I recently counted the number of coffee shops lining a busy Boston street. Within a 1-mile stretch, there were nine. And apparently, that’s not even enough; many of the shops had a long line of people eager to get their daily (or hourly?) java fix. This isn’t a surprise to the National Coffee Association, which boasts that coffee consumption is at an all-time high. Currently, over 60 percent of Americans drink coffee daily, the association reports.
But is all this coffee good for you? It depends. Here’s where the research stands on coffee and its effect on different aspects of your health.
Coffee and Longevity
A recent study looking at the coffee intake of over 175,000 non-white people showed that nonsmokers who drank lots of coffee — think four servings or more daily — were less likely to die over the given period than those who didn’t drink coffee. People who smoked and drank coffee, however, had a higher risk of dying.
[See: In Pictures: 11 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100.]
But before you start refilling your office mug for the fourth time, keep in mind that the researchers in this study used an 8-ounce portion as a standard “cup” of coffee. I bet your mug holds at least 12 ounces (1.5 cups) — if not 16 ounces (2 cups) — of coffee.
While the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that consuming 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily — the equivalent of 400 milligrams of caffeine — is not likely to cause harm or shorten your life if you’re generally healthy, be aware that you may have reached this amount after only your second refill of your oversized mug.
Coffee and Sugar
Gone are the days when people drank their coffee unsweetened or with minimal added sugar. Sweetened coffee and tea beverages are one of the top three sources of added sugars in Americans’ diets, trailing only soft drinks and fruit drinks.
If the name of your favorite supersized coffee beverage ends with “ccino” and isn’t a traditional cappuccino (mochaccino, anyone?), you could be consuming as many as 7 teaspoons of added sugars — the equivalent of chugging about 8 ounces of soda — in one drink. Too much added sugar is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, as well as other health consequences.
The American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than 9 teaspoons and women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugars daily. One supersized coffee beverage could put you over the top.
[See: These Healthy Seasonings Are Tasty Substitutes for Sugar and Salt.]
Coffee and Diabetes
Research suggests that drinking coffee is associated with a decreased risk of developing diabetes. But if your gourmet coffee is sweetened with sugar and lightened with cream, the beverage could weigh in at over 400 calories. Obesity increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes and is associated with other health problems. With over 70 percent of Americans currently weighing more than is considered healthy, few of us can routinely be drinking these types of coffee beverages without it affecting the bathroom scale and our overall health.
[See: 7 Diet Mistakes That Could Sabotage Your Weight Loss.]
Coffee and Phytochemicals
Coffee comes from a plant, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s rich in plant (phyto) chemicals. For example, the beverage has lots of chlorogenic acids, which are just one of the many compounds in coffee that have been shown to have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in the body. These phytochemicals may play a role in increasing longevity.
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Is Your Coffee Obsession Healthy? originally appeared on usnews.com
