A recent article by the Daily Mail Online details the pros and cons of coffee consumption, as evidenced by a survey of related research. These are the condensed findings of scientific observation over the last decade.
One Cup
Pros: According to a Greek study of 485 people aged 65-100, drinking one cup a day could lower blood pressure by increasing your body’s production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a naturally produced compound that dilates the blood vessels, which in turn may lower the risk of high blood pressure.
Cons: One cup of coffee will increase your alertness for up to eight hours. Therefore drinking coffee later in the day could keep you up well into the night.
Two Cups
Pros: Scientists from the University of Florida say that two cups of coffee a day can help keep Alzheimer’s away. Although the findings were observed in animal studies, researchers believe that the equivalent of two cups of coffee could also help humans prevent the buildup of proteins that have been previously associated with Alzheimer’s.
Cons: Two cups of coffee per day can increase your body’s production of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, both of which can be detrimental to expecting mothers and their unborn babies.
Three Cups
Pros: In 2008 the American Medical Journal reported that three cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by up to one-fifth. The same study reported that men who drink three cups of coffee per day had a forty-percent lower risk of developing gallstones.
Cons: A 2006 study showed that those who have more than three cups of coffee per day also have an increased risk for heart attack. Researchers at the Lund University in Stockholm also believe that drinking this much coffee can lower estrogen levels in women and thus shrink the size of their breasts.
Four Cups
Pros: Researchers at the University of Utah found that people who drink four cups of coffee per day can lower their risk of cancer to the larynx and mouth. Other research has shown support for the theory that consuming coffee at this rate can lower the risk of developing colorectal and prostate cancer, as well as type-2 diabetes.
Cons: Some researchers believe that this amount of coffee intake can increase compounds in the body that lead to inflammation and joint pain, as well as double the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Five Cups
Pros: Researchers in Tokyo, Japan believe that drinking this much coffee can reduce the risk of serious liver damage by up to three-quarters, by increasing the consumption of antioxidants.
Cons: Caffeine is known to interfere with the consumption of calcium, leading some researchers to believe that drinking this much coffee can greatly increase the risk for osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Society disputes these claims, citing inconclusive evidence but still cautions against drinking more than five cups of coffee per day.
Six Cups or More
Pros: Researchers of Wayne State University believe that six cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of some skin cancers by up to 31%.
Cons: Drinking six cups per day can lead to dehydration, excretion of hormones that contribute to anxiety and stress and can even lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and increase the risk of cardiovascular complications.
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