Mr. Cheeseburger 
When I was younger, I was led to believe coffee had a negative effect on the body. I also hated the tasted, so I didn’t drink it. That was until college, when I bought a coffee machine for my room. I had coffee after breakfast, lunch and dinner. There were some months I couldn’t sleep without having a cup of coffee. Of course the number one reason college kids drink coffee is to stay awake on those never ending nights of studying and writing papers. But now according to research, coffee drinkers have a lower risk in developing Parkinson’s, colon cancer and liver cirrhosis. That’s wonderful news for the millions of people who drink coffee, including myself. With the added health benefits, why should anyone stop drinking coffee?
Even without the benefits, I’d say I’m addicted to coffee. I need to have a cup in the morning or afternoon in order to get through the day. The one thing coffee no longer does for me is keep me awake. I could drink cups and cups, and still be sleepy. I think I drink coffee now because I like the bitter taste in the morning and like having something to sip on the train.
Why do you drink coffee? Are you going to be drinking more coffee now that it has health benefits? Does drinking coffee help you stay awake?
Comments (35)
I am coffee's biggest advocate. Coffee is also packed full of antioxidants - 4X the amount of a cup of green tea.
Actually, the only thing potentially negative about coffee is caffeine, and even that is trivial. It will depend on your sensitivity to caffeine. Absolutely nothing else negative speculated about coffee is proven - well, except that it stains your teeth ;) - however all of the positive benefits of coffee have been proven. People who act as though they are too good for coffee make me laugh.
My roommate has been drinking coffee since she was a baby - her grandmother used to give her coffee in a bottle. Ridiculous, right? Anyway, after 21 years she has suffered no real health related consequences, and she still drinks multiple cups a day. [By the way - her teeth are perfectly white.] It even still keeps her up at night! I don't know how she does it. I love coffee, but sometimes it upsets my stomach. This is why I stick to tea... more mild and gentle!
I do whip out the coffee maker for those anticipated all nighters though. Hey, like you said... college... what else can you do?
Sometimes, coffee keeps me awake. I used it for early classes in the morning. Another benefit that coffee has is that it's loaded with anti-oxidants (even more so than green tea). The main problem is that many people tend to put milk or cream in their coffee. The negative part of it, despite adding a great flavor, is that milk kills the anti-oxidants. In my earlier years of college (freshman year), I used to drink coffee straight with no sugar or milk. Of course, since coffee is slightly acidic, it did a number on my stomach. Now, I drink coffee with milk (or cream) and some sugar, just so my stomach doesn't hate me for the rest of the day. And for your addiction, it's simple: caffeine. That's why I couldn't stop drinking soda for the longest time. Now, I just drink it occasionally.
I drink coffee sometimes..
I don't have my own coffee maker though. My roommate makes coffee for me.
I love coffee! The caffeine doesn't really affect me besides making me feel more alert. My dad drinks like, 10+ cups of it a day, and I'm convinced that's why he's so healthy, considering the rest of his diet is cookies and meat LOL
What about the slight decrease of calcium absorption? I guess it's slight... but I think it might be nice if the negative effects are shown as well.
You sir, are sleep deprived. The reason why coffee isn't working for you is that you're constantly relying on it. This constant reliance is causing your body to overwork more than it should. Coffee, like those energy drink if excessively used, is actually more harmful to your body than the benefits you would receive from it. Sure, research studies say drinking coffee might lower the risk in developing Parkinson’s, colon cancer and liver cirrhosis, however, it doesn't say how much you should consume. If you drink too much, your body won't get the rest it requires. This may eventually weaken your body immune system, making you accessible to colds and flues.
And no, I'm not saying you should stop drinking coffee. What I'm saying is if you do drink coffee, only drink a moderate amount.
You have developed a tolerance to the effects of caffeine.
Like heavy drinkers aren't as affected by the same amount of alcohol as lighter drinkers.
I don't like the taste of coffee or sodas, so I have zero tolerance for caffeine. The equivalent of ONE cup of coffee's worth of caffiene will keep me up all night and then some.
I freakin' love coffee, but I primarily drink it for the caffeine or to warm up. The supposed benefits of coffee aren't really well-proven. All the studies I've read on it are crappy, correlational studies that don't prove any kind of cause and effect. For example, if you conducted your study in a place like Seattle, you might find a lot of pretty healthy people that drink a lot of coffee. You could erroneously conclude that the coffee is the reason for peoples' great health. However, you might be overlooking other factors like the fact that Seattleans (?) are more likely to be active and do outdoor activities than the majority of the rest of the U.S. (That was all totally made up and just used as an example).
Coffee isn't without harms. It can worsen acid reflux and stomach ulcers. Plus, you might do like me and spill half your cup on the gonadular region whilst driving to work. The caffeine can interfere with sleep cycles and some people get more irritable and moody with caffeine. And being dependent on caffeine pretty well sux. If I go a day without my black elixer, I get a wicked headache and fatigue all day. With that being said, I'ma go brew some up right now.
I don't drink coffee black. The taste would kill me. But I like to put in those nestle french vanilla creamer in it.
Then there's my love. Starbucks. Caramel Frap. Which is the most delicious thing in the world.
I am addicted.
cuz i luv it it is so yummy and smells great too
I dont drink coffee, the last hot drink I had was when I was 8.
I've never liked the taste (although I usually love the smell), despite the fact that I can generally eat almost anything. I have to put in so much cream and sugar in it, that I might as well just get hot chocolate.
Also, I have acid reflux, so caffeine is something I generally try to avoid unless I need it. The worse I let my acid get, the more I have to worry about Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Plus, I'm still a poor college student. I usually just drink water anyway b/c it's dirt cheap. Or sometimes the cheapest apple juice I can find. But I do have a cup of tea from time to time (although it's not very often).
It's probably not the best for stomach acid, but I can't get through the morning anymore without a cup of joe.
@kawasaki_saiyan@xanga - actually they do say how much you should consume, and it is about 5-8 (4oz) cups a day.
@Cybergeidl@xanga - you obviously have never been to Seattle :) It is a minority there who actually get out and do much.physical outdoor activities. I know that wasn't your point, but next time say mid-Colorado ;)
By the way, the negative affects of coffee are only in those already prone to those conditions, such as you mentioned acid reflux or stomach ulcers. No evidence has been shown that coffee actually leads to these or any other health problems.
@LilSweetJew@xanga - did you know that Starbucks uses an artificial coffee concentrate for their frappes? It's not really coffee.
I don't like coffee, but sometimes I drink it anyway. If someone else is having coffee, and they offer me some, I will have coffee. But I don't like the taste and it sits at the bottom of my stomach and makes me sick. It doesn't keep me awake, either. Come to think of it, nothing really does. But I was drinking this capucchino thing every meal for like three days, and when I didn't have it I would develop a miserable headache. So I try to avoid super caffeine.
I've heard somewhere that it's not healthy to drink coffe with sugar or milk or tea. Is this true?
@quiet_strength@revelife - No, I've never been to Seattle, which is why I had to throw in my little disclaimer about it being totally made up ;) Actually, coffee has been shown in clinical studies to increase acidity and reduce the protective mucous layer in the stomach thereby either inducing gastroesophageal reflux disease or gastritis, and it can worsen pre-existing ulcers or the aforementioned conditions. Also, the caffeine can dehydrate you if you're not drinking any other fluid, which is especially important for people with kidney disease or diabetes. But like I said, I love coffee. But it's not holy water.
I absolutely must have my coffee first thing with my brekkie. I'm a wreck without that first jolt (whether it be physiological or psychological). But over the past year I've weaned myself off all other coffee throughout the day to see if it would have an effect on my anxiety levels....and I have to say that without the caffeine pumping through my veins prior to big meetings or stressful situations I am, I think a little clamer and clear-headed. My replacement for the caffeine has been my, now favourite, hot bevvie- dandelion coffee....nice. Sounds weird, tastes great!
Addiction in any way can't be a good thing. Period.
coffee for me is an occasional treat...
Why do you drink coffee?
I drink coffee to keep me going when I feel drained out.
Are you going to be drinking more coffee now
that it has health benefits?
nah I don't think so, I feel kinda jumpy after about three cups already. So no
Does drinking coffee help you stay awake?
Pretty much... yeah... Because it keeps me learn the lesson more when I do advanced reading and studying.
I love coffee with milk- the frothier, the better.
But, it also was making my skin go a bit crazy, so I had to cut back to a cup a week, or 1 in 2 weeks.
It. Was. So.Hard.
Let me tell you, I went through withdrawal symptoms, with horrible cravings, which was so weird, because I never had more than 2 cups a day, at most!
I had to start drinking green tea (bo-ring), and now I guess I'm fine. I got used to it, and I like it.
Although from time to time I hear a vanilla latte somewhere calling out to me...