Is That Second Cup of Coffee Really Good For You?

Source:  AHA

It may just be according to a recent study published in the journal, Circulation, of over 200,000 adults who were nonsmokers.  In this study, researchers look at their java-consuming habits over a 28-year period and found an association between drinking up to 5 cups of coffee daily and a lower risk of dying from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and neurological diseases, such as Parkinson�s disease and Alzheimer�s disease.

Interestingly, it didn�t matter if these folks drank regular or decaffeinated coffee, which led the researchers to believe that other compounds, such as phytochemicals and the mineral, magnesium, in the java may be providing the health benefit.

But before you start ordering that second mocha grande, keep in mind that the researchers used an 8 ounce serving as a measure of a �cup of coffee.�  If your daily coffee is served in one of these tumblers, you may be at the 5 cup maximum after your second order:

 

According to Ming Ding, MD, one of the researchers of the study, �Although our study showed that 5 cups of coffee was associated with a lower risk of mortality among never smokers, we suggest to consume a moderate amount of coffee.  The reason is that we do not know if coffee drinking has an acute effect on blood pressure.�  Chronic high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death among Americans.

Also keep in mind that this study looked at the coffee consumption habits of folks decades ago when coffees didn�t have designer names and weren�t jam-packed with tons of added sugars and calories.  As I reported in a recent posting, your daily coffees could be giving your diet a major calorie and sugar jolt. 

With the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that obesity is at an all-time high among American adults, you may want to savor the potential benefits of drinking coffee daily but order it without a ton of extras added to it.

I�ll have a small, regular coffee with (low fat) milk, please.

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake