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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – I’m one of those people who can’t wait for that first sip of coffee in the morning. I realize that biologically that sip does nothing for my body. There are no calories to get me going. There is, at best, only a trace of caffeine, so it provides little to energize me. There are no vitamins or minerals to nourish me. Yet, nonetheless, I am sure I am not alone when I say I crave that first cup. So, why do we love coffee so much?
In a very recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers attempted to better understand the bitter taste perception in coffee and other bitter beverages. They discovered that people who are the most sensitive to coffee’s bitterness drank the most coffee. This result doesn’t make sense because our bitter taste evolved as a natural warning system to protect the body from harmful substances. By evolutionary logic, we should be spitting coffee out not drinking it. Marilyn Cornelis, an assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the lead researchers, believes that that those who regularly drink coffee acquire a taste for the bitterness or are able to detect caffeine due to a learned positive stimulation caused by the caffeine. In other words, they associate the bitter taste of coffee with something good.
The more than 400,000 people in the recent study are not alone in loving coffee. According to the National Coffee Association 64% of US adults drink coffee every day and 82% drink it in the morning. So, you are not alone in craving that morning cup.
Is your coffee vice a healthy habit? Turns out it is. For once, something we love and enjoy is also good for us. Drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day means you will probably live longer than those who do not drink any coffee. Because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, drinking coffee is more often associated with benefits for a wide range of health concerns.
Drinking coffee consistently is associated with a lower risk for all types of heart disease with the largest reduction in risk seen in those that drink 3 cups a day. Drinking more coffee does not increase the benefit but also appears to cause little harm.
Drinking coffee lowers the risk for a number of cancers including prostate, endometrial, melanoma, skin cancer and liver cancer.
Coffee is especially protective of the liver reducing the risk for liver fibrosis (thickening and scarring of tissues), cirrhosis (scar tissue damage), and chronic liver disease.
Those who drink coffee have a lowered risk for type 2 diabetes, gallstones, gout and kidney stones. And, we are seeing a positive association between coffee drinking and Parkinson’s disease, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
But with all good news there are is always some bad news. Coffee may increase the risk for fractures in women but the association is modest and may only occur when calcium intake is low. Men who drink coffee, however, have a lower risk of breaking a bone.
Many weight loss aids contain caffeine claiming it will act like an appetite suppressant. Drinking black coffee has been suggested as well. Sadly, neither work.
Pregnant women should reduce their intake of coffee to a cup or two a day or switch to decaf. The half-life of caffeine doubles during pregnancy which means that the dose of caffeine from one cup will be higher than when a woman is not pregnant because caffeine is broken down more slowly. Caffeine also easily crosses the placenta and the unborn baby has limited ability to break it down. During pregnancy less is best.
Decaf coffee is very similar to regular coffee, except it has little or no caffeine. Drinking decaf does reduce the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes but it has only marginal benefits on the risk for cancer.
Bottom line: If you love your morning coffee, continue to enjoy it. Plus, a cup or two later in the day won’t hurt either. This advice may be particularly beneficial for those age 45 and older. Coffee drinkers live longer!
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books.
Available as eBooks from iTunes and Kindle/Amazon:
Diabetes Counter – the most up-to-date information on managing diabetes
Calorie Counter – a weight loss guide that won’t let you down
Protein Counter – put the latest protein recommendations to work for you
Healthy Wholefoods Counter – planet-friendly eating made easy
Complete Food Counter – food counts and nutrition information at your fingertips
Fat and Cholesterol Counter – newest approach to heart-healthy eating
Available in print from Gallery Books:
Most Complete Food Counter, 3rd Ed.
Your Complete Food Counter App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-complete-food-counter/id444558777?mt=8
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com.