Ah, the rich smell of fresh coffee. Is that aroma the promise of improved health or a warning of potential dangers? Some studies support the numerous health benefits, while others highlight the risks. If you’re unsure about coffee, it’s essential to delve into the research and decide if coffee’s advantages and stimulative effects are right for you.
Coffee in moderation appears safe for women
Harvard’s Women’s Health Watch published a report detailing the effects of drinking moderate amounts of coffee. It referred to research that found that regular coffee drinkers had a lower risk for type II diabetes compared to non-coffee drinkers.
The Harvard publication also notes that “coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease.”
However, it also warns of potential negative effects if you drink too much coffee: increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Most of the adverse effects seem to stem from excessive consumption.
But that leaves us with the crucial question: how much is too much?
Coffee reduces the risk of lethal prostate cancer
Findings from a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggest that coffee consumption reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Men who regularly drink coffee have a lower risk of developing the most lethal form of the disease. According to this research, it makes no difference if the coffee is caffeinated or decaf:
- Men who consume six or more cups of coffee per day have nearly 20% lower risk for developing any form of prostate cancer.
- Men consuming the most coffee showed a 60% lower risk of developing the most lethal form of prostate cancer.
- Drinking one to three cups of coffee per day showed a 30% lower risk of developing lethal prostate cancer.
- Results were the same whether the men drank regular or decaffeinated coffee.
Senior author Kathryn Wilson, a research fellow in epidemiology at HSPH, said, “If our findings are validated, coffee could represent one modifiable factor that may lower the risk of developing the most harmful form of prostate cancer.”
Caffeine consumption during pregnancy
While drinking plenty of coffee per day might prevent men from getting the more lethal form of prostate cancer, other research shows that coffee could harm pregnant women’s fetuses.
A study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found that pregnant women who consumed caffeine were at high risk for late miscarriage and stillbirth. The research included a cohort of 2,643 pregnant women aged 18 to 45 years and found that caffeine could potentially affect the developing fetus.
Coffee linked to a reduction in endometrial cancer
A 26-year study analyzing the effects of coffee consumption in the Nurses’ Health Study with 67,470 female participants aged 34–59 showed it reduced the risk of endometrial cancer.
The results were intriguing. Women who drank fewer than four cups of coffee per day did not reduce their cancer risk, but those who drank four or more cups daily had a 25% lower risk of developing endometrial cancer compared to those who drank one or no cups per day.
This benefit might be linked to the fact that coffee reduces estrogen and insulin levels, which influence endometrial carcinogenesis.
The catch with coffee
So, is coffee good or bad for our health? It’s difficult to say. These studies seem to enhance our confusion, pointing to both lifesaving benefits and deadly consequences.
Coffee contains thousands of compounds, including essential antioxidants that reduce inflammation, regulate insulin, increase alertness, and help lower the risk of developing diseases such as Parkinson’s, Type II diabetes, prostate cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, liver cancer, and gallstones.
However, coffee is also associated with migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, nervousness, fibromyalgia, insomnia, raised blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, miscarriage, and stillbirth.
It’s essential to be informed about coffee’s effects and consider how it relates to your specific health state and condition. Armed with this knowledge, you can make confident choices regarding your coffee consumption.
