Coffee: A Healthy Beverage Or Dangerous To Consume?
Do you drink coffee? From a venti iced Starbucks drink pumped full of fun syrups to a simple black coffee, millions of Americans enjoy the drink. A survey published in The Journal of Nutrition titled “Coffee Drinking is Widespread in the United States, but Usual Intake Varies by Key Demographic and Lifestyle Factors” estimated that 75% of U.S. citizens aged 20 or older report drinking coffee, with 49% drinking coffee daily. But despite coffee’s flavor and the hit of caffeine, should we be drinking it?
The Harvard Gazette noted the strange origins of coffee, saying, “A herder who noticed how jumpy his goats got after eating the berries of an arabica plant gave some of the berries to a local monk,” who then created a tea with the arabica beans. The same article explained that coffee shops were “the internet of their day,” as enlightenment philosophy was commonly spread over the drinking of this beverage.
Coffee shops have been popping up over the past decades, becoming local hangout spaces and ideal spots for study or work. According to Antonella Samoggia and Bettina Riedel, coffee consumers enjoy innovative coffee creations, high-quality coffee and the potential health benefits. Because of the increase in popularity and easy access to specialty coffee, the coffee market is steadily growing. A report by Grand View Research said that the coffee market will grow by an estimated 5.4% by the year 2030.
As with all food we consume on a regular basis, coffee’s effects on health should be considered. Samoggia and Riedel explained that the average coffee drinker is unaware of the drink’s potential benefits, meaning that coffee is rarely consumed for health reasons. However, coffee consumption can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, numerous cancers, the development of Type 2 diabetes and even premature death.
An aspect of coffee many people enjoy or even rely on is caffeine. Many people drink coffee for caffeine intake, which boosts productivity or wakefulness, as explained by Frank B. Hu and Walter C. Willett. Drinking coffee during or before long work hours can help people stay alert and attentive. Hu and Willett noted that caffeine has many health advantages. It stimulates mental performance and reduces the risk of liver diseases, depression and Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine can also be used medically to relieve pain and treat breathing issues in infants.
Although, caffeine can also pose a health risk for some. Significant intake of caffeine later in the day makes it harder to fall asleep, which in turn lessens quality of sleep. Hu and Willett said that caffeine can increase anxiety and short-term blood pressure levels. Major consumption of caffeine during pregnancy could even lower a baby’s birth weight or increase the risk of pregnancy loss. Caffeine is, unfortunately, an addictive drug, which can cause serious headaches when someone enters withdrawal.
Even when one disregards its caffeine, coffee can have negative effects. Many specialty coffee drinks are high in sugar and artificial sweeteners. Significant sugar consumption is associated with obesity, diabetes and heart issues. Coffee may carry health benefits, but added sugars do not. Additionally, acids used in coffee can discolor teeth over time.
The biggest danger of coffee is not coffee itself, but how it’s consumed. Coffee full of added sugars will not provide health benefits and may increase the health risks. The simpler, less sugar-filled cups of coffee, however, can be healthy to habitually drink.
Westling is an opinion writer for the Liberty Champion.