It’s not hard to find articles warning about the dangers of drinking coffee. Common problems associated with this caffeinated beverage include dehydration, anxiety disorders and food allergies.
Are there any truth to these suggestions? Surprisingly, most major research studies have failed to find a strong link between drinking coffee and any of these problems – at least when it’s consumed in moderate quantities.
Research conducted by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Food Allergy Research and Education and the National Center for Biotechnology Information all suggest that there’s no proof that coffee is harmful to your physical or mental health.
Findings of the National Center for Biotechnology
The National Center for Biotechnology conducted a study of 50 male coffee drinkers to determine if coffee is a cause of dehydration. For the study, half of them drank 4 200ml containers of coffee and the other half drank the same amount of water – their findings were positive for coffee lovers everywhere.
They found no significant difference in hydration levels after the control groups consumed their designated beverage. Both subgroups had their total body water measured before and after and both had healthy hydration levels at the end of the study. It’s important to keep in mind that neither group was drinking excessive amounts of liquid.
The study shows that moderate coffee consumption by males on a regular basis is not harmful. Results may differ in woman, but it’s not likely that the results would be significantly different. We can’t make any assumptions about drinking excessive amounts of coffee, but as long as you drink coffee in moderation there’s little risk of dehydration.
Findings of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
On the website of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there’s no mention of coffee as a major contributor to anxiety in any of its many forms. The organization notes that more than 40 million Americans suffer from a variety of anxiety disorders and all of them are treatable. They never make the suggestion that giving up coffee should be part of that treatment.
The ADAA site many causes for anxiety including environmental reasons, genetics and brain chemistry. Anxiety is often grouped into one of many subgroups such as generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorders, social anxiety disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Any age group can suffer from anxiety in some form and it affects both women and men.
Coffee isn’t mentioned as a direct cause of anxiety anywhere on the site, but they do link to several articles on the subject. These suggest that drinking coffee in moderation does not contribute to anxiety. Excessive amounts of coffee can be a problem, especially in groups that are already at risk.
Findings of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARA)
An important source of information about food allergies in America is the Food Allergy Research and Education site. They define a food allergy as the process of the immune system attacking proteins in food that are normally ignored by the body in healthy people. This usually leads to hives, itchy skin and throat irritation in mild allergy sufferers, but for people with serious allergies a food allergy can cause the airway to swell and they can be life-threatening.
According to FARA, it’s estimated that 32 million Americans have some form of food allergy. Most allergic reactions are mild, but every year approximately 200,000 people require emergency medical treatment because of a food allergy. There’s no known cure for food allergies, but children often outgrow their allergies by the age of 5.
It’s extremely rare for coffee to cause an allergic reaction. If a person does have an allergic reaction after drinking coffee it’s usually because of the milk or cream in the drink, not the coffee itself – drinking your coffee black will solve this problem.