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Coffee Talk
If a cup of coffee is the absolute first thing you reach for in the morning, then you must read this. We will share with you some of the common myths and truths about the health effects of caffeine..
Coffee Myths:
Drinking coffee is bad for your heart: The Nurses Health Study, which involved more than 85,000 female nurses, found that women who drank 6 or more cups of coffee, decaf or regular, did not have an increased risk of heart disease risk. However, it is still best to avoid drinking unfiltered coffee, such as Greek and Turkish coffee, which are boiled, or coffee made in a French press. These contain higher amounts of chemical called diterpenes, which are found in oil droplets floating in the coffee and also in the sediment. Studies have shown that diterpenes can raise triglyceride levels and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Filtering coffee, with paper filters like you would use to make drip-brewed coffee, will trap most of these substances.
Coffee doesn’t have any calories: Coffee has about 1 calorie per ounce. The boost in calories comes from the creamers, syrups and whole milk that is often added to coffee. A Grande (16 oz) Starbucks Latte-with steamed milk and espresso-contains 350 calories and 18 grams of fat. Choosing skim milk instead of whole milk can shave off about half of the calories and practically all of the fat.
If you don’t want a jolt, drink decaf. Recent scientific studies suggest that something else in the coffee aside from caffeine may cause the “jolt” we experience when drinking it. Research has found that “non habitual” coffee drinkers experienced increased blood pressure regardless of whether they drank regular or decaf. More research is needed before any recommendations can be made and those who wish to avoid coffee’s hypertensive effects should avoid both regular and decaf coffee.
Coffee is bad for your teeth: Drinking lots of coffee may stain your teeth but the sugar you add to your coffee attracts hungry bacteria that produce acids that dissolve tooth enamel. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that coffee, especially roasted coffee, contains a certain compound that contributes to the aroma and flavor of the beverage but may actually prevent a type of cavity causing bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel. This research is preliminary but wouldn’t it be great to think of your morning coffee fix as an extra tooth brushing? These results were found in a laboratory and have not been documented on animals or humans. We’ll keep you posted as more research emerges.
Espresso has more caffeine than regular coffee: Espresso may taste stronger than regular coffee but the strong flavor can be attributed to the darker beans that are typically used for espresso. Espresso is also more concentrated than coffee, and has more caffeine per ounce. Less water is used in the brewing process which contributes to the stronger taste but, as far as caffeine content goes, a one-ounce shot of espresso contains about 50 mg of caffeine and a 5-ounce cup of regular coffee can contain anywhere from 80 to 180 mg.
If a cup of coffee is the absolute first thing you reach for in the morning, then you must read this. We will share with you some of the common myths and truths about the health effects of caffeine..
Coffee Myths:
Drinking coffee is bad for your heart: The Nurses Health Study, which involved more than 85,000 female nurses, found that women who drank 6 or more cups of coffee, decaf or regular, did not have an increased risk of heart disease risk. However, it is still best to avoid drinking unfiltered coffee, such as Greek and Turkish coffee, which are boiled, or coffee made in a French press. These contain higher amounts of chemical called diterpenes, which are found in oil droplets floating in the coffee and also in the sediment. Studies have shown that diterpenes can raise triglyceride levels and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Filtering coffee, with paper filters like you would use to make drip-brewed coffee, will trap most of these substances.
Coffee doesn’t have any calories: Coffee has about 1 calorie per ounce. The boost in calories comes from the creamers, syrups and whole milk that is often added to coffee. A Grande (16 oz) Starbucks Latte-with steamed milk and espresso-contains 350 calories and 18 grams of fat. Choosing skim milk instead of whole milk can shave off about half of the calories and practically all of the fat.
If you don’t want a jolt, drink decaf. Recent scientific studies suggest that something else in the coffee aside from caffeine may cause the “jolt” we experience when drinking it. Research has found that “non habitual” coffee drinkers experienced increased blood pressure regardless of whether they drank regular or decaf. More research is needed before any recommendations can be made and those who wish to avoid coffee’s hypertensive effects should avoid both regular and decaf coffee.
Coffee is bad for your teeth: Drinking lots of coffee may stain your teeth but the sugar you add to your coffee attracts hungry bacteria that produce acids that dissolve tooth enamel. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that coffee, especially roasted coffee, contains a certain compound that contributes to the aroma and flavor of the beverage but may actually prevent a type of cavity causing bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel. This research is preliminary but wouldn’t it be great to think of your morning coffee fix as an extra tooth brushing? These results were found in a laboratory and have not been documented on animals or humans. We’ll keep you posted as more research emerges.
Espresso has more caffeine than regular coffee: Espresso may taste stronger than regular coffee but the strong flavor can be attributed to the darker beans that are typically used for espresso. Espresso is also more concentrated than coffee, and has more caffeine per ounce. Less water is used in the brewing process which contributes to the stronger taste but, as far as caffeine content goes, a one-ounce shot of espresso contains about 50 mg of caffeine and a 5-ounce cup of regular coffee can contain anywhere from 80 to 180 mg.
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