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(Source of article below: Coffee & Tea Connoisseur. Note from the source: Our attorneys told us that we have to answer this one with a disclaimer. So here it goes... The answers provided in here by us are not to be used in place of your physicians recommendations and all readers are recommended to obtain and follow their own doctor's advice. This response simply offers our opinion on the subject or provides information collected from other sources and it is NOT offered and it shall NOT be taken as medical advice in any way or form. )
Is caffeine harmful to me? Experiments conducted in the recent past, trying to link birth defects, cancer and coronary heart disease to the intake of coffee (caffeine) have been unsuccessful or conflicting at best. Physiological effects of caffeine on the human body are somewhat understood and well documented. The main physiological effect of caffeine appears to be as a stimulant of the central nervous system and most of the effects observed are behavioral in nature. Caffeine is associated with an increase in intellectual activity, but this seems to be significant only when the individual is fatigued or bored. Similarly, caffeine has been linked with sleeping problems and although there is evidence to support this, the variation from individual to individual is considerable. Caffeine has also an effect on the cardiovascular system by relaxation of the smooth muscles of blood vessels and an increase in heart output. However, the observed increase in blood pressure disappeared after repeated ingestion of caffeine (250 mg. 3 times a day for 7 days). The reasons for this adaptive process are not clear. Caffeine has been proven to increase gastric acid secretion, therefore is a preferred after-meal beverage. Although there is no clear evidence to link excessive coffee consumption with incidence of peptic ulcers, coffee (caffeine) ingestion is clearly undesirable for ulcerated persons. Persons with ulcers should avoid the increase gastric acids in their stomachs. Pregnant women should reduce the intake of coffee, tea, soda or any caffeinated beverage to moderate amounts. Caffeine intake in moderation is believed to be safe during pregnancy, as stated by the US Food and Drug Administration and the American Medical Association. In 1991, caffeine was blamed by a Swedish study as contributing to the increase in cholesterol level. In 1994, this report was discredited as confusing coffee lipids with cholesterol contributing agents. Decaffeinated coffees were more recently linked to increases in cholesterol. This study was later proven conflicting and doubtful. Another study later showed caffeine contributing to the decrease in cholesterol, this is also doubtful. The coffee controversy is not new, it has been continuing for centuries long. The first controversy dates back to the introduction of coffee into Europe. Pope Clement VIII was asked by the Roman clergy to ban the brew because it was the "Devil's drink". Well, this was a retaliation move for the Islam banning wine as a "Demonic drink". Fortunately, the Pope liked the coffee so much he blessed it, converting it into a Christian beverage. The 15th Century coffee houses, became so popular that they were identified as dens of immorality and vice. Coffee houses and coffee were extremely popular in the 17th Century London (they were the origin of Lloyd's of London and many other big enterprises). Historians claim that coffee houses drew men from their homes making lonely wives (banned from coffee houses) angry at the beverage. A petition drafted complaining, requesting the closure of these coffee houses and a large advertisement in favor of tea, converted this coffee loving nation into tea drinkers. Colonial America would have followed London's tea preference, with the exception of the "Boston Tea Party" which changed all that and much more. Be your own judge, most people can enjoy coffee on a regular
basis without adverse effects. Moderation is key, but moderation is differently measured
by each individual. Coffee is decaffeinated by removing 97% or more of the naturally existing caffeine from the green beans before roasting. Some common methods of extracting caffeine are:
Water Process. After the beans soak for several hours, the
water is drawn off and passed through activated charcoal or carbon filters to remove the
caffeine. The water, still containing other flavor elements, is added back to the beans.
This is often called the "Swiss Water Process
How much caffeine does coffee contain? The species of the plant and the geographic region and
altitude of growth determine a coffee's caffeine content. Normally, the lower the altitude
of growth, the higher the caffeine content of the bean. For example, robusta coffee -- the
other principal botanical species, which is used primarily in blended, canned coffees
--normally has twice the caffeine content of arabica (specialty or gourmet) coffee. A
five-ounce cup of coffee will contain from 75 to 155 milligrams (.0026 to .0054 ounces) of
caffeine, depending on the type of bean, brewing method and amount of coffee used. The
percentage content in arabica coffee is the lowest in caffeine with 1.53%. The robustas
contain 6% on the average. More on health, coffee and coffee intake This update was extracted from information published originally in the New York Times. For a full reference read "Good News About Coffee" by Jane E. Brody, New York Times, September 13, 1995. Also a reprint was published in the Reader's Digest, September 1996, page 141. Moderate consumption of caffeine, defined as two to four cups of coffee a day, has been found to be of no major concern. Caffeine effects are similar to those of amphetamines, but milder. Caffeine stimulates making people feel more alert and less fatigued. Caffeine also helps by dilating heart arteries, hence increasing blood flow; its effect on head arteries is to constrict, helping to counter migraine headaches. Cholesterol Problems. More recent studies have associated claims of increased cholesterol to coffee oils and not directly to caffeine, as previously believed. These coffee oils are mostly extracted when brewing coffee with paper filters, the oils are left behind during the brewing process. Heart Problems. The 1980s studies relating heart problems to excessive coffee drinking (five cups or more), were discarded by a more recent report which showed no increase in heart attacks for people who drank six cups of coffee or more. Drinking decaf coffee showed no drop in cholesterol levels. Cancer Problems. In 1981, a Harvard research linked coffee to pancreatic cancer. At least seven major studies failed to confirm this link. The original researchers retracted their findings five years later. Similar scares linking coffee to breast cancer have been discarded by later studies. A Harvard study of 121,700 nurses found no risk of breast cancer associated to coffee. In actuality the study revealed fewer nurses with breast cancer among those drinking coffee than with abstainers. [Note: This study did NOT conclusively establish that drinking coffee reduces breast cancer.] A similar inverse relationship was established between coffee drinkers and colon/rectum cancer. A Boston University study of 5,138 cancer patients concluded that there was a 40% lower risk of developing colon cancer for those drinking five cups of coffee or more. Pregnancy Problems. Premature birth and low birth weight has been also associated, in the past, to coffee consumption. More recently, smoking has been found to be the major culprit in pregnancy problems. However, the Food And Drug Administration still advises prudence and moderation with coffee, during pregnancy. [Note: We fully agree with eliminating or reducing coffee, tea, cocoa, soda and any other harsh food intake during pregnancy; it is not worth taking the chance. No study is conclusive enough in one way or another.] Osteoporosis Problems. There is some evidence to link caffeine to a negative effect with calcium metabolism. Women who drink caffeinated products lose more calcium through urine and tend to have less dense bones than non-caffeine drinkers. Drinking at least a daily glass of milk for every two cups of coffee may offset the calcium loss. Weight Loss. Here are some good news for weight lose enthusiasts. Caffeine increases the caloric burning rate. According to a Danish study of normal weight volunteers, one cup of coffee has been found to raise the metabolic rate by three to four percent. This caloric burn rate is even greater with exercise. Caffeine seems to make body fat more readily available as fuel to exersizing muscles. Muscles work longer before they fatigue. According to Dr. James Mills of the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development, "some of the most serious hazards that were
linked to caffeine in the past haven't panned out".
Are coffee trees sprayed with chemicals to protect against insect infestations? In some areas, chemicals are needed to control insects.
Spraying may touch coffee cherries. The coffee beans are practically unaffected. These are
covered by layers of pulp (or fruit), parchment and silver skin. These components are
removed in the processing of coffee, taking the chemical residue with them. Further, the
roasting and brewing of coffees exposes any residues of chemicals to high temperature,
hence further assuring their elimination. Organically grown coffees are available in extremely limited supply. By US Federal guidelines, an organically grown coffee cannot have been exposed to herbicides, pesticides, insecticides or commercially produced fertilizers. The price for organically grown coffees is significantly higher than non-organically grown coffees . In our opinion, there is no value in purchasing organically grown coffees. Many organically grown coffees come from farms which have been recently converted into organic farms. Well, a farm which has been submitted to pesticides and herbicides or other decades-long chemical treatments, will not suddenly become a clean, pesticide-free coffee farm, at least not in our life time. Farm certification programs to determine "Organic" are based on laboratory tests paid by the companies interested in obtaining certification. There are no Government based or truly independent verification test organizations. We have so far, not heard of any one seeking certification and not obtaining it. So, we are a bit skeptic about the overall "Organic Certification" program. And here is more, we can see why anyone would be concerned about eating a fruit or a raw vegetable which has been sprayed with chemicals. This can be obviously harmful as the result of the fruit being directly exposed to chemicals. But lets take a rational look at the coffee processing and the potential for chemical residues in the cup. Chemical spraying may touch coffee cherries. The coffee beans are practically unaffected; these are covered by layers of pulp (or fruit), parchment and silver skin. All of which is removed in the processing of coffee (coffee beans are the coffee seed), taking large amounts of chemical residues with them. Now, lets assume that there are residues of chemicals in the remaining coffee beans. Coffee beans are subject to days long drying which can extract some of these chemical residues. Further, coffee is then roasted at temperatures in the range of 350-500oF which would remove any remaining chemicals. As a final step we all brew the coffee, submitting coffee to heat (approx. 200oF), once more. Any residues of chemicals at this point should be minimal and insignificant. Please note that the above opinions are based solely on rational and theoretical knowledge of chemistry. We have not performed any tests to prove our theory, but we feel that our opinions are reasonable and obvious to anyone with basic knowledge of science. The only issue remaining is what, if any residues may remain in the coffee cup. In summary, we believe that the organic coffee industry is
aimed at extracting additional income from the consumer and it has not proven, to our
satisfaction, the need or the authenticity of organic coffees. We like to thank Coffee & Tea Connoisseur for
giving us permission to reprint portions of their article or FAQs relating to coffee and
health. |
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