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StumbleUponAlmost everyone who’s walked past my office today has tossed me a comment like “Have another cup of coffee—it’s good for you!” All the news shows this morning were discussing a new study from the Annals of Internal Medicine showing that those who drank as much as six cups of coffee a day had no increased risk of death from heart disease (or any other cause) than people who drank almost none.
The study also concluded that there may be a modest benefit that deserves further investigation. It did not, however, prove that coffee is good for you.
But other studies have shown that it does have some benefits. And in the pantheon of evil-doing foods and beverages you can pour into your body, I think coffee is a pretty safe bet for most people.
I adore good coffee. Think about it: It’s a whole food, the seed of a plant, simply roasted, ground, and filtered. It’s loaded with antioxidants. It has a stimulating effect that may help you focus and concentrate. It’s rich and satisfying and tastes great. Coffees from different regions have subtleties and nuances like fine wine. I like it fresh, with no sugar and just a little skim milk. To me that’s a healthy choice!
Keep in mind, though, that when you pour in, say, a fourth of a cup of whole milk each time, and a teaspoon of sugar, and you do that six times, that’s an extra 220 calories for the milk and 96 for the sugar, not to mention the fat and the effects on your blood sugar. That's a buzz kill.
But a good healthy cup of joe makes me happy. And I’m glad to have another reason to pour a cup: It’s not going to kill me.
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