"Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies. "For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good." Colas or sodas containing caffeine are more problematic and less supportive for health than coffee.
Caffeinated Coffee Positives
Caffeine is a stimulant, and coffee contains much more caffeine than any other food or beverage form. It's obvious that most coffee drinkers are in need of that morning wake up boost. The need to stay awake and alert when lacking sleep or getting sleepy is another need for coffee. It seems that in dreary, rainy and overcast areas, coffee acts as a mood elevator for the general populace. For example, Seattle is a heavy coffee drinking location.
The health claims for coffee stem from the fact that coffee beans with the caffeine intact contain lots of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential to maintaining DNA cellular health to stave off cancer and aging. Those health claims, based on international research, conclude that coffee consumption helps diminish the probability of the following maladies:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Colon Cancer
- Liver Cirrhosis
There is also evidence that caffeine is useful for reducing the discomfort of asthma attacks and headaches.
Negative Java Attributes
According to Dr. Leonard Horowitz, caffeine is acidic. Unlike limes or lemons, which he asserts are helpful for boosting one's pH or fluid alkaline levels, caffeine does not go alkaline when consumed. It remains acidic, thus lowering one's fluid pH or alkaline levels. Lower pH levels mean weaker immune systems. A high enough pH reading indicates an illness and disease resistant immune system.
Another negative offered by Dr. Tracy Kim, a homeopathic practitioner in Los Angeles, is that caffeine can deplete or exhaust the adrenal energy. Caffeine causes the brain to trigger the adrenal glands. He has observed this with treating clients who are heavy coffee drinkers. Ayurvedic doctors caution against exceeding past the morning jolt with coffee consumption as well. Ayurveda is an ancient healing art from India that predates Chinese medicine.
As a diuretic, caffeine can compel one to drain the bladder at inconvenient times. As one depends on coffee for more and more energy, the danger of exhausted or depleted adrenals is imminent. Even most coffee drinkers are aware of the jitters, tension, and insomnia that too much coffee consumption can induce. Worse, though rare, caffeinism mimics more serious clinical mental disorders, such as bi-polar and schizophrenia.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Any discomfort from drinking coffee can be considered a toxic reaction. The liver and kidneys do work on eliminating caffeine, even though the effects of caffeine remain for hours. It's obvious that there are two sides of the caffeinated coffee coin.
It may be a good idea to purchase pH strips to get a reading of one's fluid alkalinity levels. This way the acidity of caffeine can be monitored accurately. Testing either saliva or urine with the strips is workable. The closer to 7.5 the reading, the more alkaline the pH is, and the healthier the immune system. Cancer victims have been found to have pH readings closer to 5.
While it is comforting to know that drinking coffee is not all bad as thought before, moderation is still worthy of consideration. Each coffee drinker needs to know his or her own level of caffeine excess.
Resources:
WebMD, Coffee:The New Health Food?
TAT, Tips and Treats: Coffee Tips, November 19th, 2005
Dr. Leonard Horowitz: radio interviews and website
Liz Harper: Caffeine & Its Adverse Health Effects
 |
