Caffeine and Your Health

The question I get asked most often is - Is coffee is bad for me??

Not necessarily, why give up something that has health benefits and tastes good enjoy unless you have a good reason.

Research indicates that moderate caffeine consumption- about 250mg a day the amount found in 2-3 cups of coffee, 5 cups of tea or 6 12oz cans of soda appears to be safe.

Caffeine Content of Selected Beverages

8 oz brewed coffee	65-120mgs
8 oz instant coffee	60-85mgs
12oz Mountain Dew	55mgs
8 oz black tea	50mgs
16oz Snapple iced tea	48mgs
12oz Coca-Cola	45mgs
12oz Pepsi-Cola	37mgs

Benefits

A Harvard study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that coffee helps prevent gallstones and gallbladder disease in men.

Caffeine increases peristalsis- the contractions of the intestines that push food through the body. Helps maintain regularity.

Caffeine causes the release if dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that enhances your sense of well- being. Higher coffee and caffeine intake may be linked to lower incidence of Parkinson's disease. According to a recent study it is possible that the men who drink less coffee may have intolerance to caffeine that is related to their constitutional propensity to develop Parkinson disease. Alternatively, regular exposure to caffeine over many years might counteract the aging-related degenerative processes that cause loss of dopamine neurons, the brain pathology associated with Parkinson disease. The authors use the reference of 28oz/coffee day as the anti-parkinsonian dose. (JAMA. 2000;283:2674-2679)

A study at the University of California at Davis found the coffee has more antioxidant activity than red wine, green or black tea or orange juice.

Caffeine can offer mild relief to a person having an asthma attack. Theophyllines (caffeine related compounds are known to alleviate asthma)

The National Headache Foundation study looked at the effect of caffeine for relief. Caffeine helps enhance the effect of NSAIDS taken for relief by up to 40%.

Downside

Infertility

One study indicated that consuming more than 300 mgs/day can increase the risk of infertility almost 3-fold, and reduced monthly chances by 26%.

Caffeine can promote insomnia, anxiety, irritability, heartburn and indigestion.

Calcium

caffeine can reduce the absorption of calcium- a risk factor for osteoporosis in menopausal women. Caffeine- leaches calcium, but only when consumed in large quantities. According to research up to 16oz/day of caffeinated coffee is not a problem when adequate calcium is consumed throughout the day.

Fibrocystic breast disease- caffeine may or may not contribute to this condition. The jury is still out.

Caffeine may raise blood pressure in people who are sensitive to it and already have high blood pressure.

Studies show that cafetiere (brewed, unfiltered) coffee raise LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). This is coffee made by pouring boiling water over ground coffee in a container with a sieve plunger AKA French Press. Filtered coffee does not have this effect.

Donna Tinnerello MS, RD, CD/N Updated June 2000

Donna Tinnerello MS, RD, CD/N is registered dietitian with more than 10 years experience in HIV and nutrition. She works in lower Manhattan at Cabrini Medical Center, the community and in private practice.. Her subspecialties are cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal disease, diabetes and weight loss. Donna is available for private consultation by referral only.