Coffee: Suddenly, it's good for you!

by Bruce Watson, Posted Jul 21st 2008 @ 1:00PM

Over the years, I've had a love/hate relationship with coffee. On the one hand, when I worked in a cafe/bakery, the free, unlimited chocolate-covered espresso beans made it a lot easier to bake bread all night. On the other hand, when I developed acid reflux, coffee was the first thing that had to go. Over the years, I've repeatedly reunited with coffee, only to leave it again a few months later. Between warnings about digestion, blood pressure, and various other problems, I've learned to fight my deep love of the beloved elixir, settling instead for water or tea. Right now, I'm drinking one or two cups a day, which seems to be working well, although I have to fight my feelings of guilt and fear with every sip.

Recently, however, a 24-year study by the University of Madrid has given me hope that coffee and I might be able to enjoy a rich, guilt-free relationship. According to Esther Lopez-Garcia, the lead researcher, the scientists have discovered that up to six cups of coffee per day may have a positive effect on one's health. According to their data, coffee seems to lower the chances of heart disease and other illnesses.

The study, which followed the coffee-drinking habits 84,214 American women from 1980 to 2004 and 41,736 American men from 1986 to 2004 showed clear linkages between reduced heart disease and coffee consumption, although it was also clear that decaf had almost the same results as caffeinated coffee. Although I won't be able to drink the full six cups of coffee that the study seems to endorse, it's nice to know that my little 2-cup habit may actually be good for me. The only question remaining is what I'll use to toast the researchers: French Roast or something a little milder?

Filed Under: Science, Newspapers, Health & Medical, Guilty Pleasures, Drink Recipes, Coffee Shops
Tags: america, Coffee, Esther Lopez-Garcia, EstherLopez-garcia, guilty pleasures, Heart disease, HeartDisease, University of Madrid, UniversityOfMadrid

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-21-2008 @5:14PM Dan said... You cite a link to an article that really does not provide the details. Here is my problem with pop nutrition information... it starts by saying "drink that cappuccino"... Not all "coffee" is the same. There are a lot of variables in coffee beverages... notably ... how is the coffee brewed (drip, boil, espresso, French press, etc)? What is the roast of the coffee and variety? What is put into the coffee? I am almost certain that the use of cream(er) --especially that white powdery stuff-- and sweeteners, would negate any health benefits. So when people write these articles (not you--Bruce, you are just the messenger) would it be too hard to provide a greater level of detail? Give us the spectrum of what people were consuming to produce these results.... Correlation is easy to present, but harder to substantiate without all the variables.
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8-06-2008 @6:32AM Melissa said... My 75 y.o. father has serious case of GERD from having to take high doses of prednisone over the last 35 years for extreme asthma. He, too, had to give up coffee for a time until we tried making it with a French Press using shade grown coffee beans. My neighbor gave us some shade grown coffee after we told them about my dad's problems with coffee. It is not easy to get shade grown coffee and we have to order it by mail even though we live in the Nation's Capital. However, my father has not had any issues with his GERD from coffee made this way unless he is taking the first very high doses of a course of prednisone in which even cold water upsets his stomach.
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