13 replies to this topic

[tfor]

I read a lot of bad stuff about it, for example that coffee puts stress on the adrenals and that it raises blood glucose and that it raises excitatory neurotransmitters. This doesn't sound good. If this is true then one shouldn't drink any coffee at all right? But the problem is I am totally used to it. I have no alternatives. I was into green tea but green tea contains fluoride and pesticides probably too, I don't think that green tea is healthy either.

[Thorsten3]

Hey.

 

I didn't rate you as 'pointless, Timewasting', but not sure why you think Coffee is unhealthy.

 

I personally react very, very favourably to coffee. It has always been an immense tool for me. I only get positive effects from freshly ground coffee. Instant coffee, for me, is poor-man's coffee. It has nowhere near the same effects as freshly ground coffee. I estimate that I am probably consuming about 400mg of caffeine, each day through my coffee habit. I can even drink it last thing before bed and it won't stop me from sleeping.

 

Unklike raw chocolate (cacao), I consistently get positive effects from coffee. Cacao gave me wonderful beneficial effects for about a year, then I became permanently tolerant to it's effects. I have never become tolerant to coffee. Quite lucky, in that respect.

 

I have been drinking coffee, hardcore, for maybe 6/7 years now. If Coffee is so bad, where are my negative symptons? If I was a smoker for 6/7 years, I reckon there might be some tale-tale signs of the impact it would have had on my health.

 

I'm not totally sure on the science myself. I am big believer in the philosophy that nothing is free in this world. If something makes you feel good, or provides an enjoyable stimulus, there may be drawbacks down the road.

 

I am not saying that everyone should sink lots and lots of coffee, like I do. I just think that I am one of the lucky ones, in that respect. I can drink a lot of it, and I only see benefits from doing so.

 

I am not so blessed in other areas. I can't, for the life of me, tolerate cows dairy. I can't tolerate starches (gut issues; potatoes, are especially bad, in my case). I can't tolerate under-ripe fruit. When I base my diet on meat, I feel like shit. I find vegetables very hard to digest (without casusing gut issues).Even organic, grass fed meat. So, coffee is definitelty something I look forward to, each day. It doesn't really leave much to eat, so I struggle by with what my body can tolerate.

 

I also firmly believe in the bulk of the science I have seen about caffeine. Most of it is positive. And if my body likes it, I have no problems doing it.

 

Here are lots of studies on the benefits of caffeine, by Ray Peat. His writing can be extremely hard to follow, but the science is sound:

 

http://raypeat.com/a.../caffeine.shtml

 

The one thing I don't agree with Peat about is his perception that coffee is some kind of nutritional powerhouse. Freshly ground coffee might be the richest source of nutrients, but instant cofee (what the vast majority of people drink), is heavily processed. Peat says that it is super high in magnesium, but cronometer is hardly that flattering about its content of magnesium.

 

General things I love about coffee:

 

1. It can help initiate bowel movements

2. It increases my ability to focus

3. It acts as an anti-depressant (for me, only freshly ground)

4. It, according to Peat, caffeine is a potent liver cleanser (the importance of that cannot be underestimated, in our toxic world)

5. It's a social thing. So many coffee houses around now. Great place to meet people, chat, get away from the internet  (unless you go there to use the internet)

 

There are other things. But I have to stop writing this now, because life's too short.

 

Anyway, don't feel bad about coffee. And if you are worried about coffee ramping on your adrenals, take some salt with your coffee or just eat a salty meal. Salt lowers adrenalin and lowers serotonin, too (actually a good thing). I drink a lot of salted bone broth. Coffee, also lowers serotonin.

 

Enjoy your coffee. You tolerate it. That's a good thing.

[Kalliste]

The picture is far from definitive, but there is a great deal of good stuff out there for both coffee and green tea. Try google scholar. They may well be two of the most easy, well tasting and potent substances in the world.

[Mind]

As the years go by, the epidemiology of coffee, green tea, and even caffeine itself continues to be more positive for health and longevity. The weight of the evidence is becoming so good, I am surprised anyone asks this question anymore. The only thing I don't like about consuming teas and coffee is the caffeine addiction.

 

If you are overly sensitive to caffeine or other compounds found in coffee and tea, then of course, don't drink them.

 

http://www.longecity...tea-to-regimen/

 

http://www.longecity...lthy-is-coffee/

 

 

[tunt01]

It has a acrylamide and too much caffeine can be unhealthy if you are a slow metabolizer.  That being said, I drink it every day.

[sensei]

As the years go by, the epidemiology of coffee, green tea, and even caffeine itself continues to be more positive for health and longevity. The weight of the evidence is becoming so good, I am surprised anyone asks this question anymore. The only thing I don't like about consuming teas and coffee is the caffeine addiction.

 

If you are overly sensitive to caffeine or other compounds found in coffee and tea, then of course, don't drink them.

 

http://www.longecity...tea-to-regimen/

 

http://www.longecity...lthy-is-coffee/

 

 

Coffee is really only contra-indicated in persons with anxiety disorders, persons with caffeine sensitivity, or very high consumption because of the adverse action of high amounts of coffee on bowel flora, and/or caffeine intoxication.

 

Of note, after several days of continued use, the pick me up is actually nothing or not much more than alleviation of caffeine withdrawal.

 

"According to a recent study by Bristol University, however, a big part of the pick-me-up effect associated with coffee can actually be attributed to the alleviation of caffeine withdrawal symptoms."

 

http://bratclub.com....aspx?NewsId=144

Edited by sensei, 05 January 2015 - 01:18 AM.

[TheFountain]

Hey.

 

I didn't rate you as 'pointless, Timewasting', but not sure why you think Coffee is unhealthy.

 

I personally react very, very favourably to coffee. It has always been an immense tool for me. I only get positive effects from freshly ground coffee. Instant coffee, for me, is poor-man's coffee. It has nowhere near the same effects as freshly ground coffee. I estimate that I am probably consuming about 400mg of caffeine, each day through my coffee habit. I can even drink it last thing before bed and it won't stop me from sleeping.

 

Unklike raw chocolate (cacao), I consistently get positive effects from coffee. Cacao gave me wonderful beneficial effects for about a year, then I became permanently tolerant to it's effects. I have never become tolerant to coffee. Quite lucky, in that respect.

 

I have been drinking coffee, hardcore, for maybe 6/7 years now. If Coffee is so bad, where are my negative symptons? If I was a smoker for 6/7 years, I reckon there might be some tale-tale signs of the impact it would have had on my health.

 

I'm not totally sure on the science myself. I am big believer in the philosophy that nothing is free in this world. If something makes you feel good, or provides an enjoyable stimulus, there may be drawbacks down the road.

 

I am not saying that everyone should sink lots and lots of coffee, like I do. I just think that I am one of the lucky ones, in that respect. I can drink a lot of it, and I only see benefits from doing so.

 

I am not so blessed in other areas. I can't, for the life of me, tolerate cows dairy. I can't tolerate starches (gut issues; potatoes, are especially bad, in my case). I can't tolerate under-ripe fruit. When I base my diet on meat, I feel like shit. I find vegetables very hard to digest (without casusing gut issues).Even organic, grass fed meat. So, coffee is definitelty something I look forward to, each day. It doesn't really leave much to eat, so I struggle by with what my body can tolerate.

 

I also firmly believe in the bulk of the science I have seen about caffeine. Most of it is positive. And if my body likes it, I have no problems doing it.

 

Here are lots of studies on the benefits of caffeine, by Ray Peat. His writing can be extremely hard to follow, but the science is sound:

 

http://raypeat.com/a.../caffeine.shtml

 

The one thing I don't agree with Peat about is his perception that coffee is some kind of nutritional powerhouse. Freshly ground coffee might be the richest source of nutrients, but instant cofee (what the vast majority of people drink), is heavily processed. Peat says that it is super high in magnesium, but cronometer is hardly that flattering about its content of magnesium.

 

General things I love about coffee:

 

1. It can help initiate bowel movements

2. It increases my ability to focus

3. It acts as an anti-depressant (for me, only freshly ground)

4. It, according to Peat, caffeine is a potent liver cleanser (the importance of that cannot be underestimated, in our toxic world)

5. It's a social thing. So many coffee houses around now. Great place to meet people, chat, get away from the internet  (unless you go there to use the internet)

 

There are other things. But I have to stop writing this now, because life's too short.

 

Anyway, don't feel bad about coffee. And if you are worried about coffee ramping on your adrenals, take some salt with your coffee or just eat a salty meal. Salt lowers adrenalin and lowers serotonin, too (actually a good thing). I drink a lot of salted bone broth. Coffee, also lowers serotonin.

 

Enjoy your coffee. You tolerate it. That's a good thing.

 

This response seems like a lot of bragging.

 

So you're tolerant to caffeine. Good for you. Some people aren't. This is not a one size fits all thing.

 

That said, I have been drinking a cup or two of DECAF, that's right DECAF a few days a week. 

 

I happen to be caffeine sensitive. Yes I am. And DECAF still carries many of the antioxidant benefits of normal coffee, but without the 200 mgs of caffeine contained in a single cup of normal coffee!

Edited by TheFountain, 06 January 2015 - 05:55 PM.

[Darryl]

Bakuradze T et al. 2015. Coffee consumption rapidly reduces background DNA strand breaks in healthy humans: Results of a short term repeated uptake intervention study. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015 Dec 3. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201500668

In a short-term human intervention study, we determined the effects of coffee intake on DNA integrity during 8 hours. Healthy male subjects ingested coffee in 200 ml aliquots every second hour up to a total volume of 800 ml. Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately before the first coffee intake and subsequently every two hours, prior to the respective coffee intake. DNA integrity was assayed by the comet assay. The results show a significant (p<0.05) reduction of background DNA strand breaks already 2 h after the first coffee intake. Continued coffee intake was associated with further decrements in background DNA damage within the 8h intervention (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Mean tail intensities (TI%) decreased from 0.33 TI% (baseline, 0 h) to 0.22 TI% (within 8 h coffee consumption). Repeated coffee consumption was associated with reduced background DNA strand breakage, clearly measurable as early as two hours after first intake resulting in a cumulative overall reduction by about one third of the baseline value.

 

[timar]

Ding M, Satija A, Bhupathiraju SN, Hu Y, Sun Q, Han J, Lopez-Garcia E, Willett W, van Dam RM, Hu FB: Association of Coffee Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in Three Large Prospective Cohorts.

Circulation. Published online 2015 Nov 16. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.017341

BACKGROUND:

-The association between consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and risk of mortality remains inconclusive.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

-We examined the associations of consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee with risk of subsequent total and cause-specific mortality among 74,890 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), 93,054 women in the NHS 2, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Coffee consumption was assessed at baseline using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. During 4,690,072 person-years of follow-up, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died. Consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee were non-linearly associated with mortality. Compared to non-drinkers, coffee consumption one to five cups/d was associated with lower risk of mortality, while coffee consumption more than five cups/d was not associated with risk of mortality. However, when restricting to never smokers, compared to non-drinkers, the HRs of mortality were 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for ≤ 1 cup/d, 0.92 (0.87 to 0.97) for 1.1-3 cups/d, 0.85 (0.79 to 0.92) for 3.1-5 cups/d, and 0.88 (0.78 to 0.99) for > 5 cups/d (p for non-linearity = 0.32; p for trend < 0.001). Significant inverse associations were observed for caffeinated (p for trend < 0.001) and decaffeinated coffee (p for trend = 0.022). Significant inverse associations were observed between coffee consumption and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, and suicide. No significant association between coffee consumption and total cancer mortality was found.

CONCLUSIONS:

-Higher consumption of total coffee, caffeinated coffee, and decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of total mortality.

 

Although this particular paper found no significant effect on cancer, others did. Here's a review:

 

Gaascht F, Dicato M, Diederich M: Coffee provides a natural multitarget pharmacopeia against the hallmarks of cancer.

Genes Nutr. 2015 Nov; 10(6): 51. doi: 10.1007/s12263-015-0501-3, PMC4648805

Coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world after water with a consumption of approximately two billion cups per day. Due to its low cost and ease of preparation, it is consumed in almost all countries and by all social classes of the population through different modes of preparation. Despites its simple appearance, a cup of coffee is in fact a complex mixture that contains hundreds of molecules, the composition and concentration of which vary widely and depend on factors including the origin of the coffee tree or its metabolism. Although an excessive consumption of coffee can be harmful, many molecules that are present in this black decoction exert anticancer properties. This review aims to describe the different primary coffee-containing substances that exert chemopreventive and bioactive activities against the different hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer, thus explaining the anticancer health benefit of black coffee.

 

Edited by timar, 06 December 2015 - 10:43 PM.

[TheFountain]

 

Ding M, Satija A, Bhupathiraju SN, Hu Y, Sun Q, Han J, Lopez-Garcia E, Willett W, van Dam RM, Hu FB: Association of Coffee Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in Three Large Prospective Cohorts.

Circulation. Published online 2015 Nov 16. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.017341

BACKGROUND:

-The association between consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and risk of mortality remains inconclusive.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

-We examined the associations of consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee with risk of subsequent total and cause-specific mortality among 74,890 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), 93,054 women in the NHS 2, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Coffee consumption was assessed at baseline using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. During 4,690,072 person-years of follow-up, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died. Consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee were non-linearly associated with mortality. Compared to non-drinkers, coffee consumption one to five cups/d was associated with lower risk of mortality, while coffee consumption more than five cups/d was not associated with risk of mortality. However, when restricting to never smokers, compared to non-drinkers, the HRs of mortality were 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for ≤ 1 cup/d, 0.92 (0.87 to 0.97) for 1.1-3 cups/d, 0.85 (0.79 to 0.92) for 3.1-5 cups/d, and 0.88 (0.78 to 0.99) for > 5 cups/d (p for non-linearity = 0.32; p for trend < 0.001). Significant inverse associations were observed for caffeinated (p for trend < 0.001) and decaffeinated coffee (p for trend = 0.022). Significant inverse associations were observed between coffee consumption and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, and suicide. No significant association between coffee consumption and total cancer mortality was found.

CONCLUSIONS:

-Higher consumption of total coffee, caffeinated coffee, and decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of total mortality.

 

Although this particular paper found no significant effect on cancer, others did. Here's a review:

 

Gaascht F, Dicato M, Diederich M: Coffee provides a natural multitarget pharmacopeia against the hallmarks of cancer.

Genes Nutr. 2015 Nov; 10(6): 51. doi: 10.1007/s12263-015-0501-3, PMC4648805

Coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world after water with a consumption of approximately two billion cups per day. Due to its low cost and ease of preparation, it is consumed in almost all countries and by all social classes of the population through different modes of preparation. Despites its simple appearance, a cup of coffee is in fact a complex mixture that contains hundreds of molecules, the composition and concentration of which vary widely and depend on factors including the origin of the coffee tree or its metabolism. Although an excessive consumption of coffee can be harmful, many molecules that are present in this black decoction exert anticancer properties. This review aims to describe the different primary coffee-containing substances that exert chemopreventive and bioactive activities against the different hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer, thus explaining the anticancer health benefit of black coffee.

 

Ya think those benefits apply to decaf as well? 

[TheFountain]

For those who are caffeine sensitive. 

 

What i've been doing is making my normal cup of Decaf and mixing in 1/4th teaspoon of normal caffeinated. This way you only get about 25 mgs of caffeine.

 

Which is not bad at all, and a much smaller dosage than would cause you anxiety. But still enough to give you a small mental kick. 

[Kalliste]

 

 

Ding M, Satija A, Bhupathiraju SN, Hu Y, Sun Q, Han J, Lopez-Garcia E, Willett W, van Dam RM, Hu FB: Association of Coffee Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in Three Large Prospective Cohorts.

Circulation. Published online 2015 Nov 16. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.017341

BACKGROUND:

-The association between consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and risk of mortality remains inconclusive.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

-We examined the associations of consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee with risk of subsequent total and cause-specific mortality among 74,890 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), 93,054 women in the NHS 2, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Coffee consumption was assessed at baseline using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. During 4,690,072 person-years of follow-up, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died. Consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee were non-linearly associated with mortality. Compared to non-drinkers, coffee consumption one to five cups/d was associated with lower risk of mortality, while coffee consumption more than five cups/d was not associated with risk of mortality. However, when restricting to never smokers, compared to non-drinkers, the HRs of mortality were 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for ≤ 1 cup/d, 0.92 (0.87 to 0.97) for 1.1-3 cups/d, 0.85 (0.79 to 0.92) for 3.1-5 cups/d, and 0.88 (0.78 to 0.99) for > 5 cups/d (p for non-linearity = 0.32; p for trend < 0.001). Significant inverse associations were observed for caffeinated (p for trend < 0.001) and decaffeinated coffee (p for trend = 0.022). Significant inverse associations were observed between coffee consumption and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, and suicide. No significant association between coffee consumption and total cancer mortality was found.

CONCLUSIONS:

-Higher consumption of total coffee, caffeinated coffee, and decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of total mortality.

 

Although this particular paper found no significant effect on cancer, others did. Here's a review:

 

Gaascht F, Dicato M, Diederich M: Coffee provides a natural multitarget pharmacopeia against the hallmarks of cancer.

Genes Nutr. 2015 Nov; 10(6): 51. doi: 10.1007/s12263-015-0501-3, PMC4648805

Coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world after water with a consumption of approximately two billion cups per day. Due to its low cost and ease of preparation, it is consumed in almost all countries and by all social classes of the population through different modes of preparation. Despites its simple appearance, a cup of coffee is in fact a complex mixture that contains hundreds of molecules, the composition and concentration of which vary widely and depend on factors including the origin of the coffee tree or its metabolism. Although an excessive consumption of coffee can be harmful, many molecules that are present in this black decoction exert anticancer properties. This review aims to describe the different primary coffee-containing substances that exert chemopreventive and bioactive activities against the different hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer, thus explaining the anticancer health benefit of black coffee.

 

Ya think those benefits apply to decaf as well? 

 

 

I've seen more than a couple of papers on the anti-cancer nature of caffeine itself so that probably plays a part. Though there is much more to coffee so decaf is probably still a good idea.

 

Pro-tip: Coffee and cocoa powder can be mixed. Both have pretty big pools of evidence for various preventative measures so I bet there is some yet to be uncovered synergy between them. Delicious and alerting brew.

[TheFountain]

 

 

 

Ding M, Satija A, Bhupathiraju SN, Hu Y, Sun Q, Han J, Lopez-Garcia E, Willett W, van Dam RM, Hu FB: Association of Coffee Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in Three Large Prospective Cohorts.

Circulation. Published online 2015 Nov 16. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.017341

BACKGROUND:

-The association between consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and risk of mortality remains inconclusive.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

-We examined the associations of consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee with risk of subsequent total and cause-specific mortality among 74,890 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), 93,054 women in the NHS 2, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Coffee consumption was assessed at baseline using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. During 4,690,072 person-years of follow-up, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died. Consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee were non-linearly associated with mortality. Compared to non-drinkers, coffee consumption one to five cups/d was associated with lower risk of mortality, while coffee consumption more than five cups/d was not associated with risk of mortality. However, when restricting to never smokers, compared to non-drinkers, the HRs of mortality were 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for ≤ 1 cup/d, 0.92 (0.87 to 0.97) for 1.1-3 cups/d, 0.85 (0.79 to 0.92) for 3.1-5 cups/d, and 0.88 (0.78 to 0.99) for > 5 cups/d (p for non-linearity = 0.32; p for trend < 0.001). Significant inverse associations were observed for caffeinated (p for trend < 0.001) and decaffeinated coffee (p for trend = 0.022). Significant inverse associations were observed between coffee consumption and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, and suicide. No significant association between coffee consumption and total cancer mortality was found.

CONCLUSIONS:

-Higher consumption of total coffee, caffeinated coffee, and decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of total mortality.

 

Although this particular paper found no significant effect on cancer, others did. Here's a review:

 

Gaascht F, Dicato M, Diederich M: Coffee provides a natural multitarget pharmacopeia against the hallmarks of cancer.

Genes Nutr. 2015 Nov; 10(6): 51. doi: 10.1007/s12263-015-0501-3, PMC4648805

Coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world after water with a consumption of approximately two billion cups per day. Due to its low cost and ease of preparation, it is consumed in almost all countries and by all social classes of the population through different modes of preparation. Despites its simple appearance, a cup of coffee is in fact a complex mixture that contains hundreds of molecules, the composition and concentration of which vary widely and depend on factors including the origin of the coffee tree or its metabolism. Although an excessive consumption of coffee can be harmful, many molecules that are present in this black decoction exert anticancer properties. This review aims to describe the different primary coffee-containing substances that exert chemopreventive and bioactive activities against the different hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer, thus explaining the anticancer health benefit of black coffee.

 

Ya think those benefits apply to decaf as well? 

 

 

I've seen more than a couple of papers on the anti-cancer nature of caffeine itself so that probably plays a part. Though there is much more to coffee so decaf is probably still a good idea.

 

Pro-tip: Coffee and cocoa powder can be mixed. Both have pretty big pools of evidence for various preventative measures so I bet there is some yet to be uncovered synergy between them. Delicious and alerting brew.

 

I already mix Coffee and cocoa. They are like different forms of the same thing. 

[kurdishfella]

All depends on how much and how often. Once or twice max a week is fine low dose preferably so it has no chance of building up in the blood. The less healthy you are or more healthy the less effect supplements have in the beginning. But giving yourself a lot of work to the point stress comes and doing the job well as opposed to bad helps with using up coffee and mind, benefit. And put yourself in cold weather causing sharp pains.

Edited by kurdishfella, 22 August 2021 - 05:59 AM.