Your Coffee: A toxic addiction or natural stimulant? 

Several health concerns have been attributed to coffee drinking including its addictive nature, ill-effects on digestion, bone health, cardio-vascular health, disturbed sleep, high blood pressure, infertility and increased incidence in pancreatic or bladder cancer.

Last few years:

• In the last few years,urban India has acquired a new coffee culture.
• International coffee chains are opening coffee shops.
• In addition, doing brisk business, even in smaller towns.
• While, south Indian filtered coffee has been a tradition.
• India in general is waking up to coffee.

Toxic addiction or Natural Stimulant:

• Despite its growing popularity.
• Most people believe coffee to be a somewhat toxic addiction.
• In addition, taken only as an indulgence or to overcome sleep and boost alertness.
• Several health concerns have attributed to coffee drinking.
• Including its addictive nature, ill-effects on digestion, bone health, cardio-vascular health.
• Also disturbed sleep, high blood pressure, infertility.
• In addition increased incidence in pancreatic or bladder cancer.
• Numerous studies reveals that coffee consumption and caffeine do not contribute to cardiovascular disease.
• In addition, high blood pressure and stroke, even in people who drink more than four cups of coffee a day.
• Even though coffee does cause a transient increase in blood pressure.
• Moderate coffee drinking does not pose a significant risk to hypertensives.

Recent study reports:

• A recent study reports that coffee is a major source of dietary anti-oxidants.
• It may inhibit inflammation.
• Thereby lower the risk of cardio-vascular diseases.
• In addition, other inflammatory diseases in post-menopausal women.
• Coffee helped older people think better, improve their memory and reasoning skills.
• Caffeine may have a beneficial effect on weight loss.
• As it has shown to increase energy expenditure modestly.
• Caffeine, a natural stimulant, may positively affect atheletic performance.

In spite of the good news:

• Drinking coffee carries some concerns.
• It is certainly habit-forming.
• Even a single cup of coffee a day contains enough caffeine to create the risk of withdrawal.
• In some people, it can induce heart-burn by boosting up acid production.
• In addition,for pregnant women, coffee consumption has been linked to risk of miscarriages.
• Caffeine is a diuretic, which increases output of urine, which can be a concern for men with prostrate problems.
• Since it is a stimulant.
• It can contribute to difficulty in falling asleep and may interfere with regular sleeping patterns.
• So, those sensitive to it, should avoid coffee at bed time.

 One or two cups a day:

• It is better to use a moderate common sense approach to coffee drinking.
• One or two cups a day should certainly not pose any risks for most people.
• Also, it does not increase the risk for any other health risk.
• People with irregular heart-beats and pregnant women are advised non-caffeinated beverages.
• So, next time you go for your favourite cup of coffee, be guilt-free, enjoy it and stay alert.
• It can be enjoyed by all if taken in moderation.