SCIENCE! Coffee

In this SCIENCE! we look at some evidence regarding coffee and your health.

Coffee is the world's second most traded commodity behind only oil. It is ubiquitous in kitchens, cafes, and break rooms. But as we know, common does not equal good...

I frequently see patients with high blood pressure who say, 'Doc, I just drank a mug of coffee so of course my blood pressure is high today.' Should I listen to them? Should I blame the coffee?

One of the most respected journals for Internal Medicine physicians (doctors for adults), the Annals of Internal Medicine, published two studies on coffee in their August 2017 issue.

The first study found that drinking coffee was associated with a decreased risk of death in several different ethnic groups. Previous studies have shown that coffee is associated with decreased risk of cancer, diabetes, liver disease, and Parkinson disease. This study did not mention whether the participants used cream or sugar in their coffee. It did explain that the benefit was present whether people drank regular or decaffeinated coffee.

The second study looked at ten European countries, coffee consumption, and death. The summary is that coffee consumption reduced the risk of death and improved cholesterol, liver inflammation, inflammation in general, and insulin sensitivity (which is good).

With this information, we at Refine generally recommend drinking coffee to our clients. There are rare people with heart rhythm problems who should drink decaffeinated coffee in place of regular. Even more rare is the person who should avoid even decaffeinated coffee. We believe drinking coffe without added sugar is best. There are exceptions - please consult your physician if you have any medical conditions.

To work with us to develop your own personalized nutrition plan, contact us at contact@refinewellnessconsulting.com or on the CONTACT page.