Coffee and Health Benefits

Coffee and Positive Health Benefits
Emily Kellogg
COM 220
May 18, 2010

Coffee is an excellent source of health and energy for many consumers worldwide. Coffee has been criticized for being solely a product of caffeine, but coffee has proven healthier than one would think with regard to its ability to fight diseases and promote longevity by protecting body cells, the liver, the colon, and the heart. Ninety percent of Americans consume caffeine every day (Brian, 2000). For those who once sacrificed their coffee drinking ways, the physical and mental advantages of coffee consumption are healthy and exciting.
The caffeine, in coffee has many effects on the body. Caffeine has a medical name of trimethylxanthine and a chemical formula of C8H10N4O2. In plain form, it is a white crystalized powder that has a bitter taste. People in the medical field use this substance as a heart stimulant and at times, a mild diuretic. In coffee or teas, the caffeine is used more recreationally as an energy booster. Caffeine is very addictive and acts in similar ways to drugs such as amphetamines, heroine, and cocaine. Although caffeine is much milder than these drugs, they manipulate similar channels of the brain resulting in their highly addictive qualities (Brian, 2000).
For example, caffeine and adenosine are drugs that act inside the body after consumption. Specifically, the brain creates adenosine so that the nerve cells can slow down and decrease activity. This initiates drowsiness, oxygen absorption during sleep, and causes dilated blood vessels. Interestingly to a nerve cell, caffeine, and adenosine look the same. So consequently, the adenosine receptors will attract to the caffeine. The adenosine would normally slow down activity levels, but instead it is sped up. When adenosine is inactive, blood vessels will constrict, often resulting in headaches (Brian, 2000).
Next, when the pituitary gland notices high activity, a” flight or fight” response occurs. Messages are passed to the hormones that control the production of adrenaline. Adrenaline production effects the body in various ways. Brian (2000) states, "Your pupils dilate. Your breathing tubes open up. Your heart beats faster. Blood vessels on the surface constrict to slow blood flow from cuts and also to increase blood flow to muscles. Blood pressure rises. Blood flow to the stomach slows. The liver releases sugar into the bloodstream for extra energy. Muscles tighten up, ready for action.” This is why many coffee consumers believe their heart rate increases, hand temperature drops, muscles tense, and they become excited.
As a result, caffeine releases dopamine, a brain chemical that stimulates alertness and pleasure. Because caffeine can manipulate and trick the body into believing it is adenosine, the neurotransmitter controlling certain pleasure centers in the brain will also be deceived into allowing higher levels of pleasure to occur. Alertness is another result because the function of the adenosine, which slows down activity, is blocked. This enables the brain to keep focus and maintain high levels of function. In general, cognitive abilities, logic comprehension, memory, and higher IQ tests increased in patients who drank two or more cups of coffee a day (Methods of healing, 2010). The results of coffee increase many cavities of the mind, making it very difficult not to like results of coffee.
Likewise, understanding how the body deals with coffee-caffeine intake helps to inform consumers on how it interacts with other components of the body. Several studies produce claims that coffee protects and fights against health problems. For example, body cells, the liver, the heart, the colon, the lungs, various diseases, depression, headaches, and heart burn benefit from coffee consumption. These positive results are mostly effective because coffee is a very excellent source of antioxidants. As another result, coffee consumption affects brain function. An ample connection between the amount of antioxidants present in coffee was found in a study by Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton. Antioxidants are substances from food or drink that help prevent or decrease oxidative damage or free radicals. Free radicals cause molecular damage, which weakens the system (Tsang, 2009). In another study by Vinson, it was found that Americans obtain their number one source of antioxidants from coffee. This means that coffee, recorded as 1,300 mg daily, was above any other source of food or drink. This includes fruits and vegetables. The latter results included: “ black tea (294 mg), bananas (76 mg), dry beans (72 mg/day), corn (48 mg/day), red wine (44 mg/day), beer (42 mg/day), apples (39 mg/day), tomatoes (32 mg/day), and potatoes (28 mg/day)” (Med page today, 2005). These results show the impressive coffee consumption levels in comparison to other foods and drinks.
As a result, coffee protects body cells because of anti-oxidants. They act as a protective layer. Anti-oxidants in coffee protect DNA, lipids, and proteins from possible cell destruction. For example Phytochemicals, such as cinnamate, esters and chlorogenic acid are cancer-reducing protectants. These protectants are prevalent because of the helping anti-oxidants.
As an illustration, “Rutgers University carried out a study in July 2007 that showed regular exercise combined with daily doses of caffeine can increase the destruction of pre-cancerous skin cells in mice. Once again, the findings have not yet been tested on humans, but the indication is that it will have similar effects (University of south florida health, 2009).” This information indicates that coffee be able to protect against possible formations of skin cancer.
As another result, coffee stimulates respiration rates and helps complete performance tasks with greater ease. When the caffeine increases metabolism, it also increases the breathing. Exercising the lungs makes them stronger and less susceptible to diseases. Sometimes doctors use caffeine to help weak or premature infants to open the airways in the lungs (Shields, 2007). Caffeine helps the lungs in many ways, including asthma. “Regular coffee drinkers have about 1/3 less asthmatic symptoms than those of non-coffee drinkers according to a Harvard researcher who studied 20,000 people (Ultimate coffees info, 2010).” This means that struggles with asthma are shown to decrease with coffee consumption. “A study of over seventy thousand Italians showed that there was a significant reduction in the appearance of asthmatic symptoms among patients who regularly drink coffee. The risk of asthmatic symptoms fell by 28% when patients drank three or more cups of coffee every day.(Ultimate coffees info, 2010)” Again, according to Ultimate coffees (2010), ”In 1992, the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey examined over twenty thousand Americans. The asthma and coffee study found that the risk of symptoms from patients with asthma going into the study fell dramatically (over 29%) when patients who regularly drank coffee, compared with patients who did not drink coffee on a regular basis. In addition, the risk of patients suffering from wheezing fell almost 13%. A relationship was also found between the amount of coffee consumed and the effects gained by the asthmatic patients. Those who drank more coffee had fewer symptoms; those who drank less coffee had more symptoms.” This proves that coffee does help people with asthma.
Coffee also protects the liver. Caffeine initiates higher performance, resulting in higher defenses and protection against cancerous developments. Caffeine helps to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, resulting in signals to the liver to pump sugar into the bloodstream. These signals help the liver to run more efficiently. Brain (2000) states, “Two cups a day causes an 80 percent drop in cirrhosis of the liver."
Similarly, coffee protects the heart and the colon. Coffee consumers with type-2 diabetes are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Harvard University students took a study on 126,000 people over an 18-year period. Studies say that coffee drinkers reduced heart problem chances in men by 54% percent and women by 30%. In another example by the Nurses ' Health study at Harvard Medical School, caffeinate coffee did not link to colon cancer either. No evidence showed any connection whatsoever. Brain, (2000) states that “Two cups a day gives you 20% less risk of colon cancer. In short, studies disprove the connection of coffee and heart disorders and colon cancer (Kirchheimer, ).
The possibility of Parkinson 's and Alzheimer 's disease are said to benefit from coffee. Again, the caffeine derivatives are the main protection against the disease. Strong disease fighting defenses decrease chances of many illnesses. A statistic states: “Regular coffee drinkers are 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson 's disease” (Brian, 2000, p. 1). A study about Alzheimer 's disease was conducted by The Byrd Alzheimer 's Institute in Tampa, Florida. It tested lab mice with caffeine injections. The results protected against developing Alzheimer 's disease and decreased symptoms of the already infected as well. The scientists concluded that up to five cups of coffee a day could have the same positive effect on humans (University of south florida health, 2009)."
Another result of coffee helps with gallstones disease. Statistics state that “Two cups a day prevents gallstone development by 50 percent (Brian, 2000).” The Find articles (1999) website explained by Michael Leitzmann and colleagues, expressed the affects of coffee and the results of gallstones in men. In 1986, around 46,000 middle aged, healthy men were evaluated and researched by health professionals. Ten years later, 1,081 of them were diagnosed with symptomatic gallstone disease. Michael Leitzmann continues, "The researchers compared their diets with those of the men who had no gallstones. Their findings: Men who drank two to three cups of regular (caffeine-containing) coffee a day had a 40 percent lower risk of gallstone disease than men who drank no regular coffee." This study proves much evidence about the connection of coffee and gallstones disease.
Recent studies have also shown that coffee may act as an antidepressant. It elevates one’s mood. Results find that coffee reduces suicide rates in certain large demographic, observed populations. “Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 1996, the study followed more than 86,000 registered nurses in the United States between 34 and 59 years of age for ten years. Dr. Ichiro Kawachi, an epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School who led this study, he confirmed using coffee as an antidepressant reduced the suicide rate in these nurses (Ultimate coffees info, 1996).” The nurses drinking two or three cups of coffee were one-third less likely to commit suicide. Those who drank more than four cups were 58% less like to commit suicide (Ultimate coffees info, 1996). The results are staggering and beneficial for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Likewise, coffee can also help in lessening more subtle health problems, for example: headaches. Caffeine can act as a painkiller. Little do many know, caffeine is a common ingredient in most headache medicines. As mentioned earlier, caffeine causes the blood vessels to contract. This allows a long-lasting numbing effect. It helps relief come faster because it increases acidity in the stomach, resulting in a more speedy absorption.(Shields, 2007). Again, the adenosine receptors that instead, connect to the caffeine, enables this too as a result.
Lastly, weight loss is a common result of coffee drinking because it contains caffeine, which is a stimulant. Caffeine boosts the metabolism, which gives energy. The more muscles contract, the greater the calcium production. Increased activity ultimately results in weight loss (Methods of healing, 2010).
The benefits of coffee are surprising and endless. Coffee protects body cells, the liver, the colon, the heart, and promotes a better quality of life. Caffeine in coffee not only helps the body’s system run faster, in this energy-needing world, but it lifts one’s mood and increases one’s pleasure. Coffee lends a helping hand to those who drink the soothing java. To those who strive for healthy living, coffee proves to be safe and beneficial.

Works Cited

Brian, M (2000). How caffeine works . How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/caffeine1.htm

Kirchheimer, S (). Coffee: the new health food?. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=caffeine.htm&url=http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food

Shields, J (2007). The benefits of caffeine. Healthmad. Retrieved from http://healthmad.com/nutrition/the-benefits-of-caffeine/

Tsang, G (2009). Antioxidants 101. Healthcastle. Retrieved from HYPERLINK "http://www.healthcastle.com/antioxidant.shtml" http://www.healthcastle.com/antioxidant.shtml

Med page today (2005). American Chemical Society: Coffee Is Chief Source of Antioxidants in U.S. Diet. Retrieved from http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/1619

University of South Florida Health (2009, July 6). Caffeine Reverses

Methods of healing (2010). . Retrieved from http://www.methodsofhealing.com/health-benefits-of-coffee/ Ultimate coffees info (2010). . Retrieved from http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com/asthma.html

Ultimate coffees info(1996). Coffee and depression. Retrieved from http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com/coffee-and-depression.html

Find articles (1999). Coffee zaps gallstones. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0813/is_8_26/ai_56027496/

Cited: Brian, M (2000). How caffeine works . How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/caffeine1.htm Kirchheimer, S (). Coffee: the new health food?. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=caffeine.htm&url=http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food Shields, J (2007). The benefits of caffeine. Healthmad. Retrieved from http://healthmad.com/nutrition/the-benefits-of-caffeine/ Tsang, G (2009). Antioxidants 101. Healthcastle. Retrieved from HYPERLINK "http://www.healthcastle.com/antioxidant.shtml" http://www.healthcastle.com/antioxidant.shtml Med page today (2005). American Chemical Society: Coffee Is Chief Source of Antioxidants in U.S. Diet. Retrieved from http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/1619 University of South Florida Health (2009, July 6). Caffeine Reverses Methods of healing (2010). . Retrieved from http://www.methodsofhealing.com/health-benefits-of-coffee/ Ultimate coffees info (2010). . Retrieved from http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com/asthma.html Ultimate coffees info(1996). Coffee and depression. Retrieved from http://www.ultimate-coffees-info.com/coffee-and-depression.html Find articles (1999). Coffee zaps gallstones. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0813/is_8_26/ai_56027496/