Coffee: Healthy or not?
Lachlan F. - 7th Grade
Art by Dot W - Barista
Coffee is a healthy drink. Coffee is the third most popular drink in the world. 44 percent of American adults said they drink 2-3 cups daily. But a lot of people think that drinking lots of coffee is bad for you. Fortunately for all you avid coffee drinkers, this is incorrect.
Coffee contains a lot of caffeine, which is a psychoactive substance. When your brain cells get overworked, your brain releases a hormone called adenosine that tells the cells to shut down. Caffeine blocks adenosine, keeping your brain active and alert. This is why drinking coffee at night can prevent sleep. Caffeine can also increase your metabolism, but that effect wears off over time. So the caffeine in coffee can be good for you and increase your productivity as long as you don’t drink it at night.
Coffee has a lot of positive health benefits. It contains many antioxidants and nutrients that help you live a healthy life. Studies show that drinking coffee can lead to a 65% less chance of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. It can also give you a 32-60% less chance of getting Parkinson’s disease, and a 23-67% less chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Some of this might not affect you, but coffee is also rich in antioxidants and nutrients. It contains vitamins B5, B3, B2, and B1. It also has folate, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. These vitamins are super important for the function of your body. Obviously, coffee has a lot of health benefits, but what about negative health effects?
“Coffee is a healthy drink that should be consumed regularly.”
Probably the worst effect of coffee is that caffeine while giving you energy, can also cause anxiety and disrupt your sleep. But this problem can be solved by not drinking too much at one time, or during the evening. Another negative effect is that coffee drinking can raise cholesterol levels via a substance called cafestol. When brewed with a paper filter instead of a Turkish or French press, cafestol is filtered out. Finally, coffee drinks such as frappuccinos are full of sugar and very unhealthy. Coffee has negative health effects, but it can be easily avoided.
In conclusion, coffee is a healthy drink that should be consumed regularly. Just make sure to hold the sugar, and don’t drink it at night. So come into Pinwheel Coffee to get your daily cup!
