While the benefits of coffee are still being discovered, there have been some misconceptions surrounding the drink that have been proven or debunked over the years
Drinking too much coffee has a reputation of being harmful, but a new study says having three cups a day can lower the risk of developing more than one cardiometabolic disease.
The study gathered data from 172,315 people to analyze their caffeine intake, and a further 188,091 people to analyze their tea and coffee intake. Participants filled out a survey based on their diets and health history. At the outset of the study, none of the participants had any cardiometabolic diseases. After nearly 12 years, 1,311 people from the caffeine intake group and 1,385 people from the tea and coffee group had developed them.
Those who drank three cups of coffee daily had a nearly 50 per cent reduced risk for developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, compared to those who didn’t have any caffeine or had less than 100 milligrams per day. Those who still consumed 200 to 300 miligrams of caffeine from a mix of tea and coffee, or just tea, also saw a reduced risk, at around 40 per cent.
While the benefits of coffee are still being discovered, there have been some misconceptions surrounding the drink that have been proven or debunked over the years. Here are a few.
Coffee can cause anxiety: Partly true
“Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant … influencing attention, alertness, and producing anxiogenic (anxiety-inducing) effects, which may cause anxiety disorders,” the study said.
Of course, if you’re getting jittery, it’s too much caffeine
Dr. Nicole Clark
Its results showed that caffeine intake is “associated with an elevated risk of anxiety in healthy individuals without psychiatric disorders, especially when the intake dose is greater than 400 mg.”
“Of course, if you’re getting jittery, it’s too much caffeine.”
Coffee can stunt your growth: False
This belief may have been due to studies that linked coffee intake to osteoporosis, a disease that results in low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis with compression fractures can reduce an adult’s height, per Harvard’s article.
“It was suggested that caffeine can increase the body’s elimination of calcium. Lack of calcium can contribute to osteoporosis,” Harvard Medical School wrote, adding that “the effect of caffeine on calcium excretion is small.”
Analysis of the studies revealed that people who consumed more coffee also consumed less milk and other drinks that contained calcium, the medical publication said. It’s more likely that the lack of calcium led to the increased osteoporosis risk, rather than the coffee.
As for coffee stunting growth? Height is “largely determined by the height of your parents and the quality of your diet and overall health while growing,” Harvard Medical School said — not by coffee.
Decaffeinated coffee has no caffeine: False
Those who wish to avoid consuming caffeine altogether should steer clear of a decaffeinated cup of joe.
The small amount of caffeine in decaf could be problematic for someone with underlying health issues, sleep medicine specialist and neurologist Dr. Ajay Sampat told Self. Some people with a sleep disorder or different kinds of liver diseases may not want to consume caffeine, he said. However, for the average person, reaching for a decaf option will likely have little effect.
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