Most people will consider this good news. When compared to non-coffee drinkers, consumption of up to four cups of coffee have a 29% reduced risk of all-cause mortality over a seven-year period and a 15% reduction in all cardiovascular disease. The highest consumers of coffee are 29% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to non-drinkers (although I do wonder if high consumers are different in other important ways). There is even recent data showing that coffee is associated with a reduced risk of developing both acute and chronic kidney disease.  Most of us love caffeine because we need/want the stimulant benefit that derives from its being an adenosine receptor antagonist. I was surprised to learn that it contains a wide range of polyphenols, plant-derived chemicals that act both as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. Perhaps the best of all studied in coffee is chlorogenic acid. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant also found in peaches and eggplants.

Check out the podcast or the transcript of Coffee Science: A Clinician’s Guide to a Beloved Bean, an interview with Dr. Stephen Devries on the website of the Gaples Institute, a physician-led, educational non-profit organization. Drink a cup of coffee while you do so.

–Caroline

Caroline Fife, M.D.

Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog at CarolineFifeMD.com and my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/carolinefifemd/videos

The opinions, comments, and content expressed or implied in my statements are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of Intellicure or any of the boards on which I serve.