The Truth About Coffee
Nothing like the smell of coffee to start off the day!
With so many studies out there about coffee, it's hard to remember whether our morning cup of Joe does the body any good -- or harm.
On The Early Show Monday, Dr. Holly Phillips of CBS station WCBS-TV in New York went through some commonly-circulated beliefs about the health effects of one of the nation's most popular beverages.
IS COFFEE GOOD FOR YOU?
Well, I would have to say, all things in moderation. There do definitely seem to be some health benefits. The more we're learning, research is leaning on the side of it being good for you. It lowers the risk of Parkinson's disease and Type 2 diabetes. It mediates depression. But the benefits are dose-related.
SHOULD CHILDREN BE DRINKING COFFEE?
It's better to limit their caffeine intake. They'll get caffeine in other things -- chocolate, sodas, but particularly in kids, it's linked to attention problems and hyperactivity, so it's better to avoid it.
COFFEE IS DEHYDRATING. TRUE OR FALSE?
It depends on the dose. We think of coffee as a diuretic. But recent studies have shown it's only a diuretic at high doses -- above 575 milligrams. Have some water if you exceed that amount.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
575 milligrams is a little less than three cups of coffee, but that's three regular size cups. But we have to remember the cups we have nowadays are big cups. So, it's easy to have more than 575 milligrams.
COFFEE INCREASES HYPERTENSION. TRUE OR FALSE?
Coffee does increase your blood pressure, but only for a few minutes. What's interesting is that recent studies show it doesn't increase your likelihood of getting hypertension. I would caution that anyone who has high blood pressure that's not under control should avoid caffeine.
COFFEE HELPS WEIGHT LOSS
Unfortunately, this doesn't work. Caffeine does speed up your metabolism for awhile but, in long-term studies, people who drank coffee had no better weight control than people who didn't.
DOES COFFEE ACCELERATE BONE LOSS?
This one is a little controversial. It doesn't make our body lose more calcium or lose calcium from the bones, but some studies have shown coffee drinkers do have more brittle bones. I suggest all of my patients, especially women, supplement with a calcium supplement or, if you're going to have a great deal of coffee, make sure you put some milk in your coffee.
Copyright 2010 CBS. All rights reserved. With so many studies out there about coffee, it's hard to remember whether our morning cup of Joe does the body any good -- or harm.
On The Early Show Monday, Dr. Holly Phillips of CBS station WCBS-TV in New York went through some commonly-circulated beliefs about the health effects of one of the nation's most popular beverages.
IS COFFEE GOOD FOR YOU?
Well, I would have to say, all things in moderation. There do definitely seem to be some health benefits. The more we're learning, research is leaning on the side of it being good for you. It lowers the risk of Parkinson's disease and Type 2 diabetes. It mediates depression. But the benefits are dose-related.
SHOULD CHILDREN BE DRINKING COFFEE?
It's better to limit their caffeine intake. They'll get caffeine in other things -- chocolate, sodas, but particularly in kids, it's linked to attention problems and hyperactivity, so it's better to avoid it.
COFFEE IS DEHYDRATING. TRUE OR FALSE?
It depends on the dose. We think of coffee as a diuretic. But recent studies have shown it's only a diuretic at high doses -- above 575 milligrams. Have some water if you exceed that amount.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
575 milligrams is a little less than three cups of coffee, but that's three regular size cups. But we have to remember the cups we have nowadays are big cups. So, it's easy to have more than 575 milligrams.
COFFEE INCREASES HYPERTENSION. TRUE OR FALSE?
Coffee does increase your blood pressure, but only for a few minutes. What's interesting is that recent studies show it doesn't increase your likelihood of getting hypertension. I would caution that anyone who has high blood pressure that's not under control should avoid caffeine.
COFFEE HELPS WEIGHT LOSS
Unfortunately, this doesn't work. Caffeine does speed up your metabolism for awhile but, in long-term studies, people who drank coffee had no better weight control than people who didn't.
DOES COFFEE ACCELERATE BONE LOSS?
This one is a little controversial. It doesn't make our body lose more calcium or lose calcium from the bones, but some studies have shown coffee drinkers do have more brittle bones. I suggest all of my patients, especially women, supplement with a calcium supplement or, if you're going to have a great deal of coffee, make sure you put some milk in your coffee.
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It''s important to separate studies of coffee from studies of caffeine. For instance, the difference in bone density is a key one, especially in kids.
Drinks like cola -- not coffee but full of caffeine -- have a lot of phosphates in them. Calcium phosphate is insoluable so calcium ions in the stomach precipitate out. Therefore, heavy drinkers of cola are more likely to have bone density problems... and teenagers in the midst of growing are more likely to have either bone density or growth problems. (Yes, cola in excess CAN stunt your growth.) Swallowing a calcium supplement with cola is not going to help.
By the way, I love both colas and coffee. I''m not giving either up. :)
Lol! When I read this, that guy''s voice from the end of car commercials was going through my head.