Coffee & Health

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• QWhat are the health benefits of drinking coffee?

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  A RealAge answered

  While some studies have uncovered a few of the negative effects of coffee, other studies have suggested that this beverage may have some pretty great health benefits. Some research suggests it may even reduce diabetes risk. So don't feel you have to kick coffee to the curb. You might just want to pass if you're taking the day off from your eat-healthy diet.

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• QWhat are the pros and cons of caffeine?

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  A Dr. Kelly Traver , Internal Medicine, answered

  In small doses, caffeine increases your concentration and reaction time and your brain cells actually fire more rapidly. If you do drink caffeine, though, it's important not to overdo it, or your body will go into overdrive, leading to palpitations, tremulousness, nervousness, and diarrhea. Most people should limit caffeine consumption to the hours before noon because the half-life of caffeine can be as long as 7 to 12 hours so there may be too much caffeine in your system for you to sleep well if you drink it too late in the day.

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• QHow can drinking coffee help me live longer?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  To live longer and younger, go for Joe. You'll delay or help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's with 2 cups of caffeinated coffee a day. You'll get even bigger benefits with up to 6 small cups daily. (Skip this longevity booster if caffeine triggers migraines, anxiety, gastric upset, insomnia, or abnormal heart beats.)

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• QWhat's the coffee-liver connection?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  There seems to be a relationship between having two or more 8-ounce (300 mg or so of caffeine) cups of coffee a day and good liver health. This amount is less than the 6 cups needed to decrease the risk of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease and the three cups to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
  
  At the same time, you should also avoid having more than 3 drinks of alcohol a day-for its toxic effects on both your pancreas and liver.
• QHow much caffeine can I consume every day?

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  A Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered

  Excessive caffeine consumption is not mathematical, it's individual. Caffeine sensitivity depends on the amount and frequency of caffeine consumption, body weight, physical condition and overall anxiety level, among other factors. For most healthy adults, moderate amounts of caffeine -- 200 to 300 milligrams a day, or about two to three cups of coffee -- pose no physical problems.
• QHow does caffeine affect children?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  A study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that children who consumed the most caffeine slept less than the nine hours per night recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  
  “When children sleep poorly, it manifests in subtle ways,” says Carlos Lerner, MD, medical director for the UCLA Children’s Health Center. “They may have difficulty paying attention in school and show signs of hyperactivity or behavioral problems. Sleep deprivation and caffeine consumption can mimic signs of ADHD.”
• QWhat can my teenager do to reduce the effects of caffeine on his sleep?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  “Adolescents commonly have problems with sleep, so adding caffeine to the mix only makes things worse,” says Carlos Lerner, MD, medical director for the UCLA Children’s Health Center. “Older kids should limit caffeine to a reasonable or minimal amount, and if they do choose to consume caffeinated drinks, they shouldn’t do it close to bedtime.”