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David Byrne Tropical Horticulture Credible Internet Sources Homework

September 17, 2007

Key words: Coffee and health

Three selected internet sources of varying credibility

1.

CoSIC, the pan-European Coffee Science Information Centre, was established in the UK in 1990 by ISIC, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee.

2.

Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women’s Health Watch

3.

Coffee and Fitness: Friends or Foes?

Ranking and explanation:

Ranking

health.harvard.edu





Normally the most credible sites would be those with an .edu domain name. Thus the second site (health.harvard.edu) is the most credible.

The first site () is probably more credible than the third site () as it professes to use scientists from Oxford.

In all cases, the information presented were summaries of information that was presumably published in peer reviewed journals. Thus for my paper I would need to find the primary source of information.



CoSIC, the pan-European Coffee Science Information Centre, was established in the UK in 1990 by ISIC, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee.

During the last decade there has been an increase in consumer awareness of diet-related health issues and as a result of this trend many popular foods and drinks have come under scrutiny, including coffee. CoSIC was set up to work with independent scientists to develop factual overviews of the large, and often conflicting, volume of data concerning coffee and its effects on health.

Through the collection of experimental data and contact with researchers, CoSIC assesses all the on-going and past medical research on coffee and caffeine being undertaken around the world. It maintains and regularly updates a scientific database that now comprises thousands of published research studies.

The aim of CoSIC is to provide accurate, balanced and consistent information to all audiences across Europe who have an interest in coffee, caffeine and health. The primary objective is to bring balance to the coffee and health debate.

This Web site covers only those medical conditions for which there are published scientific data available. It does not comment on unsubstantiated links between coffee and health for which there have been no properly conducted and published trials, nor where it is a question of individual sensitivity to caffeine, which varies considerably.

CoSIC operates from Oxford, in the United Kingdom, where a team is responsible for all scientific resource. The network itself consists of National Operators in twenty countries throughout Europe who provide information on coffee and health within their own country.

address

CoSIC

12 Market Street

Chipping Norton

Oxon OX7 5NQ

United Kingdom

Fax: +44 1608 645300

personnel

Roger Cook - Director

Dr Euan H M Paul - Scientific Advisor

E-mail: CoSIC@

SUMMARY

Coffee is enjoyed as a drink by millions of people world-wide and has been for at least a thousand years. It contains caffeine, which is a mild stimulant, and in many people coffee drinking enhances alertness, concentration and mental and physical performance. Although it contains a wide variety of substances, it is generally accepted that caffeine is responsible for many of coffee’s physiological effects. Because caffeine influences the central nervous system in a number of ways and because a small number of people may be particularly sensitive to these effects, some people have attributed all sorts of health problems to coffee. Caffeine is not recognised as a drug of abuse and there is no evidence for caffeine dependence. Some particularly sensitive people may suffer mild symptoms of withdrawal after sudden abstention from coffee drinking. A 150 ml cup of instant coffee contains about 60mg caffeine and filter coffee contains about 85 mg. For those who like coffee but are sensitive to caffeine, the decaffeinated beverage contains only 3 mg per cup.

There is no sound evidence that modest consumption of coffee has any effects on the outcomes of pregnancy or on the wellbeing of the infant. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency issued guidelines for caffeine intake during pregnancy with an upper limit of 300mg/day. This figure is in line with that stated in 1999 by the EU Scientific Committee on Food who said that 'While intakes up to 300mg/day appear to be safe, the question of possible effects on pregnancy and the offspring at regular intakes above 300mg/day remains open. Despite a small negative effect on calcium balance which can easily be made up from other dietary sources there is no evidence that this is translated into any effect on bone health. It has been known for over 100 years that coffee drinking can help asthma sufferers by improving ventilatory function.

There is no evidence that coffee increases the risk of cancer of the female breast, ovary, pancreas or kidney. It is now accepted that the small increased risk of bladder cancer sometimes associated with coffee drinking is primarily caused by cigarette smoking. There is also evidence that coffee protects against colon cancer and preliminary evidence that it protects against male breast cancer.

There is no evidence that coffee increases the risk of heart disease. Moderate consumption of coffee does not increase cardiac arrhythmias. In some sensitive individuals, ingestion of coffee after a period of abstinence may cause a temporary rise in blood pressure but there is no persistent hypertensive effect in the long term. Coffee made by the Scandinavian method of boiling or by the cafetiere method may cause mild elevation of plasma cholesterol concentration in some people but instant and filter coffee have no such effects. Although coffee elevates plasma homocysteine levels this effect is not large enough to have a significant effect on the risk of heart disease.

There is no evidence that coffee promotes indigestion in the majority of people. Although coffee is known to increase heartburn this effect is not large enough to justify advising people with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease to abstain from drinking coffee. There is no evidence that coffee increases the risk of developing peptic ulcer disease. There is some evidence that coffee may protect against gallstone disease.

Caffeine is a mild diuretic but scientific studies do not support the idea that caffeinated beverages exaggerate dehydration and electrolyte loss caused by exercise. There is some evidence that coffee may protect against the development of kidney stones.

Evidence is growing that coffee might protect against the development of Parkinson’s disease and a few studies suggest that it might also protect against Alzheimer’s disease. The relationship between coffee consumption and diabetes is an area of active investigation but no clear picture has emerged so far. Available evidence suggests that coffee might also protect against liver cirrhosis.

Coffee has a much higher total in-vitro antioxidant activity than other commonly consumed beverages. This is due in part to intrinsic compounds of coffee such as chlorogenic acid, in part to compounds formed during coffee bean roasting such as melanoidins and in part to as yet unidentified compounds. It is widely believed that antioxidants protect against the development of chronic diseases including heart disease and cancer but whether the antioxidants characteristic of coffee have such effects remains to be determined



|Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women’s Health Watch |  |

|( Boston , MA ) Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about| |

|its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may| |

|even offer some health benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch weighs the pros and cons of this | |

|popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers. | |

|The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn't cause harm, it's also uncovered possible| |

|benefits. Studies show that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers than among those who don't | |

|drink it. Also, coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve | |

|cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of | |

|Parkinson's disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities. | |

|For those who drink coffee to stay alert, new research suggests that you'll stay more alert, particularly if you are | |

|fighting sleep deprivation, if you spread your coffee consumption over the course of the day. For instance, if you usually | |

|drink 16 ounces in the morning, try consuming a 2-3 ounce serving every hour or so. Again, moderation is the key. | |

|However, as the September issue notes, coffee is not completely innocent. Caffeine, coffee's main ingredient is a mild | |

|addictive stimulant. And coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood | |

|pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat that should be considered. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding | |

|coffee and its effect on women's health issues such as breast health, cancer, and osteoporosis. But, the negative effects of| |

|coffee tend to emerge in excessive drinking so it is best to avoid heavy consumption. | |

|[pic]Related Information | |

|[pic] | |

| | |

|• Coffee and the Heart  [pic]More | |

|• Coffee: For most, it's safe  [pic]More | |

|• In Brief: Smell the coffee, feel the caffeine   [pic]More | |

|[pic] | |

| | |

|[pic] | |

|<  Back to Press Releases | |

|The Harvard Women's Health Watch is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of the Harvard | |

|Medical School. You can subscribe to Harvard Women's Health Watch for $32 per year at health.harvard.edu or by calling | |

|1-877-649-9457 toll-free. | |

|About Harvard Health Publications | |

|Harvard Health Publications publishes five monthly newsletters—Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Women's Health Watch, Harvard | |

|Men's Health Watch, Harvard Mental Health Letter, and Harvard Heart Letter—as well as more than 50 special health reports | |

|and books drawing on the expertise of the 8,000 faculty physicians at Harvard Medical School and its world-famous affiliated| |

|hospitals. For more information about Harvard Medical School publications, please visit our Web site, | |

|health.harvard.edu. | |

|Source: Harvard Health Publications | |

|Contact: hhpmedia@hms.harvard.edu | |

|Web site: | |



Coffee and Fitness: Friends or Foes?

by Matt Pitcher  | Print Friendly Version  | Email This Article    [pic] [pic][pic]

Matt Pitcher is a Certified Fitness Trainer (CFT)

Although I’m a firm believer that the only true and healthy path to sustained energy levels is through the combination of adequate amounts of exercise and rest while eating a balanced amount of real whole foods, sometimes our fast paced lifestyles don’t make that very practical and require us to use ‘alternative’ means to temporarily boost our energy levels. And, since the readers of this article are coffee lovers, I’m assuming that I won’t be convincing anyone to retire their coffee mug to the pantry forever anytime soon. So, allow me to explain how coffee can impact your health and fitness so that you can utilize your love of coffee in the healthiest way possible.

[pic][pic][pic]

Coffee and Health

Aside from tasting good (and smelling even better), coffee is believed to have a number of health benefits. You may not need a man in a white coat to tell you that your daily dose of caffeine counteracts fatigue and improves alertness and concentration, but did you know that research suggests coffee can lessen the risk of heart disease, Parkinson's disease and gallstones as well as act as a powerful antioxidant? So, is caffeine a health booster that actually tastes good? Well, not necessarily. For every researcher or health expert downing a double latte, there's another ordering green tea. What are we to think?

Physiology

Coffee gets its kick from caffeine, one of a group of naturally occurring plant-derived compounds called methylxanthines. Caffeine is a drug, pure and simple. It's addictive - too much can be toxic (although no one has ever died of a caffeine overdose) - and withdrawal causes side effects such as headaches and dizziness. When ingested, caffeine has a 'global' effect, meaning it influences all body tissues, including muscle.

'Drinking a cup of coffee stimulates the central nervous system and prompts the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, one of two hormones released in response to stress. Your heart beats faster, glucose is released into the blood stream and you feel energized,' explains Anthony Haynes, a nutritionist at the Nutrition Clinic in London's Harley Street. 'In the short-term you feel revived, but over time this repeated stress response frazzles the adrenal glands, while the liver becomes conditioned to metabolize caffeine more quickly, meaning you'll need even more cups of coffee to get the same lift.'

The Dark Side

In fact, even if you drink only one cup early in the day, caffeine is still at work on your system hours later. A recent study at the Duke University Medical Center, found that levels of adrenalin and noradrenaline remained elevated at night even when subjects had slurped their last cup of coffee at lunchtime - in effect, mimicking 24-hour stress. And that's not the only charge Haynes levels at the world's second favorite drink, after tea. 'Coffee is an anti-nutrient,' he says. 'It hampers the absorption of essential minerals including iron, magnesium, zinc and potassium, as well as the B vitamins.' So, for example, drinking a cup of coffee while eating a hamburger can reduce the amount of iron you absorb by 40 percent, while zinc absorption is reduced if coffee is drunk within an hour after a meal.

Even more sinister links have been made between coffee and ill health. Various studies have concluded that avid coffee drinkers are more at risk of miscarriage and birth defects, osteoporosis, arthritis and heart disease. So, is our daily cup doing more harm than good?

The Jury is Still Out

'The findings thus far on coffee intake and health are inconsistent,' says Dr. Wendy Doyle from the British Dietetic Association. 'In my mind, the evidence against coffee drinking is poor, unless you're talking about an exceptionally high consumption. In moderation, coffee doesn't appear to cause health problems.'

This was the same conclusion as the authors of the Nurses' Health Study, an epic 25-year study of disease and women's health and lifestyle habits. They reported that 'drinking coffee in moderation appears to have few, if any, adverse consequences.' The study also failed to find evidence to support the link between coffee and increased risk of heart disease and cancer, as well as any difference in the risk of heart disease among women who drank six cups a day compared to those who totally abstained.

But experts like Anthony Haynes are highly skeptical about many of the recent positive findings. And in spite of unfounded evidence on the negative effects of coffee, the Nurses' Health Study did note that coffee's effect on calcium absorption could make excessive caffeine intake a bad idea for post-menopausal women at risk of osteoporosis. In fact, nutritionist and best-selling author, Carol Simontacchi, has stated that caffeine ‘bleaches’ the bones of calcium over time.

Dr Doyle agrees that the evidence relating to a high caffeine intake and miscarriage is worrying. 'It's wise to keep caffeine from coffee and other sources - such as tea, energy drinks and chocolate - to a minimum if you're pregnant,' she says.

So, despite being one of the most researched beverages around, no one has come up with a definitive 'yes' or 'no' answer to the question of coffee and health. Dr. Doyle and Anthony Haynes agree on one thing, however. Smoking, lack of exercise, and excess alcohol are more serious issues than having a few cups of coffee. 'A daily cup isn't going to do you much harm, but if you want optimum energy and health, you'll be better off without it,' says Haynes. While Haynes might be adamant about the detrimental effects of coffee, the rest of the jury is still out - most likely getting a nice, frothy cappuccino.

Coffee and Exercise

So, having said all this, can coffee improve your fitness? It does seem that the ingestion of caffeine can enhance exercise and sports performance, and this area of research has produced quite compelling results. In a landmark study by American doctor Dave Costill in the 1970s, a group of cyclists were able to ride for 21 minutes longer post-caffeine ingestion.

In fact, caffeine's efficacy as a performance-enhancing drug has led the International Olympic Committee to consider urinary levels of caffeine exceeding 12 micrograms/ml as worthy of a ban. You'd have to knock back eight cups of coffee to achieve such a target, however. Assuming you're not competing at the top level, a strong cup of coffee an hour before that fun run or charity bike ride might just help you through. Even if it isn't physiologically easier, studies have shown that people perceive their effort to be less intense after caffeine ingestion. In other words, you're trying as hard but you don't feel as if you are. However, caffeine can also dehydrate you, so don't overdo it and be sure to drink water regularly during your workouts.

So, these previous studies show that caffeine can boost your endurance, particularly during exercise lasting between thirty minutes and two hours. Because of its high caffeine content, many people drink coffee in the belief that it has the same effect. Unfortunately, it doesn't according to a recent study.

A Canadian research team compared the effects of coffee and caffeine on run time to exhaustion. A group of nine men took part in five trials. Sixty minutes before each run, the men took one of the following.

• Placebo (a "dummy" supplement).

• Caffeine capsules.

• De-caffeinated coffee.

• De-caffeinated coffee with caffeine added.

• Regular coffee.

Performance times were up to 10 minutes longer in subjects using the caffeine capsules. There were no differences in run times among the other trials.

These results are somewhat surprising, especially when you consider that caffeine absorption was similar during all three caffeine trials. The only explanation is that something in the coffee interferes with the effects of caffeine.

This isn't surprising, especially when you consider there are hundreds of compounds dissolved when coffee beans are roasted, ground and extracted in hot water. In fact, when one of these compounds was injected into rats, it actually slowed heart rate and lowered blood pressure.

The bottom line, then, is that if you plan to use caffeine to boost your exercise routines (particularly your endurance times), pure caffeine (such as in the form of capsules) might prove to be more beneficial than coffee.

Conclusion

Clearly, coffee has some health benefits, but also has very real risks and it’s role in the improvement of fitness levels is questionable. So, in light of these facts, I highly recommend being balanced to your approach to coffee ingestion as it relates to your health and fitness. One great way to achieve that balance is to follow the guidelines of the coffee diet and to enjoy your coffee in moderation while following a proper exercise routine. And, if you aren’t sure how to best do that, consult with a clinically certified nutritionist and/or fitness expert. After all, the longer we live, the longer we can enjoy coffee!

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