Is your coffee habit healthy or harmful? Get expert advice from
registered dietitian Christy Brissette on whether you need to amp it up
or cut down on caffeine.
In any major city worldwide, you can't take two steps without passing
several cafés. But health-conscious java lovers want to know: Is a
regular caffeine habit good for your health, or should you cut back?
[post_ads]Overall, the morning beverage gets superfood status in my book. It's
overflowing with antioxidants and potential health benefits. The catch?
It's all about drinking the right amount. Regularly drinking coffee may help you live longer.
It may prevent Parkinson's disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes,
plus promote a healthy heart and liver. It even comes with
performance-enhancing benefits. Coffee has been shown to help push you
further during exercise, whether it's cardio or weight training. How
does it work? The caffeine makes the amount of effort you're putting in
seem lower than usual, so you go harder without even noticing. It also boosts focus and extends the amount of time before you feel fatigued.
Coffee can help lower the risk of stroke and potentially coronary heart disease
at 2 to 3 cups a day, but it can also raise unhealthy LDL cholesterol
depending on how it's brewed. Choose "American" style that's brewed and
filtered instead of using a French press. Filters remove a compound
called cafestol that can raise cholesterol levels. Party animals everywhere rejoiced with the news that coffee may help prevent liver damage.
A recent review suggests that drinking 2 extra cups a day reduced the
risk of liver cirrhosis (a disease where healthy liver tissue is
replaced with scar tissue) by almost half.
Unfortunately, this news doesn't mean you can go on an all-night bender and undo the damage with a cup or two of joe. Those roasted beans aren't magical. Being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and overdoing it on alcohol can't be reversed with extra coffee.
So How Much Caffeine Is Healthy?
The amount of caffeinated coffee you need to drink for health benefits might depend on your genes.
You could be a "fast caffeine metabolizer," meaning your body breaks it
down quickly. Fast metabolizers may have heart health benefits from
drinking between 2 and 4 cups a day. Slow caffeine metabolizers tend to
do better with less. How do you know which type you are? See a
registered dietitian who offers a nutrigenomics test to find out. The Mayo Clinic
recommends you limit your caffeine to 400mg a day, or a max of 4 cups
of coffee. And by a cup, I'm not talking about your oversize mug that's
basically a biceps workout to lift or a venti at your favorite cafe. A
cup is 8 fluid ounces. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, limit your
caffeine to 200mg or less a day.
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Some people are especially caffeine-sensitive and might need to cut
down even more. If you feel anxious or have trouble sleeping, it may be
worth replacing some of your caffeinated brew with decaf and slowly
weaning yourself down. Another dietitian insider tip: Take a look at what you're putting in
your coffee. Do you regularly treat yourself to fancy drinks loaded with
sugar and calories? It's time to drink it black or with a splash of
almond milk or skim milk to keep it lower in calories. Try swapping out
sugar and artificial sweeteners for a dash of cinnamon for even more
antioxidant power. Check out my vegan cafe mocha recipe to get the anti-inflammatory benefits of both java and cocoa!
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