Every morning, many of us drink one or two cups of coffee and feel good, refreshed, and ready for the day. Some of us drink one or two more cups at work before lunchtime. Some use pure coffee while others add chicory to it. We prepare the powder using a filter, add milk and sugar, and take a swig.
Now, what are the effects of drinking coffee? How many cups per day? Should it be black coffee or can it include milk and sugar? And how does this affect our health? These are some questions that have been on our minds — and for which research has offered contradictory answers in the past. Fortunately, a new publication , titled ‘Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association’, may clear some doubts. The authors of the statement analysed several studies that examined the effects of caffeine, the active molecule in coffee that stimulates the brain and the central nervous system and encourages the body to produce and use more energy. However, high doses, especially from energy drinks, may harm cardiovascular health, and unfiltered coffee can also raise LDL cholesterol levels. Data from the Nurses Health Study at the Harvard T.H. However, analyses also suggest that it would be prudent for pregnant and lactating women to limit their coffee intake to three cups a day. The benefits of a coffee and chicory blend and their implications for nutrition and health implications were discussed in a recent review paper by a group led by Pushpa S. Murthy at the Central Food Technology and Research Institute, Mysuru, published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology . Chicory contains several compounds that help protect the liver from inflammation, shield the stomach from damage, and may help defend against cancer. Adding chicory to coffee also improves coffee’s fragrance and taste.
The statement reported that moderate caffeine intake, especially through coffee, may lower the risks of type-2 diabetes, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School and an analysis of 3 lakh people from the U.K. Biobank and Health Canada have indicated that drinking four cups a day may lower the risk of developing cancer, type-2 diabetes, heart diseases, and age-related disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
