Coffee:

By Nebil Abdillahi

Debates continue about possible harm from drinking too much of Americas favorite brew:

Coffee is one the most popular drugs in America and is used by million of people. Coffee became popular in households as a wakeup ingredient, and people drink all day in order to stay alert. It’s become a staple of life. It is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, and coffee lovers can be found everywhere. Unfortunately, coffee may do damage as well as keep you awake. Coffee has been linked to serious health problems such as: high blood pressure and heart attacks.
In spite of these problems, America is on of the leading coffee consumers in the world. According to Nation’s Business magazine, the country’s average aficionado enjoys about 3.5 cups each day. And the US is the world’s largest importer of coffee beans. Coffee is produced from coffee beans and has no nutritional value, but does contain caffeine, which is known for raising blood pressure. In this country, about one in three adults have high blood pressure. According to Nation’s Business, healthy men who drank three to six ups of coffee experienced a significant blood pressure increase, which declined when they stopped drinking it. Also, another study done at Stanford U. indicated that when men who normally drank three to six cups of coffee per day quit, their blood pressure dropped. The researchers suggested that men suffering from high blood pressure should abstain from drinking the beverage.
Despite proof from studies done on the hazards of coffee, some people rely on coffee as part of their life. This reporter has known a few people who swear that they could not face the world without it. One attraction of coffee comes from caffeine, which seems to produce alertness and energy with less fatigue. There is no question that caffeine is an addictive drug; it has the same method as cocaine and heroin, which use to stimulate the brain.

Some people believe that decaffeinated coffee is better than regular coffee, but most people are not aware of the ingredients used to process or make decaffeinated coffee. Just because the coffee is decaffeinated does not mean it’s harmless. In fact, some experts believe that regular coffee is better than decaffeinated coffee. According to Science News, researchers report that decaffeinated coffee-may nudge cholesterol levels, a direct increase of heart risk. The 16-week study, directed by H. Robert Superko of the U. of California Center, involved 181 healthy, nonsmoking men who routinely drank three to six cups of coffee per day.
Eight weeks later, they randomly assigned each man to one of three regiments, with some being switched to decaf coffee. The study found that those who drank regular coffee showed no change in blood cholesterol levels. The decaffeinated group experienced a 6% increase in cholesterol (so-called “bad” cholesterol). The study suggested that the results of the tests are because caffeinated coffee usually comes from Arabic beans. On the other hand, most decaffeinated blends are from the robust bean. Studies also suggested that companies used certain kinds of acids to remove caffeine from coffee. And experts believe that these acids cause the blood cholesterol to rise.
Obviously, coffee does more damage than people care to admit. If you are one those people who slurp five to six cups a day, you should adjust your coffee intake. Like anything else in this world, whether it’s coffee, food, alcohol, or sex, the key word is moderation.

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This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or condition. Consult your primary health care provider if you have or suspect you have any physical ailments