Is Coffee Bad For You?

News
By published
coffee, cup of coffee, coffee mug
(Image credit: Dreamstime)

Coffee has both positive and negative effects on the body and mind, but the benefits appear to outweigh the dangers for most people.

Let's start with the positives.

Studies also suggest that copious amounts of coffee may help protect against various types of cancer, including skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma), liver cancer, aggressive prostate cancer and a type of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.

Additionally, coffee appears to help ward off stroke, depression in women and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. It has even been shown to lessen the pain of exercise.

On the other hand, unfiltered coffee —such as Turkish coffee, or coffee made with a French press —can increase your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. And women who drink more than five cups of coffee a day may have more trouble getting pregnant with in vitro fertilization than women who don't.

The caffeine in coffee can have several negative effects, such as temporary insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stomach issues, rapid heartbeat and muscle tremors, according to the Mayo Clinic.

In addition, a 2006 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that for people who metabolize caffeine slowly, drinking coffee can increase the risk of nonfatal heart attacks.

Finally, if you stop consuming caffeine, you may experience significant, life-interfering withdrawal symptoms, including headache, fatigue, irritability, depressed mood and difficulty concentrating.

Follow Joseph Castro on Twitter. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+.

Joseph Castro
Joseph Castro
Live Science Contributor
Joseph Bennington-Castro is a Hawaii-based contributing writer for Live Science and Space.com. He holds a master's degree in science journalism from New York University, and a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Hawaii. His work covers all areas of science, from the quirky mating behaviors of different animals, to the drug and alcohol habits of ancient cultures, to new advances in solar cell technology. On a more personal note, Joseph has had a near-obsession with video games for as long as he can remember, and is probably playing a game at this very moment.