But, I've always felt a little guilty about drinking it. People have always told me that coffee is harmful to your health - it will stunt your growth, it can damage your heart, it could lead to a stroke, etc. So I began looking at the evidence and here is what I found.

There are Some Negatives

I found that coffee will not stunt your growth. And it has not been shown to increase blood pressure or lead to cardiovascular disease. These were the two issues that I always heard about. But I did find some drawbacks.

You might want to limit your consumption of unfiltered coffee - espresso, French Press, percolated, etc. Studies have shown that it could lead to elevated levels of cholesterol. If you drink the filtered variety, like most folks, then you have nothing to worry about.

People with irregular heartbeats need to limit their intake of caffeine - and coffee contains a whole lot of it. These folks need to drink the decaf variety.

People with osteoporosis should limit their intake of caffeine, and coffee has a lot of it. Caffeine is a diuretic, which leads to more frequent urination - and the potential loss of vital vitamins and minerals. These people really should stick to the decaffeinated version.

Excess caffeine can lead to nervousness, anxiety, trembling and heart palpitations. So drink your coffee in moderation. Different people can tolerate different amounts.

This negative isn't directly related to coffee, it's related to what people put in their cups to go along with it. Many people load their cups with cream and sugar, which is not very healthy.

The Positives of Drinking Coffee

More and more studies are being released that tout the health benefits of coffee consumption. Here are a few of the exciting recent findings.

Those who drink coffee have a much lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes than non-drinkers. It may be due to the large amount of antioxidants contained in coffee; it could be due to the large amount of caffeine; or it could be both.

Studies have also shown a decreased risk of developing certain types of cancers - breast, liver, rectal, and colon. It probably has a lot to do with the high levels of antioxidants in coffee.

Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease than non-coffee drinkers. But this is only the case with men - sorry women.

A new Italian study found anti-cavity and anti-bacterial properties contained in coffee.

In Conclusion

Isn't it great to know that you can drink your coffee with total peace of mind? There is very little to be concerned about; unless you suffer with irregular heartbeats or osteoporosis. As with most things in life; do it in moderation - especially if you use cream and sugar.

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