Is Coffee Good Or Bad For You?

Did you know that coffee is the primary part of dietary antioxidants?  Now let's be clear:  that does not mean that your morning coffee is a substitute for fruits and vegetables.  But serious java drinkers will surely get a jolt from the news that coffee is a top resource of disease-fighting antioxidants.  Current analysis reveals that, taken in moderation, coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits.

Coffee is one of the few beverages that is consumed world-wide.  It is consumed in most countries of the world and coffee is the second most widely traded commodity in the world (behind petroleum) and one of the most widely consumed beverages.  It may be a world commodity that is second only to oil, but an excellent cup of coffee tastes a lot better than an excellent cup of petroleum.  And, in today's world of high fuel prices, a lot more fun to consume.

So, can we call coffee a health foodstuff?  Well, that may be stretching it!  Caffeine, which is the "guts" of the coffee, is one of the world's most widely used drugs, and it has been part of the human diet for centuries.

Caffeine is one heck of a stimulant and is the element that gives coffee and many other beverages their jolt.  It is definitely a central-nervous-system stimulant.  It acts as a mild stimulant to the central nervous system and both regular and decaf coffee can irritate the stomach.  Drinking caffeine in boundless amounts as coffee or tea (which may actually have more caffeine than coffee) over a short period of time has been shown to raise blood sugar.  So if you are prone to blood sugar issues, beware!  And, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, lower your current caffeine intake to less than 300 milligrams a day or three cups of coffee.  Or, to be safe, cut it out altogether.

But you should be able to look forward to a early-day cup for reasons beyond the caffeine rush.  The general conclusion is that moderate amounts of caffeine do not lead to arrhythmias and drinking a modest account of coffee should not increase your risk.  Check with your health professional to be sure, though.

So, is coffee injurious?  Surely you should be aware that some experts argue that coffee is bad for you.  And nobody is saying coffee is entirely benign.  But if you have reasonable health and enjoy drinking coffee, an excellent cup of coffee is worth it.  But remember, coffee is not for everyone.

Well, I must go.  I need to refill my cup of coffee.