by Peggy Spencer
Daily Lobo columnist
Daily Lobo,
I got a question about coffee intake. I've heard good and bad things about it, and I want to know what the truth is. I've heard it can help after long drinking nights to protect the liver. So what's the deal? Is it bad or good for me? I bet a lot of cats in college out there will want to know the truth behind it, because we guzzle that stuff like crazy fools. Also, is caffeine addictive? And, what's the word on energy drinks? Can we turn to those for that sweet elixir of life, or should we just stick to the beans?
Coffee Cat
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Dear Coffee Cat,
If you've heard good and bad things about coffee, you're paying attention. And if you're confused, there's good reason, because the truth is, it's both. Allow me to explain.
How is coffee good for you? First, it stimulates the brain. It's the whole reason many people indulge. And face it - even though you are smart enough to have gotten into college, there are those times when your brain could use a little extra boost, like when that big paper is due tomorrow and you're farther behind than you thought, or when it's the morning after the night before and you need to function at work. At times like these, an extra mental lift can be highly useful.
There is also some evidence that regular coffee drinkers have less age-related cognitive decline than those who don't drink coffee. In other words, they kept their marbles longer into their old age. The same study, by the way, found these benefits and more with green tea.
I'm glad you brought up the liver thing. It gives me a chance to debunk some rumors. The answer to your question is no, coffee cannot heal the liver after a long night of drinking. Coffee can't sober you up, either, contrary to popular misconception. The only thing that will get alcohol out of your blood is time, sweet time.
What may be true is that - now, read this carefully - people who drink alcohol heavily, and we're talking heavily and long enough to cause cirrhosis of the liver, can get some protective effect for their liver over the years by drinking coffee. This is not the same thing as saying that if you binge drink all night, you can reverse the beating you gave your poor liver by going out for a latte in the morning. If you really want to protect your liver from cirrhosis, a far better way to do that is not to drink too much alcohol in the first place.
Finally, coffee is often at the center of meaningful social interaction. Relaxing with a friend and having a real conversation while you sip your caffeinated beverage of choice is, in my opinion, a ritual worth honoring.
But how is coffee bad for you?
Too much coffee can give you uncomfortable jitters, headaches, anxiety, insomnia and stomach and bladder irritation. Coffee aggravates the painful fibrocystic-breast condition. It can affect the kidneys, acting as a diuretic - it makes you pee. Coffee can increase your pulse and your blood pressure and contribute to ulcers. It can also worsen PMS, which is truly frightening.
All of these side effects are what we medical types call dose-related responses. In other words, the more coffee you drink, the more likely you'll suffer.
Is coffee addictive? Oh, yes. If you've ever been a regular coffee drinker and tried to quit, you know what I'm talking about. Headaches, drowsiness, lack of concentration and focus - those, my friend, are symptoms of withdrawal from caffeine, the drug of choice for millions of Americans. Whether we're guzzling coffee like crazy fools, taking big gulps of sodas or sipping tea, we consume tons of caffeine-containing products each year. If you want to jettison your caffeine addiction, I suggest you cut your consumption in half for a week, then quit. Be prepared to feel lousy for another week, but then you should be fine.
There are some positive negatives to the coffee story, too. In other words, some bad things that coffee does not do. It does not cause cancer. It does not increase your heart disease risk. In moderation, coffee and other forms of caffeine do not have significant health risks. How much is moderation? That depends on the person. People have different caffeine sensitivities. For the average Joe, two to three cups of coffee per day count as moderate consumption.
Finally, you asked about energy drinks. Those little power cans vary widely in their ingredients, including the amount of caffeine and other stimulants. Some have a lot of sugar, some use artificial sweeteners and most use artificial flavors and colors. Most have less caffeine than a cup of coffee, yet cost more. Since the full health effects of food additives are not yet known, I myself am more inclined toward the natural stuff, meaning the bean or the tea leaf.
I hope this satisfies your need to know, Coffee Cat. Tomorrow when it's wake-up time, you can enjoy your java with no second thoughts.
Peggy Spencer has been a staff physician at the Student Health Center for 16 years.
