health effects

The Health Effects of Coffee

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Row coffee beans splashed from the cups

In the mid-1970s, the U.S. endured the ‘big coffee scare’ in which medical science told us not to continue drinking our morning cup of joe out of fear that it could cause cancer and other diseases. A lot has changed after four decades of intense research. Now it turns out that coffee may actually have some positive health benefits that make it worth drinking – at least in moderation.

According to the latest research, coffee may be beneficial to human health in the following ways:

  • Diabetes Protection – Researchers at UCLA have discovered that coffee intake increases levels of SHBG in the body. Not only does this substance regulate sex hormones, but it is also related to the development of type II diabetes. Their research is complemented by additional research from Harvard that suggests moderate coffee consumption can reduce type II diabetes risk.
  • Parkinson’s Disease – Coffee may help lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease. In cases of people who already have the disease, moderate coffee consumption may help to improve movement, according to research from the McGill University Health Center.
  • Liver Disease – Research from Italy suggests that coffee consumption can reduce the risk of liver cancer by up to 40%. It might also decrease the risk of cirrhosis among alcohol consumers by more than 20%. Those already diagnosed with cirrhosis can reduce their chances of dying from the disease by as much as 66% through moderate coffee consumption.
  • Heart Disease – Harvard School of Public Health researchers who studied European coffee drinkers found that those who consume two cups per day were roughly 11% less likely to suffer heart failure compared to those who don’t drink coffee.

Coffee has also been linked to prevention of colorectal cancer, multiple sclerosis and premature death. Keep in mind that the nature of epidemiology, on which all of the studies are based, shows links between coffee consumption and certain health factors. They do not necessarily establish causation.

Everything in Moderation

Of course, even the perceived health benefits of coffee need to be regulated by moderation. Coffee contains caffeine, something we know can have adverse health effects if consumed in excess. Furthermore, adding a ton of cream and sugar to your cup of black coffee increases your calorie intake and subjects you to whatever health effects are related to consuming them.

Most of the studies suggest between two and five cups of black coffee per day to enjoy the maximum health benefit. Anything over and above five cups would be deemed excessive and could very well undo any of the good coffee-drinking might offer.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we are thrilled to know that the staple beverage that drives America is one that can actually be good for human health. It makes it a lot more enjoyable to do what we do. If you need coffee and beverage service for your office in the greater New York area, we would love the opportunity to earn your business. Contact us for more information.

New Study Suggests Coffee Consumption Lowers Mortality Rates

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New Study Suggests Coffee Consumption Lowers Mortality RatesThere have been numerous coffee studies in the past that indicate America’s favorite hot beverage offers some very definite health benefits in terms of fighting certain kinds of diseases. For example, studies have shown that regular coffee consumption can reduce the risk of some cancers. But now a new study recently released by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that regular coffee consumption could reduce mortality rates too.

To be clear, drinking coffee does not eliminate the reality of death. The fact is that 100% of people who are born also eventually die. When the researchers suggest that coffee consumption reduces mortality rates, they are suggesting that coffee drinkers are less likely to die of disease instead of old age. Let us look at some of the numbers for clarification.

Researchers studied the coffee-drinking habits of 200,000 women and 50,000 men, some of whom were smokers and drinkers as well. They discovered a 6%-8% lower mortality rate among those who drank up to 3 cups per day (as compared to non-coffee drinkers), a 15% lower mortality rate among those who drank 3 to 5 cups, and a 12% lower mortality rate among those who drank more than 5 cups per day.

In trying to determine why mortality rates were lower among coffee drinkers, the researchers also compared other dietary choices along with lifestyles. They reached no solid conclusions, but they do offer a number of interesting hypotheses, some of which have been supported by other research:

  • Diabetes Risk – There are chemicals in coffee that reduce the risk of diabetes among regular consumers. Coffee has also been shown to help regulate blood sugar – a big problem for diabetics.
  • Heart Disease – Other chemicals in coffee help to reduce inflammation that, the researchers say, can prevent certain kinds of heart disease. Heart disease prevention is also aided by better controlling blood sugar.

It is interesting to note that regular coffee consumers are between 9% and 37% less likely to develop neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Again, researchers have not come up with solid conclusions to explain the phenomenon.

A Popular Beverage for Millennia

We do not often take the time to stop and think about it, but coffee has been a hot beverage of choice for millennia all over the world. Could it be that the health benefits of coffee have something to do with it? Perhaps. At any rate, most of us drink coffee today simply because we enjoy the taste and experience. That’s okay too.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we are committed to making sure our clients always have their favorite coffees, teas and other beverages readily available. Our office delivery service reaches all of the metropolitan New York City area with a full selection of beverages, office coffee and water equipment, breakroom supplies, and janitorial supplies.

Could coffee consumption offer longer life? It appears that might be the case. So go ahead and enjoy your cup to its fullest.

Latest Studies Reflect Positively on Coffee Consumption

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Latest Studies Reflect Positively on Coffee ConsumptionIt was not so long ago that science was telling us coffee is bad for one’s health. But then it was good. And then it was bad again. If you are middle-aged or older, you know that the scientific opinion of coffee has flip-flopped more times than a politician on the campaign trail. So where do we stand for 2015? Overall, coffee appears to be beneficial to health in very measurable ways.

A spate of new research has been released over the last 18 months lending credence to the belief that moderate coffee consumption can be a factor in mitigating some serious health concerns. For example:

  • Heart Disease – A South Korean study involving 25,000 coffee drinkers suggests that moderate coffee consumption can reduce the risks of heart disease by inhibiting the buildup of coronary artery calcium.
  • Cancer – Yale researchers published a study this past January that confirmed previous evidence suggesting moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer).
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – Research data released this past February shows a definite link between moderate coffee consumption and lower risk of developing MS. The evidence was especially compelling among long-term coffee drinkers who had been consuming the beverage for 5 to 10 years.

The positive MS research, combined with what science already knows about diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, is leading researchers to take a serious look at the neuroprotective benefits of certain compounds found in coffee. There is growing speculation that some of these compounds could be used to treat a range of dementia disorders.

The Bad News about Coffee

In the introduction to this post, we said that coffee appears to be beneficial to health “on the whole.” We phrased it that way because not all of the research on coffee is positive. There is some bad news.

First of all, studies seem to indicate that how a person’s body reacts to coffee consumption directly relates to how beneficial it is. In addition, how a person responds is apparently linked to genetics. Some people are more genetically predisposed to the health benefits of coffee than others are.

Second, moderate consumption is considered between three and five cups per day. Furthermore, researchers consider a single cup of coffee to be 8 ounces. A person drinking three to four 16-ounce cups from the local coffee shop every day is consuming more than is considered beneficial. The amount of caffeine associated with that much coffee is likely to have some adverse health effects as well.

Lastly, it is possible that adding sugar and calorie-rich creamers to coffee can offset some of its health benefits. The best way to maximize the positives appears to be drinking 3 to 5 cups of black coffee daily.

Galaxie Coffee believes there are few things better than a really good cup of coffee. We strive to always provide a great coffee experience for our satisfied customers throughout the greater New York area.