My brothers and I drink a lot of coffee and so do our parents. I once heard someone say that you shouldn't drink coffee at all because it has caffeine in it and that it is not good for you. Furthermore, I heard that coffee can make you fat. Is this true? Can anyone help me here? I really got confused on this topic just now; I was thinking about my favorite type of coffee, which is Irish Cream, and this question popped into my head. All responses will be greatly appriciated!

Besides, the other thing that reminded me of this is that I am about to go to my kitchen and make a pile of coffee. I can't drink coffee by itself; it is too strong for me. So I put milk and sugar in with it and drink the coffee that way.

[Pastachef]

If drinking coffee is the worst habit you aquire in life, Afra, then you really are a Saint Nobody in my family is fat, and we all drink coffee. The one with the weight problem doesn't touch the stuff. When I was younger coffee with cream and sugar kept my appetite down for junk food. I like it black now though, if it's a good brand.

[Pastachef]

Oh, your original question, Afra. 'Is coffee good for you?' I would say that's a matter of opinion. It could work for you in some ways and against you in others.

[-d-]

Freshly brewed coffee is reported to have a lot of antioxidants. Since antioxidants protect cell components from damage from free radicals - helping prevent cancer and heart disease, some people say that drinking freshly brewed coffee may be good for you. Note that this is only for freshly brewed coffee - drunk within 20 minutes of brewing.

Also, studies have shown that caffeine can reduce the symptons of asthma. So drinking a few cups a day is supposed to assist in moderate attacks.

On the flip side, drinking too much coffee isn't good.

[kokopuffs]

Coffee is a diuretic, it makes you urinate. This fluid loss has been known to relieve headaches. Remember Anacin, the pain reliever that doctors recommend most? It contained caffeine. Caffeine junkies, if they try to quit caffeine cold turkey, often get headaches that they never had before.

[foodnfoto]

Here are a couple interesting things about coffee that I've learned recently. Ditto on the antioxodant effect of fresh cofffee; there are similar effects from tea, and green tea has the highest concentration of antioxidants per cup of all these beverages. The caffeine in coffee works to relieve headaches (can even stave off migraines) and other inflammatory pain by shrinking blood capellaries. The down side is that high intake of caffeine can cause heart palpatations (pounding) and shakiness.
One fact that surprised and pleased me is that espresso has less caffeine per volume than regular brewed coffee. Why? Regular brewed coffee is made by pouring hot water into the coffee grounds and letting it slowly drip out. This process infuses the drink slowly and allows more caffeine into the drink. Espresso is made by forcing steam through the grounds very quickly leaving little time for the caffeine to be extracted from the grounds. Since I am a cappuccino lover, this is great news. I average 4 double caps a day.

[kokopuffs]

Foodnfoto:
I'm not sure that caffeine shrinks/constricts capillaries. Caffeine is a diuretic. It's the resulting water/fluid loss that decreases blood volume, causing vessel shrinkage.

[foodnfoto]

Thanks for the correction Kokopuffs; I had the feeling you might respond with some more accurate info. However coffee works, I'm glad it does because it's my beverage of choice.

[kokopuffs]

Simply put, caffeine and even golderseal stimulate urination. Also, the more one urinates, the "cleaner" the blood is. But remember, drinking water to excess will stimulate urination, too.

[Isa]

Water, drink in excess, can also lower your sodium level....

[Shimmer]

I have always heard that caffeine dehyrdates you, so if you are thirsty water would be a much better choice.

I don't know about science, but I know the effect caffeine can have. It helps with headaches, PMS, and I always participate more animatedly when I have had coffee!!!!

<insert caffeine overload graemlin here>

~~Shimmer~~

[Papa]

I love coffee.

I drink four cups during the morning of the Lavazza Oro espresso.

I always have a STASH herbal tea in the afternoon. My favorites are Orange and Apple/Cinnamon flavors.

In the evening I might have a cup of coffeee to relax after dinner.

I think that the secret is in moderation. Also the combination of foods and beverages that one consumes daily is very important.

[chefteldanielle]

I love coffee but mix mine with caffeine free coffee since it causes fibrocystic disease in breasts.
Danielle

[logose]

I had to quit drinking regular coffee years ago because I get palpitations of the heart if I drink too much or drink coffee in the afternoon. I switched to 1/2 regular and 1/2 decaff mixture. I drink no more than 3-4 cups in the morning. I grind my coffee every morning and make just enough so I don't get tempted to drink more. But I cannot completely give it up. It wakes me up and helps my digestion, and staves off the migraine headaches. Besides I love the taste of it.