The Medical Benefits of Coffee

Ladies, what do you do now that cereal keeps your husband alive?  How about a coffee? Or…if he is now going to live longer, how are you going to put up with him?

That photo of the “Coffee is worth the Wait” reminded me of recent research of the beneficial effects of coffee drinking and in particular the mood-elevating affect women experience with drinking caffeinated coffee. 

Clinical research shows that women suffer depression twice as often as men (is it the males fault?). In a study done in the Harvard School of Public Health by Michel Lucas, PhD, RD, et al. (Arch Int Med. 2011; 17:1571-1578) utilizing data from nearly 51,000 US women followed from 1996 to 2006, found that depression risk decreases with increasing caffeinated coffee consumption.

The more caffeinated coffee women drank the less they reported depression to their physician and the less they took antidepressants. There was a 15% decrease with 2-3 cups and a 20% reduction in those who consumed 4 to 6 cups a day.  In another study (Arch Internal Med 1996 Mar 11: 156(5): 521-5) women who drink progressively more coffee up to 6 or 7 cups a day had dramatically (nearly 40%) less chance of committing suicide. However, the risk of suicide increased after 8 cups (That’s a lot of coffee!!).

The reduction in depression may be related to caffeine entering the brain and promoting the release of neurotransmitters. The long term benefit on mood is unclear, however, earlier research showed the protective effect against Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders (Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Nov 15:160(10): 977-84).

There are other reported benefits due to the presence of anti-oxidants in coffee that may reduce the chance of liver cancer and type 2 diabetes. However, there are certain people that have a gene that prevents them from metabolizing caffeine that could lead to heart problems and unfiltered coffee is known to increase cholesterol levels.

All this research (there is lots, just google coffee benefits) can make coffee drinkers and roasters feel pretty good but the authors of all these studies caution that recommendation for coffee consumption to improve health is premature. I know for me, however, coffee has become more than a way to stay awake. The coffee “drip” will help me weather the “dip” in the economy and keep me alive and aware in the future.

Some of us may wish to make more cups of coffee for our wives — but not more than seven a day.