# Coffee good or bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 7, 2006, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699 "2006-06-07T03:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/1 "2006-06-07T03:04:10Z")
My father claims drinking coffee is good for you. My claim is it isn’t good for you. Neither of us can site a study to back up our claim so I’m throwing this one out to the many minds here. He drinks 2 12oz cups just about every morning no sugar extra cream. Sometimes a third coffee for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![northern\_canuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@northern\_canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/northern_canuck)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/2 "2006-06-07T05:41:56Z")
[Coffee is number one source of antioxidants](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-08/acs-cin081905.php) > [@](#): > > Coffee provides more than just a morning jolt; that steaming cup of java is also the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Scranton (Pa.). Their study was described today at the 230th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society. > > “Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close,” says study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. > . . . > But don’t forget about fresh fruits and veggies, the researcher cautions. “Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fiber,” Vinson says. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/3 "2006-06-09T01:59:21Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > My claim is it isn’t good for you. On what do you base your claim? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/4 "2006-06-09T02:15:10Z")
Supposedly, someone once told Voltaire that coffee was “a slow poison”. He replied, “I think it must be slow, for I have been drinking it for sixty-five years and I am not yet dead.” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/5 "2006-06-09T04:15:20Z")
**northern canuck** , please do not quote entire articles from other sources. The Chicago Reader and the Straight Dope are both very sensitive to intellectual property laws. You may use material within the concept of “fair use” of quoting small sections and linking to the original sources, but it is inappropriate to copy entire texts (or massive quotations from texts) into posts, here. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/6 "2006-06-09T05:40:37Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > On what do you base your claim? As stated in the op neither of us can back our claim. I do not feel caffeine is healthy. I’ve heard of studies linking coffee to bladder cancer. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/7 "2006-06-09T06:10:31Z")
Research into the possible health effects of coffee have a long and checkered past. the state of the art of the research can be found summarized [here](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16507475&query_hl=12&itool=pubmed_docsum). In short coffee as consumed in Ameica, like your father does, likely is slightly beneficial overall. The bad rap on coffee probably originates with studies from Norway and Finland which found that coffee consumption was associated with higher cholesterol and possibly higher heart disease rates. These finding were not replicated elsewhere. Turned out those countries boil their coffee with the grounds extracting a higher percentage of oils than most drip or even espresso methods and it was those oils that seem to have been associated with the possible adverse effects. The research has also been fraught with confounding factors: elderly coffee drinkers have better glucose tolerance. Is that because coffee consumption is protective or because those with poor glucose tolerance get shakey after coffee so have cut back? So on. Short answer: lay off the old man. If that is his only addiction he’s doing pretty dang well. And get me a large one while you’re at it. No cream, no sugar. Now! I need my fix. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/8 "2006-06-14T04:19:19Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > As stated in the op neither of us can back our claim. I know, I was wondering why then you hold this belief. > [@](#): > > I do not feel caffeine is healthy. Again, why? > [@](#): > > I’ve heard of studies linking coffee to bladder cancer. Now you can [read about one](http://www.smh.com.au/news/health-and-fitness/coffee-may-cut-alcohol-liver-damage/2006/06/13/1149964517697.html) that indicates it protects against cirrhosis of the liver. Do you base other health decisions on “studies you’ve heard of” somewhere? Or is it just caffeine? Pardon my curiosity, I have an interest in where people get beliefs from, and how they maintain them without visible means of support, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/9 "2006-06-14T13:35:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Researchers report that drinking coffee cuts the risk of cirrhosis of the liver from alcohol – by 22 percent per cup each day – but they stopped short of saying doctors should prescribe coffee for that reason. From: [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/13/coffee.liver.reut/](http://edition.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/13/coffee.liver.reut/) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/10 "2006-06-14T13:35:16Z")
Coffee is more than good for you. It is absolutely vital to health and bien-etre. One cannot live without coffee. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/11 "2006-06-14T13:42:16Z")
Another plus for coffee: [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm\_objectid=17226078&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=coffee-s-good-for-your-liver--name\_page.html](http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17226078&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=coffee-s-good-for-your-liver--name_page.html) > [@](#): > > According to researchers in the US, drinking between one and four cups of coffee a day can drastically reduce the risk of cirrhosis -… > …Other recent health studies have shown that the drink can also benefit the heart, fight cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/12 "2006-06-14T21:49:23Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > From: > [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/13/coffee.liver.reut/](http://edition.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/13/coffee.liver.reut/) That’s the one I was going to cite. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/13 "2006-06-14T22:36:41Z")
[http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=532299](http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=532299) There’s another interesting article. Two studies involving over 120,000 people shows that there is no higher risk of heart disease from drinking one cup of coffee a month or 6 cups of coffee a day. There’s other info on interest in there also. ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/14 "2006-06-14T22:37:56Z")
Okay, you guys might crucify me for this, please delete it if it is insensitive to intellectual property laws. I can’t link to it, because it is just a photocopied page that my co-worker had hanging in her cubicle. I googled and came up with nothing. I have no idea if Health Coach Systems is a crackpot organization, or what. The article sounds pretty hokey to me, but uses large scientific-sounding words. ; ) Anyway, here’s what they say: from Health Coach Systems International, Inc. > [@](#): > > Coffee is a narcotic beverage. The caffeine in the coffee belongs to the same alkaloid group of chemicals as morphine, cocaine and strychnine. The caffeine combines with the hydrochloric acid and forms a potent toxin, caffeine hydrochloride. As this toxin is absorbed into your portal circulation and hits your liver, bile is released in an attempt to flush it from you system. This is what accounts for the increase in bowel ‘regularity’ of which many coffee drinkers boast. If you are one of these people, you might ask yourself, “is such a toxin induced flush really very health promoting?” > > … > > For 20 years Columbian coffee planters have used, regularly and heavily, deadly pesticides on their plants. Some of the pesticides are aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, and heptachlor. Some speculate that coffee beans are the most significant source of these deadly toxins in North American diets. > > In the roasting process of coffee beans, the extreme temperatures denature the beans natural oils. While enhancing their aroma, this high heat process actually creates rancid oils and lipid peroxides with known toxin and perhaps even carcinogenic effects on human tissues. > > Nitrosomines, which occur naturally in coffee beans are the same co-carcinogens as those found in cured meats and bacon. > > The chlorogenic acid found in coffee has also been linked to toxic side effects. > > … > > Regular use of coffee is believed to destroy important vitamins and minerals. It also prevents some of the nutrients in your food from being absorbed effectively in your small intestine. > > The ‘buzz’ or stimulation you get from coffee actually contributes to re-bound fatigue when the stimulating effects wear off! Repeated stimulation can contribute to the exhaustion of key organs like the liver, pancreas and adrena glands. If after realizing this you still decide that you want the ‘buzz’ of coffee, try chinese green tea (jasmine) instead. It is still an effective stimulant but does not have as many negative health effects. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/15 "2006-06-14T23:53:06Z")
Coffee good. Fire bad. ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/16 "2006-06-15T02:33:30Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Coffee is more than good for you. It is absolutely vital to health and bien-etre. > > One cannot live without coffee. I dispute this. I haven’t had coffee in years, and I’m doing oka- ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/17 "2006-06-15T08:40:44Z")
> [@samm](#): > > Okay, you guys might crucify me for this, please delete it if it is insensitive to intellectual property laws. I can’t link to it, because it is just a photocopied page that my co-worker had hanging in her cubicle. I googled and came up with nothing. I have no idea if Health Coach Systems is a crackpot organization, or what. The article sounds pretty hokey to me, but uses large scientific-sounding words. ; ) > > Anyway, here’s what they say: > > from Health Coach Systems International, Inc. Well i could be wrong but isn’t caffiene hydrochloride is the form already present in the beverage? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/18 "2006-06-15T10:51:46Z")
> [@samm](#): > > I have no idea if Health Coach Systems is a crackpot organization, or what. A quick [Google search](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&q=%22Health+Coach+Systems+International%22) shows Health Coach System International to be purveyors of complementary “naturopathic” medical advice. Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/19 "2006-06-15T16:10:07Z")
I love coffee. I drink it every day. I couldn’t live without it, and wouldn’t want to. Which is precisely why it’s so bad for you: when it comes to food and beverage, I am the Arbiter of All Things Good and Evil. It’s very simple: the more I like something, the worse it is for the human body; the more I hate something, the better it is. Other than water, there are no exceptions. It’s a law. Boom! I got yer cite right here. I’ll admit there haven’t been enough controlled studies to suggest whether or not the correlation between my appetite’s disposition and any given food’s nutritional value is coincidental or causal (personally, I’m certain it’s the latter: God simply made the food I like bad for you. I was a taster during The Creation. I was the one who suggested putting an apple tree in the Garden.), but the phenonmenon itself is beyond question. I’m the magic 8 ball of nutrition. So: coffee = bad. Spinach = good. There you have it. You can close the thread, make a sticky, print it in The Reader, take it to the bank. My tastebuds are never wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699/20 "2006-06-15T16:39:51Z")
> [@](#): > > The caffeine in the coffee belongs to the same alkaloid group of chemicals as morphine, cocaine and strychnine. IANAChemist, but I don’t see how this could be true: Caffeine is Xanthine alkaloid, more closely related to Theobromine, the alkaloid in Cocoa. Cocaine is in the Tropane group, Strychnine is in the Quinoline group; Morphine is an Isoquinoline. So other than the fact that they’re all alkaloids… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/359699.md?page=2)