IS COFFEE GOOD FOR YOU OR NOT? THE ETERNAL QUESTION IS STILL LOOMING…
This seems to be an ongoing question with ongoing studies. Is coffee good for you? In the past it wasn’t great to have too much coffee and we were supposed to stay away from it while pregnant but in the more recent years all the studies have pointed towards yes, maybe coffee is good for you and even yes, in a limited capacity, while you are pregnant it’s okay to have coffee. So what are researchers and doctors saying now? Read below for an update on the long time question, “Is coffee good for you?”
Now before we get started, let’s clarify what it is we are talking about. All the studies and guidelines have been related to black coffee only, no other forms of caffeine or flavored coffee are being considered here as this would dramatically change the variables for health risks related to coffee consumption. According to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee a small amount of black coffee on a daily basis is okay and has shown to have some health benefits! This committee is comprised of health experts on nutrition and other public health matters. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (aka DGAC) produces a report every five years with updates and/or changes to American dietary guidelines. This report allows consumers like you and me to know what kind of diet and exercise is good to promote overall health and prevent disease.
SO HOW MUCH COFFEE SHOULD YOU BE CONSUMING & HOW IS COFFEE GOOD FOR YOU?
The current standard for general health is that a moderate amount of coffee daily, about three to five cups (8 ounces) is okay. No long term health risks have been linked to this amount of black coffee in an individual’s diet. The experts of DGAC have set the cap at 400 mg of caffeine daily and strongly advise not to go over that. Again, that is a standard for black coffee. Caffeine in the form of the now-popular energy drinks have not been tested and are currently not being regulated by the FDA so we don’t know what will come of long term consumption of energy drinks but experts advise adolescents to stay away from energy drinks.
Experts have also said that drinking black coffee while pregnant is okay as long as your doctor gives the go ahead first but they have set a limit of two 8 ounce cups per day, no more than 200 mg of caffeine daily.
The benefits? The most current report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee shows that there is a reduced risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver cancer and Endometrium for healthy adults who drink a reasonable amount of black coffee.
Now, time to put on another pot & enjoy your cup of Joe! 😉
You can stay up-to-date with the DGAC recommendations here.
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