Coffee Break

More good news for coffee drinkers - according to an article in the U.S. News and World Report, coffee may lower the risk of stroke. Dr. David Liebeskind of UCLA headed up a study that took a look at the coffee drinking habits of about 10,000 people over 40. Liebeskind’s group correlated their history of stroke with the amount of coffee that they drank. The results seem to suggest that people who drink coffee have a statistically lower risk of having a stroke. Those who drank at least 2 cups of coffee a day cut their risk of having a stroke by 2.9%. Those who drank 6 cups of coffee or more per day decreased their risk of having a stroke by 5%.

That’s just the latest good news for people who love their coffee. In January, another study in Stockholm strongly suggested that people who drink  coffee have less risk of developing dementia associated with Alzheimers disease. That study followed 1,400 people for 20 years, interviewing them about their coffee drinking habits and correlating those with their development of Alzheimers and dementia. The study - which is echoed by other studies that show improved memory fucntions in those who drink a few cups of coffee a day - showed that those who drink 2-5 cups or coffee a day were less likely to develop Alzheimers disease.

In addition, there were a number of studies released last fall which associated moderate coffee consumption with a decreased risk of developing diabetes, and a lower risk of heart disease for women.

Of course, not all the news is good. A study released in Durham University in the UK back in January linked high coffee consumption with an increased risk of hallucination. Of course, they’re talking about  sucking down 7 or more cups of caffeinated instant coffee (which is often mostly robusta, which is higher in caffeine than arabica coffee) at a sitting. You’ll get the same effect from sucking down as much black or green tea, dropping a couple of Vivarin tablets or drinking a few Red Bulls.

It all comes down to common sense. Most recent studies into coffee consumption and health show that drinking coffee is nowhere near as bad for you as we once thought. It probably doesn’t stunt your growth, and it could even be good for you, as long as you’re not stupid about drinking it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me - it’s just about 8 on a Sunday morning, and I haven’t even got around to putting on a pot of coffee. I’ve got a batch of fresh-roasted (yesterday morning) Guatemalan robusta and Mexican arabica waiting to be brewed. To your health, coffee lovers!

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