While it does not happen very often, I like it when I discover research that shows that something I really enjoy is actually good for me. I have yet to find scientific evidence showing potato chips are a superfood and I was disappointed to find Ferrero Rocher chocolates were not included in the recently revised Canada’s Food Guide.
However, with a jittery smile on my face, I’ve been learning more about the positive health benefits of one of my favourite beverages, coffee!
I recently read an odd coffee-related study looking at how coffee intake may affect the mortality rate of persons diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The research, published in the March 2018 edition of the journal Gastroenterology, found an association between coffee intake (both caffeinated and de-caffeinated) after diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and reduced mortality. In other words, the coffee drinkers lived longer than non-coffee drinkers.
Research associating coffee with other health benefits has also been documented in recent years. Coffee may protect the liver, as coffee drinkers have a lower risk of liver cancer. There is also evidence showing coffee may protect us from Type 2 Diabetes. Coffee may be considered heart-healthy as it may help reduce calcium deposits in our arteries.
Coffee drinkers may also have healthier nerves and brains. Improved mood, less mental fatigue and improved visual information processing were also noted among coffee drinkers, more so in those who ingested caffeinated over de-caffeinated coffee. Coffee has also been shown to have a positive effect on Parkinson’s patients and it may also reduce the risk of contracting Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
There is always a “however,” and here is the “however” when it comes to drinking coffee. While coffee may be beneficial in some ways, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Coffee may make some more alert, but coffee drinkers often report being more “jittery” as well. Coffee may aggravate those who suffer from gastric reflux and also those who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Moderation is the key here and knowing how and when your body reacts negatively to too much is important in limiting the potential negative side effects of coffee.
Scientists are beginning to understand that there is more to coffee than the caffeine. Positive health effects are seen in both regular and decaf forms. Improved mood, alertness and focus may not be due to caffeine at all, but to a group of compounds called chlorogenic acids (CGAs) found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. CGA’s themselves have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-carcinogenic effects, all leading to improved health outcomes.
Until conflicting research comes out.... coffee is my friend.
