Coffee and the Health Benefits and Health Risks Coffee Demonstrates

50% of adult Americans are regular coffee drinkers.  They drink an average of 3.5 cups each day.

That means that  330 million cups of coffee are consumed in America in any given day.  Coffee is the number two product in the world behind oil. Visit any Starbuck at 9 p.m. and you will see that it is a way of life and not just a drink.  It is the fuel that keeps American adults running.

You have your cup of coffee before you leave the house, you pick up a cup on your way to work and the company keeps a pot full and ready to keep you moving during the day.

Studies on coffee often have conflicting results.  Most state that there is more good in drinking coffee than is bad if you consume the average amount per day.  Some studies will state that may help lower type 2 diabetes risk in regular coffee drinks.  But, heavy coffee drinkers have an even higher risk reduction for type 2 diabetes.  It has been shown to reduce the occurrence of gallstones, the risk of Parkinson's disease, risk of colon cancer and liver cirrhosis in high risk people.  It has been shown to improve cognitive function and endurance.  It can also help with asthma, cavities, and headaches.

But, some experts say that the caffeine in the coffee raise blood pressure.  And, many Americans drink so much coffee each day that it increases their risk of stroke or heart attack by 20-30%.  Research has shown some conflicting information and state that this increase is due to genetics and not directly from the caffeine.

Other health risks that studies have found are: PMS symptoms increase in some women, conception problems in women, insomnia, heartburn, indigestion, and increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. 

But, even if caffeine plays a role in heart attacks, it is less than other risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking.

But, these studies don't say people should cut out all caffeine, but several cups a day may be too much for some people.