Over the years, drinking coffee has been a challenge. Experts even deepen this confusion in consumers by providing almost a balanced scale effect of coffee on consumers. However, the extent of numerous benefits and disadvantages of drinking coffee as a beverage is yet to be clearly ascertained, GODDIE OFOSE writes
Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in the world. While some researchers would strongly argue for the health benefits of drinking coffee, it is important to note that those who point to the negative health implications of coffee rely more on over-consumption of the product. They, however, acknowledge that moderate coffee consumption has its health benefits.
Nevertheless, experience has been the guiding principle among some coffee drinkers or those who detest it. While some drink it for enhancing mental and physical alertness, keeping fit, keeping the brain fresh for a day’s heavy activities and for other health benefits such as reduction of the “risks of certain types of cancer and heart diseases”, according to experts, other people avoid it, no matter the quantity, due to its potentiality to increase the heartbeat. Others don’t still drink it because of its deep bitter taste.
Recently, there was a study that examined a potential dose effect of coffee on energy intake and appetite related feelings in normal-weight and overweight/obese participants. The study found that a moderate coffee intake results in lower energy consumption in the subsequent meal as well as in the total day, compared to lower or no intake, only in overweight/obese participants.
A consultant nutritionist at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, Bartholomew Brai, has in a report dispelled some myths about coffee consumption, emphasising that moderate consumption is healthy for humans. He believed coffee consumption has more positive impact on human health.
“Coffee generally has more positive impact than negative effect on people’s health. Coffee is known to reduce the risks of certain types of cancer and heart diseases,” he said at a recent lecture entitled ‘The nutritional benefits of coffee’.
The nutritionist reportedly said that coffee could also help in reducing risks of certain ailments such as colon and liver cancer, type 2 diabetes, prevention of heart diseases and premature ageing.
Brai, however, warned that coffee should be consumed in moderation, adding that addiction and unrestrained consumption could impair health.
Experts have also said that coffee contains caffeine, antioxidants, fibre, diterpenes and micro nutrients.
Kemi Odukoya, a public health doctor and researcher, said at the lecture that antioxidants are very essential.
“Many people associate coffee with only caffeine. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants which are very important in the human’s metabolism.
“Coffee is the second drunk beverage after water. Over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed per year.”
Moderate consumption of coffee is encouraged, as health experts insist it has a lot of benefits.
“Many people run away from coffee because of the caffeine content, but we also find caffeine in pepper, mushroom, kolanut, tea, carbonated soft drinks, chocolate, cocoa and energy drinks,” Odukoya said.
In his comment, Akinsanya Olusegun-Joseph, cardiologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja, said moderate consumption of coffee might impact positively on life expectancy. He noted in a report that coffee was one of the good healthy beverages and it also helped to reduce the risk factors of some diseases.
He said: “Coffee moderately reduces the incidence of dying from cardiovascular disease. Coffee consumption may protect against heart failure, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson disease, liver cancer, gall bladder disease and stroke.”
A report, which quoted National Coffee Association of America and which said drinking coffee has become a normal daily routine for large number of people worldwide, put number of cups of coffee consumed every day in America at nearly 400 million.
The published report agrees that coffee is a complex mixture of chemicals consisting of thousands of components. Recent research has found that coffee is one of the major sources of antioxidants in the diet and has potential beneficial effects on cognitive function.
In a study, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, U.S.A. provided more benefits of drinking coffee. It agrees that coffee is a complex drink, made of over 1,000 different compounds, many of which exert health effects on the body.
According to its report, the two most significant and biologically active compounds in coffee are: caffeine – a potent stimulant, with effects similar to other stimulants, including speeding of the heart rate and opening of the airways to the lung, and chlorogenic acid – an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.
On the flip side, according the The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study, coffee has its fair share of harmful effects.
“Coffee has been connected to anxiety, insomnia, and tremors. Coffee can lead to occasional skipped heart beats, which people often describe as palpitations.”
Experts have also advised that “like everything in life, excess consumption of coffee may be detrimental to health. With all its health benefits, excessive consumption of coffee is not advised” as it can also lead to restlessness, palpitation, agitation and high heartbeat.