Coffee is consumed in large part not simply because of taste, but because of the effect it has on those who drink it. The coffee bean itself contains chemicals which are mind-altering (in a way some find pleasing) for humans as a by-product of their defense mechanism. These chemicals are toxic in large doses, or even in their normal amount when consumed by many creatures which may otherwise have threatened the beans in the wild. A cup of coffee Coffee is a popular beverage prepared from the roasted seeds (not beans, though they are almost always called coffee beans) of the coffee plant. ...

Coffee as a stimulant

Coffee contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant. For this reason, it is often consumed in the morning and during working hours. Students preparing for examinations with late-night "cram sessions" use coffee to maintain their concentration. Many office workers take a "coffee break" when their energy is diminished. For other uses, see Caffeine (disambiguation). ...

Recent research has uncovered additional stimulating effects of coffee which are not related to its caffeine content. Coffee contains an as yet unknown chemical agent which stimulates the production of cortisone and adrenaline, two stimulating hormones.^[1] Cortisone (IPA:ˈkôrtəˌsōn) is a steroid hormone. ... Epinephrine (INN) or adrenaline (BAN) is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. ...

For occasions when one wants to enjoy the flavor of coffee with almost no stimulation, decaffeinated coffee (also called decaf) is available. This is coffee from which most of the caffeine has been removed, by the Swiss water process (which involves the soaking of raw beans to absorb the caffeine) or the use of a chemical solvent such as trichloroethylene ("tri"), or the more popular methylene chloride, in a similar process. Another solvent used is ethyl acetate; the resultant decaffeinated coffee is marketed as "natural decaf" due to ethyl acetate being naturally present in fruit. Extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide has also been employed. Decaffeination is the act of removing caffeine from coffee beans. ... A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution. ... The chemical compound trichloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent. ... Dichloromethane or Methylene chloride is a chemical compound widely used as a solvent for organic materials. ... Ethyl acetate, also known as acetic acid ethyl ester, ethyl ethanoate, acetic ether or acetic ester, is a clear, flammable liquid with a characteristic, not unpleasant smell like certain glues or nail polish removers. ... In chemistry and condensed matter physics, a critical point specifies the conditions (temperature, pressure) at which the liquid state of the matter ceases to exist. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas comprised of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...

Decaffeinated coffee usually loses some flavor over normal coffees and tends to be more bitter. There are also coffee alternatives that resemble coffee in taste but contain no caffeine (see below). These are available both in ground form for brewing and in instant form.

Caffeine dependency and withdrawal symptoms are well-documented; see Caffeine for more on the pharmacological effects of caffeine. For other uses, see Caffeine (disambiguation). ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and logos (λόγος) meaning science) is the study of how chemical substances interact with living systems. ...

Benefits

Analgesic

Coffee contains caffeine, which increases the effectiveness of pain killers, especially migraine and headache medications. For this reason some aspirin producers also include a small dose of caffeine in the pill. Some of the beneficial effects may be restricted to one sex, for instance it has been shown to reduce the occurrence of gallstones and gallbladder disease in men.^{[citation needed]} For other uses of painkiller, see painkiller (disambiguation) An analgesic (colloquially known as painkiller) is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain. ... A headache (medically known as cephalalgia) is a condition of pain in the head; sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ... Oral medication A medication is a licenced drug taken to cure or reduce symptoms of an illness or medical condition. ... In medicine, gallstones (choleliths) are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. ... Gall bladder Digestive system diagram showing the bile duct The gallbladder (or cholecyst sometimes gall bladder) is a pear-shaped organ that stores about 50 mL of bile (or gall) until the body needs it for digestion. ...

Antidiabetic

Coffee intake may reduce one's risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 by up to half. While this was originally noticed in patients who consumed high amounts (7 cups a day), the relationship was later shown to be linear.^[2] For the disease characterized by excretion of large amounts of severely diluted urine, see diabetes insipidus. ...

Antineoplastic

Coffee can also reduce the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver^[3] and has been linked to a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary liver cancer.^[4] Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue as well as regenerative nodules, leading to progressive loss of liver function. ... The liver is the largest internal organ of the human body. ... Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called hepatoma or liver cancer) is a primary malignancy (cancer) of the liver. ...

Study results published in 2005 showed that for Americans, who as a whole do not consume large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee represents by far the largest source of valuable antioxidants in the diet.^[5] An antioxidant is a chemical that reduces the rate of particular oxidation reactions in a specific context, where oxidation reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from a substance to an oxidising agent. ...

Coffee contains the anticancer compound methylpyridinium. This compound is not present in significant amounts in other food materials. Methylpyridinium is not present in raw coffee beans but is formed during the roasting process from trigonellin, which is common in raw coffee beans. It is present in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and even in instant coffee.^[6]

Cardioprotective

Also, coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease, though whether this is simply because it rids the blood of excess lipids or because of its stimulant effect is unknown. Heart disease is one of a number of different diseases which afflict the heart. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Laxative/diuretic

Coffee is also a powerful stimulant for peristalsis and is sometimes considered to prevent constipation; it is also a diuretic. However, coffee can also cause loose bowel movements. Peristalsis is the process of involuntary wave-like successive muscular contractions by which food is moved through the digestive tract. ... Constipation or irregularity, is a condition of the digestive system where a person (or animal) experiences hard feces that are difficult to eliminate; it may be extremely painful, and in severe cases (fecal impaction) lead to symptoms of bowel obstruction. ... A diuretic (colloquially called a water pill) is any drug that elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion (diuresis). ... Anatomy of the anus and rectum Defecation or feceation is the act or process by which organisms eliminate solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract. ...

Memory

Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short term recall and increase IQ^[7]. It also changes the metabolism of a person so that their body burns a higher proportion of lipids to carbohydrates, which can help athletes avoid muscle fatigue.^{[citation needed]} Short-term memory, sometimes referred to as primary or active memory, is that part of memory which stores a limited amount of information for a limited amount of time (roughly 15-30 seconds). ... IQ redirects here. ... Santorio Santorio (1561-1636) in his steelyard balance, from Ars de statica medecina, first published 1614 Metabolism (from μεταβολισμος (metabolismos)) is the biochemical modification of chemical compounds in living organisms anggjgjhnd cell (b). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that contain oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms, and no other elements. ...

Some of these health effects are realized by as little as 4 cups a day (32 U.S. fl oz, .95 L), but others occur at 5 or more cups a day (40 U.S. fl oz or 1.18 L or more).

Some controversy over these effects exists, as coffee consumption is often associated with other more negative behavioral variables. Therefore it has been variously suggested that the cognitive effects of caffeine are limited to those who have not developed a tolerance or to those who have developed a tolerance and are temporarily caffeine-deprived, suggesting that drinking in cycles could be necessary to achieve some effects.

Coffee enemas

Practitioners in alternative medicine often recommend coffee enemas for "cleansing of the colon" due to its stimulus of peristalsis, although mainstream medicine has not proved any benefits of the practice. Alternative medicine describes practices used in place of conventional medical treatments. ... This 2qt (about 2 liters) enema bag, or fountain syringe, equipped with a rectal nozzle, is to be filled with water or a solution, then suspended near the patient using the hook. ... Colon has several meanings: colon (anatomy) colon (punctuation) colon (rhetoric) See also Colón This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Risks

Many notable effects of coffee are related to its caffeine content. Amongst other known negative health associations it is not clear whether these are due to the caffeine or other unidentified compounds (suggesting that these may be modified by switching to decaffeinated coffee). Decaffeination is the act of removing caffeine from coffee beans and tea. ...

Anxiety and sleep

Many coffee drinkers are familiar with "coffee jitters", a nervous condition that occurs when one has had too much caffeine. It can also cause anxiety and irritability, in some with excessive coffee consumption, and some as a withdrawal symptom. Coffee can also cause insomnia in some, while paradoxically it helps a few sleep more soundly. Anxiety is a complex combination of emotions that includes fear, apprehension and worry, and is often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, nausea, chest pain and/or shortness of breath. ... Irritability is an excessive response to stimuli. ... Insomnia is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or to remain asleep for a reasonable period. ...

Cosmetic

Like tea, coffee also causes staining of the teeth. The best way to avoid this is to brush after every cup of coffee.

Blood pressure

A recent study by Harvard Med that set out to prove that the caffeine in coffee would put people at risk for high blood pressure ended up rejecting the theory. 155,000 nurses were followed for 12 years and the results showed that large amounts of coffee did not induce a "risky rise in blood pressure"^[8]. As a note, this study did not include men. For other forms of hypertension see hypertension (disambiguation). ...

Pregnancy and menopause

A February 2003 Danish study of 18,478 women linked heavy coffee consumption during pregnancy to significantly increased risk of stillbirths (but no significantly increased risk of infant death in the first year). "The results seem to indicate a threshold effect around four to seven cups per day," the study reported. Those who drank eight or more cups a day (64 U.S. fl oz or 1.89 L) were at 220% increased risk compared with nondrinkers. This study has not yet been repeated, but has caused some doctors to caution against excessive coffee consumption during pregnancy.^[9] This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

There are also gender-specific effects: in some PMS sufferers it increases the symptoms; it can reduce fertility in women; it may increase the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; and there may be risks to a fetus if a pregnant woman drinks 8 or more cups a day (48 U.S. fl oz or 1.4 L or more). Premenstrual stress syndrome Pocahontas Middle School ... Fertility is the ability of people or animals to produce healthy offspring in abundance. ... Osteoporosis is a disease of bone in which bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is changed. ... Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age in species that experience such cycles. ... Fetus at eight weeks Foetus redirects here. ... Pregnant woman at 26-week gestation A pregnant woman near the end of her term Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including humans, inside their bodies. ...

Decaffeinated coffee is occasionally regarded as a potential health risk to pregnant women, due to the high incidence of chemical solvents used to extract the caffeine. These concerns have almost no basis, however, as the solvents in question evaporate at 80–90 °C, and coffee beans are decaffeinated before roasting, which occurs at approximately 200 °C. As such, these chemicals, namely trichloroethane and methylene chloride, are present in trace amounts at most, and neither pose a significant threat to unborn children. Women still worried about chemical solvents in decaffeinated coffee should opt for beans which use the Swiss water process, where no chemicals other than water are used.^{[citation needed]} The chemical compound 1,1,1-trichloroethane is a chlorinated hydrocarbon that was until recently widely used as an industrial solvent. ... Dichloromethane or Methylene chloride is a chemical compound widely used as a solvent for organic materials. ...

Coronary artery disease

A 2004 study tried to discover why the beneficial and detrimental effects of coffee conflict. The study concluded that consumption of coffee is associated with significant elevations in biochemical markers of inflammation. This is a detrimental effect of coffee on the cardiovascular system, which may explain why coffee has so far only been shown to help the heart at levels of four cups (20 fl oz or 600 mL) or fewer per day.^[10] Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... The circulatory system or cardiovascular system is the organ system which circulates blood around the body of most animals. ...

The health risks of decaffeinated coffee have been studied, with varying results. One variable is the type of decaffeination process used; while some involve the use of organic solvents which may leave residual traces, others rely on steam.^{[citation needed]} A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution. ...

A study has shown that cafestol, a substance which is present in boiled coffee drinks, dramatically increases cholesterol levels, especially in women. Filtered coffee contains only trace amounts of cafestol. Cafestol is a diterpene molecule present in coffee. ... Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. ...

Polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 gene may lead to a slower metabolism of caffeine. In patients with a slow version of the enzyme the risk for myocardial infarction is increased by a third (2-3 cups) to two thirds (>4 cups). The risk was more marked in younger people.^[11] This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ...

A Harvard study over 20 years of 128,000 people published in 2006 concluded that there was no evidence to support the claim that coffee consumption itself increases the risk of coronary heart disease. The study did, however, show a correlation between heavy consumption of coffee and higher degrees of exposure to other coronary heart disease risk factors such as smoking, greater alcohol consumption, and lack of physical exercise.^[12] The results apply only to coffee filtered through paper filters, which excludes boiled coffee and espresso, for example. Additionally, the lead researcher on this study acknowledged that subsets of the larger group may be at risk for heart attack when drinking multiple cups of coffee a day due to genetic differences in metabolizing caffeine.^{[citation needed]} It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Cardiovascular disease. ...

The Iowa Women's Health Study showed that women who consumed coffee actually had less cardiovascular disease incidents and lower cancer rates than the general population. For women who drank 6 or more cups, the benefit was even greater. However, this study excluded 35% of its original participants who already had cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases when the study began. Since participants were all over the age of 55, no good conclusion can be drawn about the long term effect of coffee drinking on heart disease from this study.^[13]

References