is good for you or not. As with many areas of nutrition there are those that are heavily in favor and those that are heavily against. Quite often, the answer lies somewhere in between, and coffee is no different.
Let’s begin with some of the areas of concern that have been voiced.
Metabolism – If you metabolize caffeine slowly you may be opening yourself up to side effects such as jitters or feeling like you are wired for a long time after. Caution is wise here as there have been associations with higher risk of miscarriage, disrupted sleep, worse PMS symptoms, increased blood pressure, and non-fatal heart attacks.
Cortisol – The hormone responsible for putting you in “fight or flight” mode can be increased by caffeine intake. However, the timing of the intake can be crucial here. Cortisol levels are at their highest between 6am and 10am, so try to ingest it during that time frame instead of the afternoon or evening when cortisol is naturally dropping.
Pesticides – The spraying of pesticides is an issue with all plants and coffee is no different. Luckily, how the plant is structured offers some protection to it. The best way to navigate these potential issues? Buy organic Fair Trade coffee!
That’s the bad news (Somewhat). Is there any good news? Yes! But similar to the bad news, it is not conclusive.
Performance – Seems to have a positive effect on tasks that require alertness and energy
Parkinson’s – May lower risk, but only in a small subset of people
Alzheimer’s – May reduce risk and could also be part of future treatment protocol
Cancer – May lower risk but don’t rely on it. Exercise often and eat good food!
Cardiovascular health – Mixed data but seems to point in a positive direction
Overall mortality – Appears to slightly decrease overall premature mortality
So, what now you may ask? Well, there definitely seems to be several benefits to drinking that daily cup of joe. However, as with many things, moderation is key. Pay attention to how you feel after drinking coffee. Does it give you a nice bump in energy and alertness or do you get very jittery? If so, you may be a slow metabolizer and maybe need to reconsider your decision. Generally speaking, drinking 1-3 cups of coffee per day is a pretty good goal to shoot for. Staying in this range gives you the opportunity to reap the benefits while minimizing any potential risks. With that said, now comes the million-dollar question – where to get your cup of coffee from?!
