Coffee.edu

Taken from Coffee- 1996 Food That Harms, Food That Heals, page 102

Coffee is the substance for most of us to stay alert. It stimulates our central nervous system, causing to be alert. It is the major source of caffeine. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains nearly 400 other chemicals, including trace amounts of several vitamins and minerals, tannins, and caramelized sugar. Coffee is not entirely free of calories; while a 500 cc cup of sugar free black coffee has only 4 calories; some coffee drinkers have more fat and calories than a rich dessert. For example: a cup of whole-milk mocha topped with whipped cream is on a par with a hot fudge sundae.

A dedicated coffee drinker might consider reducing caffeine from other sources-for example limiting chocolate and eliminating colas and other caffeinated drinks from the meal habit.

Caffeine is also not good for pregnant women, as it reduces women’s fertility. A study shows that women who drank more than 3 cups of coffee (300 mg of caffeine) a day reduces their chance of conception by approximately 25 percent.

Caffeine prompts a temporary rise in blood pressure; it can also provide a cardiac arrythymias in susceptible persons. It is contributing to difficulty falling asleep and disturbed or reduced sleep.

Caffeine increases calcium excretion in the urine, the reason of early bone loss. To compensate for this loss, heavy coffee drinkers should extra calcium-rich foods, such as spinach.

Heavy coffee drinkers who stop consuming coffee abruptly may suffer headaches, irritability, and other withdrawal symptoms for a few days. Our suggestion is cutting back gradually.