Five Coffee Myths Busted

Coffee is commonly surrounded by rumors and most of warnings say that it is bad for your health. Upon doing much research and reviewing scientific data, I have written this article to report coffee facts and to dispel these vicious myths and vindicate coffee’s name.

Myth #1: Coffee Causes Heart Disease

You’ve heard the rumors that coffee can cause heart disease. The largest research project that was conducted over the longest time frame, concludes that coffee has no negative cardiovascular effects even when test subjects drank in excess of six-plus cups a day.

How did coffee get this bad rap? Although coffee does not cause heart disease it does contain a chemical called Cafestol, which is known to raise cholesterol levels. Cafestol is a by product when coffee is prepared. When using a paper filter, the paper filter will trap the Cafestol so you will not consume it.

The European method of preparation such as the “French Press”, does not use a paper filter therefore the Cafestol does make it into your coffee cup and this can heighten cholesterol levels in some individuals who already have high cholesterol.

Something to note for Decaf drinkers: Sorry, but Decaf coffee may be an exception. Studies at Stanford concluded that no matter what the preparation, subjects who drank Decaf had moderately higher levels of fatty acids and other precursors of LDL (bad cholesterol); something to consider if you are a Decaf drinker.

Bottom line is if you have high cholesterol you may want to reconsider drinking Decaf. If drinking regular coffee, be sure to use a paper filter.

Myth #2: Coffee Can Bring on a Heart Attack

Have you heard that coffee can bring on a heart attack? A slight and temporary rise in blood pressure sometimes is seen in first time and the occasional coffee drinkers. "But regular consumers build up tolerance and are largely immune to this effect," says Donald Hensrud, associate professor of preventive medicine and nutrition at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.

This tolerance is noted in two U.S. studies of nurses and further goes on to conclude that the test subjects that regularly drank the most coffee were actually at slightly lower risk for hypertension.

So, while the jitters and racing heart from too much coffee may be uncomfortable for the occasional coffee drinker, Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health (and a leading investigator of coffee) reports that these heart palpitations appear to be harmless. There's no evidence, he says that coffee sparks fatal arrhythmias.

The claim of coffee causing heart attacks also seems ridiculous for the simple fact that when someone is experiencing heart attack symptoms, they are supposed to take an aspirin. Aspirins contain caffeine…myth busted.

Myth #3: Coffee Causes Fibrocystic Breasts

There are many other myths regarding health issues due to coffee. Another once common belief was that coffee drinkers were more susceptible to fibrocystic breasts. Much research was done on the subject to determine if there was a link.

To this day no link has been established between the caffeine in coffee and fibrocystic breasts. Furthermore, there is no evidence that coffee or caffeine contributes to breast cancer.

Myth #4: Coffee Poses a Risk of Pancreatic Cancer and Osteoporosis

The connection of coffee increasing risk of Pancreatic Cancer has not been established. Also, a correlation to osteoporosis is solely based on the observation that coffee drinkers excrete more calcium in their urine. This is pure speculation that it would lead to osteoporosis by itself.

In addition, we are all warned to get our recommended daily allowance of calcium. “If we follow normal health guidelines it seems to cancel out any increased risk”, says Bess Dawson-Hughes, director of the bone metabolism lab at Tufts University.

Myth #5: Coffee dehydrates

I have always told people that coffee will dehydrate them and that the water in coffee does not count for their “8 glasses” per day requirement. Much to my surprise, this is actually a myth even though coffee makes rest room breaks more frequent.

A major report issued by the U.S. government's Institute of Medicine concludes that coffee quenches thirst as effectively as water and does not deplete body fluids.

So, to set the record straight: caffeine does not act as a diuretic when consumed in moderation and coffee does not lead to dehydration. This also means that coffee does not contribute to a water-electrolyte imbalance either.

In fact, the latest studies conclude that beverages, even though they contain caffeine, still contribute to the body's daily fluid requirements; the same as pure water.

After researching the facts, I feel much better about sipping on my warm and delicious cup of coffee. Ummmm….all the flavor and none of the worry. Now there is no reason not to enjoy my morning cup.