I was walking down a busy avenue in Boston recently and began counting the number of coffee shops that lined the street. Within a one-mile straight shoot, there were 9 shops, many of them with a long line of people trying to get their java fix. This isn�t a surprise to the National Coffee Association USA, who boast that coffee consumption is at an all-time high. Currently, over 60% of Americans drink coffee daily according to the Association.
Is all this coffee consumption good or not-so-good for you? Take this quiz to uncover the facts and alternative facts (myths) regarding coffee and your health.
| Fact | Myth | |
| Drinking 4 cups of coffee daily could shorten your life by 5 years. | ||
| Coffee beverages are a major source of added sugars in the diet of Americans. | ||
| If you have diabetes, you shouldn�t drink coffee. | ||
| Coffee contains healthy phytochemicals. |
Coffee and Longevity
A recent large research study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looking at the coffee intake of over 175,000 individuals, showed that a higher consumption of coffee intake, to the tune of 4 servings or more daily, was associated with a lower risk of dying among nonsmokers. In this study, those who smoked and drank coffee were found to be associated with a higher risk of dying.
But before you start refilling your office mug for the fourth time, keep in mind that the researchers in this study used an 8-ounce portion as a standard �cup� of coffee. I will bet a week�s paycheck (which isn�t a lot of money) that your mug holds at least 12 ounces (1.5 cups) if not, 16 ounces (2 cups) of coffee.
While the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that consuming 3 to 5 cups daily, the equivalent of 400 milligrams of caffeine, is not likely to cause harm or shorten your life in healthy folks be aware that you may have reached this amount after only your second refill of your over-sized mug.
Coffee and Sugar
Gone are the days when people are drinking their coffee unsweetened or with minimal added sugar. Sweetened coffee and tea beverages are a �top three� source of added sugars in the diets of Americans, trailing only soft drinks and fruit drinks. If the name of your favorite, supersized coffee beverage has a �ccino� ending, such as mocha-ccino, you could be consuming as much as seven teaspoons of added sugars, the equivalent of chugging about 8 ounces of soda. Consuming too much added sugars in your diet is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
The American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than nine teaspoons and women not more than six teaspoons of added sugars daily. One supersized coffee beverage could put you over the top.
Coffee and Diabetes
The good news is that research suggests that drinking coffee is associated with a decreased risk of developing diabetes. However, if your gourmet coffee is sweetened with sugar (see above) and lightened with cream, the beverage could weigh in at over 400 calories. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. With over 70 percent of Americans currently weighing more than is considered healthy, few of us can routinely be drinking these types of coffee beverages without it affecting the bathroom scale.
Coffee and Phytochemicals
Coffee comes from a plant so it shouldn�t be surprising that it is rich in plant (phyto) chemicals. Coffee is rich in chlorogenic acids, which are just one of the many compounds in coffee that have been shown to have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in the body. These phytochemicals may play a role in increasing longevity.
Be well, Joan
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