Coffee is Healthy

 

Coffee is not coffee is not coffee. There are variations in quality.

There are different types of coffee beans, arabica and robusta, just as there are different types of marijuana such as indica and sativa.

Food is susceptible to mold. Coffee is one of the foods that is most susceptible to mold damage due to its’ high acidity. ₁

Against conventional wisdom it may be better to brush your teeth before drinking coffee. ₂

Ground coffee is more susceptible to mold compared with coffee ground fresh from whole beans. ₃ Therefore, coffee should be freshly ground before you use a French press to steep it.

Decaffeinated coffee is more susceptible to mold. ₄

Pesticides prevent damage to foods but are toxic to humans to varying degrees. ₅ Therefore, it is preferable to buy organic or spray free coffee.

Single origin is healthier than blended coffee (unless the coffee specifies that it is “single origin” it is most likely not, as this is something that coffee aficionados specifically look for). ₆

 

Coffee improves athletic performance. ₇

 

High quality coffee used at optimal dosage is healthy.

Coffee contains caffeine. ₈

Caffeine is a drug, but it is not physically addictive (anything can be mentally addictive, of course). _{9 10}

Caffeine has benefits and drawbacks, and like many drugs there is an ideal amount. Too little and one does not experience the benefits of the drug, too much and the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

Like any drug the ideal amount varies with the size of the user. It will take more caffeine to affect a three hundred than a one hundred pound person. ₁₁

 

Coffee is high in polyphenols. ₁₂

 

Polyphenols feed the healthy bacteria in your gut. ₁₃

 

Coffee is a diuretic, so yes, it is dehydrating. ₁₄ Therefore, something should be done to maintain hydration if you use coffee. ₁₅

Uncoupling coffee and caffeine: Coffee is not caffeine, but it contains caffeine. Be careful not to use them interchangeably. Much of the criticism of coffee is actually criticism of caffeine.

 

The next time some dipshit says, “coffee is bad for you,” just pat them on they head and say “shh, the grown-ups are talking.” Then tuck them into bed and read them a story.

 

 

 

Works Cited:

 

1.      https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/are-molds-foods-dangerous#:~:text=Conditions%20and%20food%20where%20mold,as%20bacon%2C%20ham%20and%20bologna.

2.      https://www.generaldentistdurham.com/2022/07/14/should-you-brush-teeth-before-or-after-coffee/#:~:text=But%20you%20could%20be%20damaging,teeth%20after%20eating%20or%20drinking.

3.      https://www.javapresse.com/blogs/buying-coffee/whole-bean-vs-ground-coffee

4.      https://seeds.ca/schoolfoodgardens/how-do-pesticides-impact-food-systems/#:~:text=Pesticides%20make%20sure%20that%20the,cheap%20and%20available%20very%20easily.

5.      https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-mycotoxins-in-coffee-myth

6.      Taheri Karami, G., Hemmatinafar, M., Koushkie Jahromi, M., Nemati, J., & Niknam, A. (2023). Repeated mouth rinsing of coffee improves the specific-endurance performance and jump performance of young male futsal players. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 20(1), 2214108. https://doi-org.ezproxy.tru.ca/10.1080/15502783.2023.2214108

7.      https://specialtycoffee.id/single-origin-vs-blend-whats-the-difference-and-which-is-better/

8.      https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-caffeine-in-coffee

9.      https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/caffeine/

10.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15496-caffeine-how-to-hack-it-and-how-to-quit-it#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20you%20might%20find,but%20the%20level%20is%20small.

11.  https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/you-age-you-and-your-medicines#:~:text=Changes%20in%20body%20weight%20can,to%20the%20liver%20and%20kidneys.

12.  https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-polyphenols

13.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9220293/#:~:text=Dietary%20polyphenols%20influence%20gut%20microbiota,modulate%20the%20regulatory%20metabolism%20network.

14.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/caffeinated-drinks/faq-20057965#:~:text=As%20a%20chemical%2C%20caffeine%20increases,of%20urine%20the%20body%20makes.

15.  https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/this-is-how-much-water-to-have-to-drink-to-offset-your-coffee-addiction#:~:text=This%20means%20that%20for%20every,up%20for%20the%20diuretic%20effect.&text=However%2C%20in%20the%20long%20term,for%20coffee%27s%20effects%20at%20all.