Good News: Moderate Coffee Consumption Is Safe For Most People, Study Reveals

A new research review has found drinking coffee for pleasure and in moderate amounts is safe for most people.

Amid a continuing debate as to whether coffee is good or bad for health, a research review has found that drinking coffee for pleasure is safe for most coffee lovers. The researchers revealed things they found about caffeine and coffee, both of which have been subjects of numerous studies for many years.

In a news report in US News and World Report, Rob van Dam, a professor at the National University of Singapore and the lead author of the review, said what they discovered during their research is good for coffee lovers. "The impact of coffee consumption on health is important because there are few other dietary factors that so many people across the world are so frequently exposed to," he added.

The researchers looked at the relationship between the overall mortality and coffee consumption in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which comprised around130,000 volunteers, who were healthy men and women between 40 and 50 years old. They tracked the subjects for 18 to 24 years, checking their lifestyle habits, particularly their coffee consumption.

The team found that there is a connection between caffeinated coffee and lower risks of developing various diseases. They also stated that moderate doses of caffeine are safe for most people. The key here, however, is "moderate." The researchers warn that too much caffeine can make people jumpy and cause sleep disruptions.

Van Dam suggests people should observe whether caffeine affects their sleeping patterns or causes them to become agitated or anxious. He noted that the unpleasant side effects of caffeine greatly differ from person to person. The lead author added that if people observe these adverse side effects, they can first try adjusting their intake levels or the time they take coffee during the day.

The research team also offered advice to women on caffeine intake, saying they should be extra careful about it. Based on the evidence they gathered during the study, the researchers said pregnant women should cap their caffeine intake at not more than 200 milligrams a day. This is approximately the amount of caffeine in 12 ounces of coffee.

For most adults and non-pregnant people, van Dam explained that going up to five cups, each containing eight ounces, of coffee daily is fine. This depends, however, on their caffeine tolerance.

Several years have passed but the debate on whether caffeine is good or bad still continues to this day, said Lauri Wright, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the chair of nutrition and dietetics at the University of North Florida. While Wright is not involved in the review, she expressed gladness at the new research, saying it is good to return to the evidence.

She also agreed with the conclusion of the researchers that people should not rely on coffee to prevent any disease. "But coffee and caffeine can be part of a healthy lifestyle," Wright added.