Many of us enjoy our morning cup of coffee. Some of us enjoy our morning pot of coffee. Some of us even feel we need a cup or two to help us get going and take on the day. Our family, friends and co-workers might know to keep a safe distance until we have our coffee.
There has been study after study about the effects of drinking coffee with very different results.
For moderate coffee drinkers who lightly add flavor or sugar to their coffee or drink it black, you should be fine. There are even likely health benefits including helping with obesity, according to a recent study.
There are more possible concerns for those who drink coffee heavily or add lots of sugar, creamer or flavors such as the French vanilla, caramel, mocha or hazelnut some of us love.
Drinking coffee can help with “brown fat” or “good fat” that aids in generating energy and heat that help us stay leaner and avoid obesity, according to the recent study. They are now testing to see if caffeine or another ingredient is stimulating the body to produce the brown fat. The results could lead to ways to help control blood sugar and weight loss.
Earlier studies have linked caffeine consumption with weight loss and higher energy, according to an article in Medical News Today on the latest study.
Other recent studies contradict each other on the effects drinking coffee could have on our hearts.
Drinking five cups of coffee had no different effects on the body than drinking less than a cup, according to a CNN report on a study presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in June. Those who drank up to 25 cups found no more stiffening of the arteries than those who had just a few sips, according to the study.
Coffee contains antioxidants, which have been associated with longer life, but there have been studies about the effects of heavy consumption on the heart. Drinking six or more cups of coffee a day could lead to a moderate increase in cardiovascular disease, according to the CNN report on recent studies.
Those who drank a cup or two of coffee a day had a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than those who did not drink coffee, those who drank decaffeinated coffee and those who drank more than six cups.
With differing results, we should be safe to keep the coffee as part of our morning routine, but as with all our activities, the key is moderation.
