Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.
The good ole cup of Joe! Some can’t do without it, some just
like a cup once in a while. Is it good for you or not? Is the caffeine bad?
Let’s look at what some recent research has to say.
Most people have been told, and believe, that coffee is bad
for you. I’ve heard it called, “sin in a cup.” But, as with many notions
derived from lack of actual research, it isn’t true. Coffee actually shows some
beneficial properties. The greatest benefit comes to those in middle age and
beyond.
A 10 year study showed that people who drank four cups of
coffee per day had a 64% decrease in their risk of dying of any cause. Among
those over 45, every two cups of coffee per day reduced their risk of dying by
30%; no such association was seen in younger adults. This study did account for
variables such as gender, lifestyle, overall diet and other demographic
information, such as smoking, sugar consumption and other factors. In all
cases, these factors didn’t impact the lowered death risk for coffee drinkers.