I am a coffee drinker because it puts me on an alert state every morning. However, science is frequently altering the story on coffee benefits. One minute, a new study is published claiming coffee is bad for women’s health and the next minute, experts find new and exciting coffee benefits.
What is really truth behind coffee intake and women’s health?
The Good Effects
1. Drink coffee and save yourself from suicide.
In 1996, a study completed at Harvard University revealed that women who consumed two or more cups of coffee every day were less possible to commit suicide. There were 85,000 nurses for its respondents.
2. Coffee benefits older women as much as younger women.
When I think of the classic coffee drinker I think of the 30-something mother trying to manage home, work and life with children, family and responsibilities, because that’s who I am.
However, a clinical research shows older women gain coffee benefits just as much as younger women. It discovered that coffee drinking lessened the risk of depression. The benefit was connected with drinking a minimum of four cups of coffee (24-ounces) per day.
3. Coffee may protect against certain diseases and types of cancer.
A Harvard University study again eases women’s minds about daily coffee intake. It seems that coffee may also decrease the risk of colon cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes. This study is slightly different because it claims drinking coffee in small amounts throughout the day offers the best coffee benefits rather than drinking 16-ounces of the loved drink first thing in the morning.
The Not-So-Good Effects
1. Coffee is low calorie but creamer and sugar are not.
Dropping by your local coffee shop for a hazelnut cappucino before work may offer the same coffee benefits, but it may also add more inches to your waistline. I choose a calorie-free artificial sweetener and sugar-free, low-calorie creamer. Each cup of coffee that I drink has 40 calories, unlike the uber-lattes with 500 calories or more
2. Coffee is addictive.
Aside from affecting sleep patterns, caffeine increases heart rate and blood pressure too. Many women, including myself, find they cannot wake up in the morning without a strong, tall cup of coffee. Without it, the body goes through withdrawal causing headaches, shakes and nausea.
Bottom Line:
There are evidently coffee benefits for women, but as is the case with all health benefits, women need to watch coffee consumption closely and not go overboard. Drink coffee with low-calorie additives to put off weight gain and drink coffee throughout the day as opposed to packing in 16-ounces first thing in the morning. Less is always more.