Is Coffee Good or Bad for You?

Copyright (c) 2014 LifeWorks Integrative health

The question "is coffee good or bad for you" is an age-old question that can be an extremely confusing to lay-people and healthcare professionals alike. This subject is just flat-out confusing. Watching the evening news is likely to tell you one night that your daily trip to Starbucks is going to cause all of your health concerns to go away. Turn the news on the next night and you may just hear that cup or two of coffee you enjoyed this morning is going to cause you to spend a whole lot of time at your doctor's office.

Confused yet? With so many contradictory messages when it comes to coffee, it's safe to say that a majority of us don't know whether to kick our coffee-drinking habits to the curb or if it's safe to enjoy a trip to our favorite coffee shop each morning.Despite the fact that science keeps flip-flopping back and forth on whether or not you should be drinking coffee, the reality of it is that many Americans do rely on coffee to make it through these crazy, chaotic days we call life.

Is Coffee Good or Bad For You: A Look at the Controversies Surrounding Coffee

There have been many controversies surrounding coffee and it's potential role in preventing Parkinson's disease as well as it's potential role in preventing breast cancer. Coffee is a potent combination of a number of biologically active compounds. Like any other food product, coffee has a number of effects on the body.

The question " is coffee good or bad for you" can be a tough one to answer. While the research on the benefits and disadvantages of coffee may vary, here are 10 reasons why you do not need coffee as part of your diet and for a healthy body:

1. The caffeine found in coffee increases the production of the stress hormone, catecholamines. As a result, your body elicits cortisol and increases insulin. This can lead to an increase in inflammation. Inflammation throughout the body will make you feel lousy.

2. Your caffeine addiction can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity. This can make it very difficult for your body to appropriately respond to blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can lead to an increased risk of arterial deterioration and well as cardiovascular disease. This can lead to an early death.

3. While unfiltered coffee may have the highest amounts of beneficial antioxidants, unfiltered coffee can also cause diterpenes to enter your system. Diterpenes have been associated with higher levels of triglycerides, LDL and VLDL levels.

4. The chlorogenic acids in your system may be considered helpful in some aspects. This is a tricky topic when it comes to answering the question, "is coffee good or bad for you." Chlorogenic acid may delay glucose absorption in the intestines. However, they have also been shown to increase homocysteine levels. Increased homocysteine levels have been found to be an indicator for increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. Coffee is acidic. Coffee is associated with indigestion, heartburn, digestive discomfort, GERD and dyblosis (imbalances that occur in your gut flora).

6. Coffee addicts have a much more difficult time relying on the body's natural source of energy. Coffee drinkers become addicted to energy that coffee gives them and have a hard time when coffee is not made available to them.

7. Coffee has become so trendy. Coffee shops are on every corner offering coffee drinkers more than just a plain old glass cup of coffee. Some coffee drinks now contain large amounts of sugars and artificial flavorings. They are high in calories and are majorly lacking when it comes to nutrients.

8. 5-HIA is an organic acid and component of the neurotransmitter known as serotonin (a chemical in your brain that has a tendency to make you happy) found in urine has a tendency to be more elevated in those who drink coffee. This means that they are at risk for lower levels of serotonin synthesis in the brain. Serotonin is a necessary chemical for normal sleeping patterns, bowel functions, mood and higher energy levels. The caffeine found in coffee can make it very difficult to get a good night's rest and can also lead to depression and anxiety.

9. Coffee can lead to an increase in urinary excretions. This means excretion of important minerals -- including potassium, calcium and magnesium. Coffee drinking can also lead to an imbalance in your electrolytes, which can eventually lead to serious systemic complications.

10. The ingredients in coffee can interfere with normal drug metabolism and detoxification in the liver. This can make it difficult to regulate normal detoxifications processes.

Next time you run out of coffee or go and reach for that second cup, think to yourself "is coffee good or bad for you". Taking a break from coffee may just do your body some good!