is coffee that bad for you?

While caffeine is not GOOD for you - you can have it in moderation. I certainly do - everyday! Just drink additional water to counter the caffeine!

Caffiene (and alcohol) for that matter, are diauretics (sp)...I.E, they make you go to the bathroom. If your Caffiene and Alcohol intake is higher than your Water intake, you're going to have a problem, as you'll eventually be dehydrating the body.

1-2 cups a day is fine as caffiene does have benefits of alertnes and mental stimulation in the body. Just make sure it's balanced off with 2 cups of water for every cup of coffee you have.

You've got the right idea with Milk instead of Cream (simple low calorie choice), and sweetener is a matter of personal preference.

Personally for me, I find the real sugar in my coffee is negligible and can easily be incorporated in my diet based on the entire day. Also a personal preference over an artificial sweetener, simply as I choose a diet based on nothing artificial.

I don't believe caffeine is bad for you in moderation. However, it is a diuretic, so you may want to make sure you're getting enough water during the rest of the day. I have my coffee with either a little half and half or a lot of 2%. I have weaned myself off adding sugar, but I know that isn't for everyone. The point is to keep careful track of what you're adding and the calories involved...

Just like what everyone else said, it is not the coffee that makes the drink bad, but what people put in the coffee that makes it bad. But fat free milk and splenda aren't bad either, so I think as long as you have plenty of water and drink coffee in moderation, you shouldn't have a problem.

I personally would have a problem, cause my coffee has to be white instead of black. I hate the taste of coffee unless there is so much cream and sugar in it that you can't tell it's coffee anymore, lol. :flowerforyou:

Have a cup in the AM with soy creamer and you're fine!!! I do it every morning and I'm losing weight. This is not about punishing yourself it's about moderation.

Health Benefits of Coffee
An Excellent Source of Antioxidant Protection

Mar 18, 2010 Fiona Wilkinson
Rich in antioxidants, coffee may protect against heart disease, keep blood pressure steady and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Coffee is packed with antioxidants that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have shown coffee can lessen the likelihood of diabetes, may decrease gallstone formation in men and in some cases, lower incidences of Parkinson’s. Other positive studies on the health benefits of coffee have shown that caffeine increases exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure. On the downside, other research has shown caffeine in coffee may increase the risk of early miscarriage in normal pregnancy.

Coffee and Antioxidants

Coffee increases antioxidants in the blood. Two antioxidants responsible for the health benefits of coffee are chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Both are powerful antioxidants and coffee beans are one of the richest sources of chlorogenic acid. Estimates suggest that coffee drinkers may intake as much as one gram of chlorogenic acid and 500mg of caffeic acid per day. A 2004 Norwegian study reported in the Journal of Nutrition concluded that coffee was the largest contributor to the participants total antioxidant intake. Another study on postmenopausal women came to the conclusion that drinking coffee was a major source of dietary antioxidants and could inhibit inflammation and risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

Caffeine’s Effect on Blood Pressure

Caffeine can increase blood pressure and some studies have found people who drink coffee regularly have a higher average blood pressure than those who don’t. However, other research has shown caffeine may raise blood pressure for a few minutes or even hours, but in the long run does not cause hypertension. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested caffeine in cola may increase the risk for high blood pressure but caffeine in coffee did not produce the same results. Researchers found that caffeine in coffee may actually promote a reduced risk of high blood pressure in the long term.

Coffee and Blood Sugar Levels

Many people believe coffee raises blood sugar levels and insulin substantially. Current research suggest otherwise. A Finnish study reported in Hormone and Metabolic Research found coffee had an inverse relationship with fasting insulin and blood sugar markers. Researchers concluded coffee could reduce the risk of type II diabetes. They found the antioxidant chlorogenic acid reduces the absorption of glucose slowing the release of sugar into the bloodstream after a meal. However, caffeine counteracts this effect so decaffeinated coffee may be a good alternative for diabetics or anyone with hypoglycaemia.

Caffeine Side Effects

Excessive caffeine intake may produce unpleasant side effects such as increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, headaches, anxiety, depression and difficulty sleeping. Moderate use is recommended by the American Medical Association. Some of these symptoms may also occur as withdrawal symptoms if coffee intake is stopped abruptly. Reducing caffeine intake slowly should help to avoid any nasty caffeine withdrawal side effects.

Lifes too short if you like coffee then have it!

Caffeine: Your Fitness Fuel

The chemical structure of caffeine closely resembles that of adenosine, a sleep-promoting compound. Caffeine crowds out adenosine by binding to its receptors in your brain and in muscle cells. Nerve cells begin to fire rapidly. The cortisol may reduce your rate of perceived exertion and level of pain, helping to increase performance.

Your hypothalamus signals an emergency to your pituitary gland, which triggers the flow of stress hormones from your adrenal glands.

* eyes dilate
* blood vessels constrict
* liver releases sugar

Caffeine helps calcium flood into muscle cells, so more muscle fibers are recruited.

Adrenaline frees fatty acids into your blood, preserving starch stores for long term energy, while sugar from the liver serves as instant energy.



Stolen from Men's Health.

there are benefits for most people, and there is a downside if you have severe reflux, ulcerative colitis, or crohn's disease.

it is a good idea to moderate. as with any other food issue, don't believe what you read on blogs, including what i just posted. find out from yourself from legitimate sources. i recommend pubmed. those are actual scientific papers rather than rants composed by anti-everything woo-woos.