COFFEE: WHAT'S THE REAL SCOOP?

New research has just come out that coffee is a main source of antioxidants.1 So let's all go to Starbucks and get healthy! I guess this is good news because 80% of Americans drink coffee, and 53% of coffee drinkers drink it everyday.2 Stu Vinson, chemist at University of Scranton, was quick to comment, "My study is not a recommendation to begin drinking a lot of coffee." He sure is correct because we certainly cannot forget the overwhelming NEGATIVE aspects of coffee and everything associated with it.

Vinson's study analyzed antioxidant content of over 100 food items and common beverages, and then compared to an estimated per-capita consumption of each food. What researchers found was that "coffee far outpaced any other food or beverage as the main source of antioxidants in the American diet."3 Antioxidants are vitamins and minerals that help prevent oxidation, a process that can cause damage to cells and may contribute to aging.4

Now back to why coffee is bad for you: main reason #1, CAFFEINE, one of our society's legal drugs. Caffeine is bad because it unnaturally boosts cortisol levels in the body; cortisol is known as the "stress hormone" and is catabolic in nature.5 Having a high cortisol level, peaking about mid-morning, is natural and healthy but we unnaturally and unhealthily jack cortisol levels up throughout the day. In other words, we are red-lined throughout the day (whether we feel like it or not). Because of the catabolic nature of cortisol, the body is torn down at an accelerated rate, otherwise known as accelerated metabolic aging.6 Speaking of accelerated metabolic aging, caffeine is also a dehydrating agent. Americans are chronically dehydrated anyway but then we add caffeine to the mix.

Coffee is also one of the factors leading to diabetes. It should be noted that current statistics show that 1 in 5 Americans are pre-diabetic or diabetic:7 Preliminary studies from a small study suggest that drinking moderate amounts of coffee may put healthy individuals at risk for decreased insulin sensitivity, or an inability to process blood sugar efficiently. Decreased insulin sensitivity is a precursor to diabetes. Caffeine reduced insulin sensitivity by 15%, comparable to the increase in sensitivity produced by taking diabetes drugs.8 Australian researchers also showed that caffeine contributed to raising blood pressure.9

The last negative factor is all the stuff we put into coffee: refined table sugar, artificial sweeteners, skim, lowfat, and all pasteurized milk. Good news: half-n-half slows down the absorption of caffeine, making it the best choice out of dairy options.
What to do, what to do? Well, you can give up coffee. Or you can cut the amount down. As far as cortisol levels go, don't drink coffee after 2-3pm. As far as your antioxidants, get them from organic vegetables. Try to enjoy your coffee when you need it, rather than when you want it!

References:

1Poughkeepsie Journal, Sunday, Sep 25,2005, citing "Healthday News"
2Poughkeepsie Journal, Oct 8,2005, ref: American Coffee Association
3Poughkeepsie Journal, Sunday, Sep 25,2005, citing "Healthday News"
4Poughkeepsie Journal, Sunday, Sep 25,2005, citing "Healthday News"
5Paul Chek, How to Eat,Move and be Healthy
6Shwarzbein, The Schwarzbein Principle
7Mercola.com, ref: CBS News, April 29, 2004
8Mercola.som, ref: Diabetes Care, February 2002; 25:364-369
9Mercola.com