In Praise of Almighty Java

In two recent studies, coffee was found to reduce the risk of stroke in women and lower the rate of prostate cancer in men.  This is good news for those that love coffee.

As a coffee drinker myself, I found the study a little amusing. I could never understand why  drinking a naturally grown bean was so harmful to begin with. In fact, humans have been drinking coffee for over 1,000  years (first in modern day Ethiopia before spreading to Egypt) and I don't know of any recorded deaths attributed to drinking it.

This blog isn't about the nuts and bolts of the studies. There still needs to be more research done in order to understand the actual properties that provide the health benefits of the coffee bean. However, coffee should not be looked at as a source of energy. It's a stimulant and should be treated as such.

Try to keep your daily limit of caffeine to 300 mg. This is roughly two medium cups per day (think Dunkin' Donuts size). In the study, it cites 6 cups a day (think coffee shop cup), so don't go drinking 6 mediums from the Dunk! Remember coffee is also a diuretic, so be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Lastly, drinking coffee should not be a strategy to prevent heart disease or cancer. Eating a balanced diet high in vegetables and fiber along with daily exercise tends to be a bit more effective.