Coffee - we all drink it. Some of us need several cups to get through the day without snoozing at our desks. Others just think it tastes good; considering the variety of options at each coffee shop, they're not wrong.
Oft-debated, however, is whether or not coffee is helpful or harmful to the human body. Everyone seems to have an opinion, largely based on personal and subjective experience.
Scientists and researchers are expressing varying opinions as well; it's hard to tell where the truth stands.
Here are some pros and cons about the world's favorite morning drink.
Benefits of coffee
Heart health is one of the big concerns in the American public today. Coffee does have a positive effect on the heart, however, according to studies. According to Consumer Reports, a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed a decrease in heart problems among 15 percent of people who consumed three-to-five cups a day. That study couldn't isolate the cause of the result, though.
Another important part of the body, the brain, could also benefit from coffee. For starters, the caffeine gives consumers a wake-up of sorts, keeping them alert and active throughout the day. It also may help the battle to stave off Alzheimer's disease, one of the most insidious conditions relating to brain function, according to a study led by USF and University of Miami researchers.
Costs of coffee
It isn't all roses and rainbows for coffee drinkers around the world. It can have a negative effect on body weight, for example. That might not relate to the coffee as much as what people tend to dump into their morning cup of joe, from the sugary creamer to the sugar packets. People tend to be less inclined to keep track of that end of their consumption (since it doesn't cost anything at most places).
Hence, the inevitable weight gain attributed to the morning beverage.
There are also intuitive hindrances involved in the drinking of coffee, beginning with the actual cost it takes to make or purchase a cup of it. Then, there's the crash that inevitably comes when the caffeine finally wears off; that hits some people harder than others, leaving them needing more coffee to survive the day, fueling a potential addiction.
Everything is better in moderation
Drinking coffee in excess can be dangerous, but consuming a little bit could actually be beneficial for the consumer. Studies will continue to be conducted to determine coffee's true effect. If you're unsure about your personal consumption, discussing it with a doctor may be the best move.