The last 25 years has seen the growth of a cottage industry in the study of the health effects of drinking coffee. And no wonder - over 400 million cups a day are consumed throughout the world. But for decades health workers warned that the habit might be unsafe. Recent studies show the opposite is more likely to be the case.



Caffeine, one of the main ingredients in coffee, has long been known to be a mild stimulant. That can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate and produce the occasional irregular beat. But most researchers now believe the effect is mild and short-lived.

Continued research has discovered that not only is moderate coffee consumption not a health risk, there are some benefits.

Large amounts of coffee are believed to have a healthy affect on your colon, possibly lowering your risk of cancer. But this benefit requires that you drink over 4 cups daily which could be a bit excessive.

There are positives affects that coffee can have even when consumed in moderation.

Coffee, like wine, contains antioxidants that help prevent heart disease and certain cancers by removing cell-destroying oxygen radicals from the blood. Some studies say the concentration of antioxidants is greater than that found in cranberries, apples or tomatoes. Scientists, however, point to the many other valuable vitamins, minerals and fibers in fruits and vegetables.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most debilitating and heartrending diseases around. Certain studies indicate the possibility that in addition to contributing to awareness of mind coffee also helps lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's sufferers.

Another distressing disease is diabetes. Studies show that it is possible that coffee, both regular and decaffeinated, lower your risk of developing two kinds of diabetes. A great benefit indeed!

The caffeine in coffee also assists the digestive process by producing more acid in the stomach. This results in a decreased possibility of gall and kidney stones and makes for better digestion overall.

Theophylline, a bronchodilator is of great benefit to those who suffer from asthma. This property of coffee helps open the air passages and easier breathing.

But those benefits, not surprisingly, come with risks.

If your goal is to start increase the size of your family you might want to be careful how much coffee you consume. Large consumption of coffee can cause you to be less fertile.

Increased coffee consumption has been associated with higher blood levels of homocysteine, recently shown to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Other studies show an increase in LDL-cholesterol (the 'harmful' kind). To what degree these factors actually contribute to heart attacks is a matter of debate.