For me, coffee is an essential part of my day. I wake up and without even getting out of bed I turn my espresso machine on. I find myself relying on coffee in the morning to wake myself up and give me the energy for a productive day and I know I’m not alone on this topic. America truly runs on coffee and especially for college students, even if we are running late we somehow find a way to fit getting coffee into our schedule.
So what is the answer to this question, can coffee really stunt one’s growth? The answer is no. However, what most people lack to know is that coffee can stimulate the central nervous system since it is caffeine. However, one or two cups of coffee a day does not have harmful effect on one’s body unless one is abusing the amount of coffee they drink and also drinks other caffeinated drinks such as soda. This myth that coffee stunts one’s growth can be contributed to early studies that stated caffeine reduces bone mass and osteoporosis. In fact, what was found about those studies was that they were conducted on elders and to explain the loss of bone mass was due to the lack of calcium they had. However, if you think about it, if one added milk to coffee every day, there’s the calcium needed.
There was a study conducted on children recently from Anahad O’connor from the New York Times, it stated that 81 teenagers drank coffee every day for 6 years and the results stated no difference in bone mass in the children that drank the most caffeine and the children who drank the least proving that coffee stunts growth is a myth.
Although there are minor negative effects of drinking coffee there are also positive effects. This includes reduced risk of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent which came from a study done in Iowa from the Women’s Health study that was conducted. This study was for 15 years and tracked 27,000 women. Another benefit of coffee is that it can ward off breast cancer and uterine cancer in women. Also, another interesting benefit is that it can help type 2 diabetes. Since coffee contains minerals including magnesium and chromium, those minerals allow the body to control blood sugar. So instead of listening to the myths of coffee stunting one’s growth and the negative effects of this caffeinated drink, look at the positives and see how they outweigh the negatives. Now you can go enjoy your Starbucks espresso/coffee with no worries!
Sources:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/coffee-stunt-growth.htm
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food
Although I have never been much of a coffee drinker I do end up drinking coffee late at night when I am studying for a test or completing my endless amounts of homework. I have found that the caffeine really does give you a boost of energy, and it doesn’t prevent me from falling asleep after I am done with my work. Here is an article I found on WebMD that shows brain foods, which help you concentrate. I think you will find this interesting because it shows coffee to be one of these brain foods or “drinks”. http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/slideshow-brain-foods-that-help-you-concentrate
I heavily rely on coffee to get me through the day as well. Thanks for sharing some health benefits so I don’t have to feel bas when my friends make fun of me for drinking so many cups a day! This article has a lot of info about coffee… If it is safe during pregnancy, if tea has the same effects as coffee, and many more health related topics with coffee. Enjoy!
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/coffee/
As a person that has never had a sip of coffee in their life, after reading this blog I think it is time that I start! This blog made me realize that their are a lot of under the radar benefits of drinking coffee, like reduced risk of heart attacks. It seems like everyday that Starbucks in the Hub has a line almost out the door for college kids needing their caffeine. Would you say that some types of coffee are better than others for reducing chances of disease?
Here are more benefits of drinking coffee, which include improving physical performance and burning fat…more benefits of coffee I have never even heard of!
http://authoritynutrition.com/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee/
I’m curious to know whether the type of coffee one drinks has an effect on the health benefits. I’m not sure why, but I have always assumed that light roasts were healthier, though I have no idea where I got that notion or if it has any truth to it.
I would be careful when you say to add milk to coffee in order to improve calcium intake. Here is an article about why milk may actually cause those with protein-rich diets to lose calcium.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/milk-for-your-bones
Just out of curiosity, how do you turn on your espresso machine without getting out of bed? Do you sleep in the kitchen? Not judging, just wondering.