# Is coffee bad for your health? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366 "2001-04-09T16:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wandering\_Pilgrim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@Wandering\_Pilgrim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wandering_Pilgrim)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/1 "2001-04-09T16:26:44Z")
I have heard of a number side effects to drinking coffee, ie possible change of cancer, many chemicals that you aborb from bleached coffee filters, and liver/kidneys problems…etc. So if anyone know of and tangible evident of such side effects I would really like to know because I like coffee and probably not want to quit anytime soon drinking that wonderous caffinated drink COFFEE. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/2 "2001-04-09T17:16:50Z")
I just came across [this](http://cancer.about.com/health/cancer/library/weekly/aa032101a.htm) this morning. ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/3 "2001-04-10T04:18:44Z")
Hey—wearing shorts that are too tight can cause cancer. PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND. Relax! Live life to the fullest; without doing something REALLY stupid. I’m sure that, one day, THEY will tell us—OOPS, we just realized—electricity causes cancer. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/4 "2001-04-10T05:48:02Z")
Only if you drink it. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/5 "2001-04-10T05:56:31Z")
I don’t see how relaxing and drinking more coffee are exactly compatible goals. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/6 "2001-04-10T06:05:33Z")
“Everything gives you cancer There’s no cure, there’s no answer Everything gives you cancer” Joe Jackson is probably about as valid as some of these studies. "No caffeine, No protein, No booze or nic-o-tine remember …" ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/7 "2001-04-10T13:49:37Z")
Did anyone read the link that I provided? It says that there are anti-cancer benefits to coffee. And it shows, yet again, that milk is bad for you. ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/8 "2001-04-10T14:24:30Z")
Here’s some excellent information about caffeine: [http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/caffeine/caffeine.htm](http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/caffeine/caffeine.htm) Follow the sidebar links to get some additional info. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/9 "2001-04-10T19:46:12Z")
Contrary to the last link, it does not require 8-9 cups to get an ergogenic effect. Studies demonstrate only a cup or two will free fatty acids that the muscles can use for energy. Consumer Reports this month had an article about coffee and concluded 2 or 3 cups are not detrimental. I accessed the website here but you have to subscribe to the website to get any info. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/10 "2001-04-11T00:51:09Z")
I rechecked and it’s not in Consumers Report. It was in some newsletter, maybe \*Consumers Report on Health \* ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/11 "2001-04-11T01:08:21Z")
At my work, I share a coffee pot with two other guys. We three go through a five pound can of coffee a week. If coffee was bad for you… I’d be dead by now. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/12 "2001-04-11T03:33:47Z")
**Turbo** , that is in essence the same answer that Voltaire gave when he was 80 years old and had been chugging _le café noir_ all his life. Another health benefit is its reported value in preventing Parkinson’s Disease. Use unbleached filters for the love of God. I had a coffee jones for years but finally kicked it over a year ago. Now I enjoy it occasionally (and enjoy it all the more for it not being a daily routine). I just didn’t want to have that dependency on it. But my craving for the stuff will never quit. The other day walking through the public library I happened to notice a book on paleontology that said “Java Man” on the spine and doggone if I didn’t feel that craving arise. Can’t wait to get up tomorrow morning and brew some good organic joe. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/13 "2001-04-12T02:52:40Z")
Well, I belive its possible to achieve a lethal overdose of caffene by consuming in excess of ~ 25 cups of coffee per day, but I guess that would depend on the concentration of caffene. Anyhow, that seems like a whole lot of coffee. Al. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/14 "2001-04-12T03:19:50Z")
Actually, a lethal amount of coffee would be about 80 cups drank at once. The lethal caffiene level as about 10 grams. A very strong cup of coffee contains about 125 milligrams of caffiene. I drink anywhere from 10 to 16 large mugs (about 10 oz) of coffee a day at work, but on weekends, probably 3 cups a day. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/15 "2001-04-12T03:40:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, I belive its possible to achieve a lethal overdose of caffene by consuming in excess of ~ 25 cups of coffee per day, but I guess that would depend on the concentration of caffene. I’m living proof that it just ain’t so… Sheesh–all of you except **TurboDog** are still dealing in _cups_. Lightweights…let’s talk _pots_ per day! -David ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/16 "2001-04-12T07:14:16Z")
Folks, when you drink that much, what about having to constantly go and piss? Coffee is a diuretic. When I was a coffee drinker, the constant need to interrupt what I was doing and go piss was bad enough, but the hour-long commute in the morning was _murder_. Do you all have bladders of steel? ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/17 "2001-04-12T12:50:11Z")
Too much of anything is bad for your health. The question is, how much? Let’s all keep an eye on **Turbo Dog**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/18 "2001-04-12T20:39:12Z")
My friend has a website up dedicated to coffee. Right now he’s a graduate student in Hawaii studying the chemical composition of the bean (oh, and getting crazy leid). Anywho, check out what he has to say [here](http://www.grayskies.net/honeybear/caffeine.htm#Health) Here’s a snipit of a paper he wrote on the subject. > [@](#): > > The controversy exists over possible consequences of regular consumption over a long time period. Pancreatic, renal, bladder, ovarian, breast, gastric, colorectal, prostate, other cancers and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are blamed on caffeine. Some research shows a positive correlation but repeated studies failed to duplicate the results. Furthermore, some studies neglected confounding factors such as tobacco. However, some data indicates carcinogenic properties. Though no clinical conclusion can be drawn, many experts feel that caffeine is not a cause of cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coffee-bad-for-your-health/61366/19 "2001-04-14T17:15:38Z")
Coffee is supposed to help with asthma, isn’t it? Personally, as much as I like coffee, I find that fresh _Capsicum frutescens_— chili peppers — are most efficacious for clearing the lungs.