Is Coffee Harmful to Your Health?
Research Suggests That Your Personal Health Profile Holds the Answer
Coffee drinking increases the risk for a number of medical problems in susceptible individuals, as well as sabotaging efforts to maintain a healthy body weight.
Health Risks Associated with Drinking Coffee
Drinking coffee provides a number of health benefits, including reduced risk for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, colon cancer and even suicide. However, on the negative side, coffee can cause a number of problems for susceptible individuals, particularly in large doses:
- Acid imbalance - Caffeine can cause indigestion, skin irritations and arthritic flare-ups.
- Hypoglycemia - Caffeine causes a release of glycogen by the liver, which can generate wild swings in blood sugar, causing attacks of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypoglycemia has a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including weakness, nervousness, sweating and heart palpitations. Some sufferers even have difficulty speaking during an attack.
- Increased cholesterol - In some individuals, coffee can raise cholesterol, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
- Infertility, miscarriages and low birth weights among babies - Women who are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant should avoid excess caffeine consumption, which may increase the risk for a variety of fertility problems. While research results have been mixed, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women consume no more than 1 to 2 cups of coffee per day.
- Kidney stones and gout - These conditions can result from the strain that caffeine puts on the kidneys.
- Nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and trembling - Excess caffeine can overstimulate the central nervous system. This not only causes anxiety in susceptible individuals, but can also exhaust the adrenal glands over time, decreasing resistance to stress and thus increasing vulnerability to disease pathogens and other health hazards.
- Osteoporosis: Because coffee prevents the full absorption of necessary minerals, it increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Women who consume 300 mg (2-3 cups) or more of coffee per day suffer accelerated loss of spinal bone mass. However, there are indications that these negative effects can be mitigated by adding milk.
- Possible addiction: People who quit coffee often experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headache, decreased energy and alertness, difficulty concentrating, and even irritability and depression. These symptoms usually begin within 12-24 hours of quitting caffeine and hit a peak within 20-51 hours. Overall, symptoms tend to last anywhere from 2-9 days.
- Stretch marks – Caffeine consumption increases the risk of developing stretch marks.
- Weight gain – Caffeine increases the risk of long-term weight gain by increasing stress hormones and creating a greater risk for hypoglycemia, which stimulates appetite. Although caffeine can assist with short-term weight loss, in the longer term, heavy consumption is more likely to lead to weight gain. Tea is actually better for helping to maintain a healthy body weight.
Should You Drink Coffee?
People with any of the following conditions should avoid coffee altogether:
- Bladder or kidney problems
- Bowel problems such as colitis and diverticulitis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Diabetes
- Fibrocystic breast disease
- Gallstones
- Generalized anxiety and/or panic attacks
- Heart problems
- Hiatal hernia
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Hypoglycemia
- Indigestion
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Liver disease
- Menopause
- Osteoporosis or family history of osteoporosis
- PMS
- Prostate problems
- Skin irritations
- Ulcers
- Urinary tract irritation
Overall, the decision to consume coffee should be based on your personal health profile. If you suffer or are at risk for the conditions that coffee can aggravate, then it is better to avoid it. If you are not at risk for these conditions, then you shouldn’t experience problems from coffee consumption, and may even realize a number of health benefits.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your health or whether coffee could aggravate any pre-existing medical condition, you should consult your doctor.
References:
- Cromie, W. (March 14, 1996). “Coffee Won’t Grind You Down: May Reduce Risk of Suicide, Study Concludes.” The Harvard University Gazette.
- Kaslow, J., MD. (n.d.). “Health Issues Associated with Coffee and Caffeine.” Drkaslow.com.
- Kirchheimer, S. (Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD, 2004). “Coffee, the New Health Food?” WebMD.
- Kovacs, B., MS, RD. (Reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, 2007). “Caffeine.” MedicineNet.
- Mathur, R., MD. (Reviewed by William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, 2005). “Hypoglycemia.” MedicineNet.
- WebMD in Collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic. “Stretch Marks.” MedicineNet.
The copyright of the article Is Coffee Harmful to Your Health? in Food Facts is owned by Jennifer Copley. Permission to republish Is Coffee Harmful to Your Health? must be granted by the author in writing.
