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Is Coffee Good or Bad For You?

Caffeine is a highly addictive compound that many people have come to depend on for the perception of increased energy. Caffeine keeps you going by preventing the chemical adenosine from telling the brain it's time to relax.

The result is a surge of unnatural energy; but over time, the brain becomes accustomed to the threshold and requires even greater amounts of caffeine to provide the same increase in alertness. This is what makes caffeine products such as coffee so addictive and it explains why the lines at coffee shops are always so long.

Did You Know? Over 70% of the world's coffee supply may be contaminated with toxic pesticides and chemicals. It's estimated that just one cup of coffee contains thousands of chemicals, many of which are gastrointestinal irritants and cancer-causing agents. Also, The high heat used in roasting coffee beans causes the natural oils to turn rancid, further contributing to its chemical load.

That said, I always try to provide you with the good and the bad and talk about the key factor (MODERATION) with consuming any potentially toxic food or beverage. Ever since I talked about the dangers of drinking energy drinks, I frequently get questions asking me if drinking coffee in moderation ( 3-4 cups weekly) is OK.

So I did a little research (keeping an open mind) on the health benefits, as well as the negative health effects of drinking coffee. I must be honest and say I do enjoy a cup of organic coffee from time to time but when I do drink coffee I always take 1 capsule of MegaHydrate before I drink it, to help neutralize any potential toxins or volatile oils.

I will leave it up to you to determine whether or not you should drink coffee after evaluating the following research.

The Benefits to Drinking Coffee

1. Antioxidants - Organic Coffee is full of antioxidants which help reduce oxidation, cell damage, and aging.
2. Parkinson's Disease - Studies from Saaksjarvi et. al show that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's Disease.^{[1] [2] [3]}
3. Type 2 Diabetes - Other studies show that coffee consumption make protect us against type 2 diabetes.^[4]
4. Liver, Gallstones & Kidney Stones - There is a small amount of evidence that coffee may also protect us against cirrhosis of the liver, gallstones, kidney stones.^[5]
5. Cognitive Function - Caffeine is a stimulate. Drinking coffee has been shown to increase mental attention in the short term. Some have even suggested that by drinking coffee, we can better cognitive function.^{[6] [7]}
6. Alzheimer's Disease - Some studies show that habitual coffee drinking may protect us against developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.^{[8] [9] [10]}

The Dangers of Drinking Coffee

And now, here's a list of the negative effects of drinking coffee.

1. Heart Disease - There is controversial scientific evidence linking coffee consumption to heart diseases. Some studies even state that "consumption is associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease." These same studies have shown a cholesterol-raising effect in some of the chemical compounds of coffee, such as determines, cafestol, kahweol and plasma homocysteine. This may be of-set by some of the antioxidants, but the overall agreement is that coffee may adversely effect the heart.^{[11] [12]}
2. Blood Vessels - Coffee disturbs the functioning of blood vessels, both in turgidity and tone.^[13]
3. Cardiovascular System - Coffee affects our nervous system, heart rhythms and has been consistently linked to irregular heartbeats. It may also adversely affect blood pressure.^[14]
4. Osteoporosis - Coffee drinking should be heavily avoided by people at risk, or who have Osteoporosis. Studies show a link between drinking coffee and urinary calcium excretion.^[15]
5. Heartburn - Many people report that coffee increases heartburn.^[16]
6. Sleep Disturbance - Coffee, particularly in the evening or at night, can lead to sleep disturbance.^[17]
7. Dehydration - Drinking coffee depletes water reserves in the body.^[18]
8. Addiction - While the FDA recognizes caffeine as "safe," it is still a drug, as it significantly alters the nervous system, leading to addiction over time. [19]
9. Extreme Withdrawal Symptoms - You may experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to give up coffee. This can lead to headaches, irritability, body aches, and other more extreme symptoms.^{[20] [21] [22]}

Read the full article at Dr. Group's Blog.