Coffee: Villain, Savior, or Just a Cup of Hot Liquid?
Coffee: Villain, Savior, or Just a Cup of Hot Liquid?
"More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette!"
Yep — that was a real ad in the 1930s. Somehow, we also got convinced that a bag of sliced white bread should be the cornerstone of a healthy diet. And let’s not forget the "Heart-Healthy™" Fruit Loops (low sodium too!). The foundational point is this: I don’t know what’s healthy anymore. And I suspect that’s the underlying appeal of the paleo movement — ditch the experts, ignore the ads, and trust instinct and history.
Yep — that was a real ad in the 1930s. Somehow, we also got convinced that a bag of sliced white bread should be the cornerstone of a healthy diet. And let’s not forget the "Heart-Healthy™" Fruit Loops (low sodium too!). The foundational point is this: I don’t know what’s healthy anymore. And I suspect that’s the underlying appeal of the paleo movement — ditch the experts, ignore the ads, and trust instinct and history.
And you know what? That actually might not be a bad idea.
So what does History say about Coffee?
We don’t have centuries of placebo-controlled trials, but coffee doesn’t show up in cultural history as the root of all evil either. It’s been part of religious ceremonies, intellectual salons, and Monday mornings. So based on the historical record, coffee looks... neutral at worst.
We don’t have centuries of placebo-controlled trials, but coffee doesn’t show up in cultural history as the root of all evil either. It’s been part of religious ceremonies, intellectual salons, and Monday mornings. So based on the historical record, coffee looks... neutral at worst.
What about The Instinct Test?
Here’s where we get somewhere. Most people know when they’ve had too much coffee. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, leading to an overstimulated state: jitters, hyperactivity, and sometimes anxiety. So yes, the negative effects of caffeine increase with dose, but a cup or two? Negligible for most. Cross into the modern dessert-bar menu — "Caramel Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle" — and it’s no longer coffee. It’s insulin resistance in a cup. But to be fair, im trying to craft this argument from a cup of black coffee no what ever that is.
Here’s where we get somewhere. Most people know when they’ve had too much coffee. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, leading to an overstimulated state: jitters, hyperactivity, and sometimes anxiety. So yes, the negative effects of caffeine increase with dose, but a cup or two? Negligible for most. Cross into the modern dessert-bar menu — "Caramel Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle" — and it’s no longer coffee. It’s insulin resistance in a cup. But to be fair, im trying to craft this argument from a cup of black coffee no what ever that is.
Ok so the sniff test gives us a neutral result. What about the actual compounds in a cup?
Oxidative stress is well-documented as a driver of disease. Free radicals — unstable molecules — damage cells by stealing electrons. Antioxidants give them a "safe" place to steal from. That’s the whole premise. And coffee is one of the biggest dietary sources of antioxidants in the Western diet. So no, that’s not woo. That’s biochemistry.
I AM THE SCIENCE.
There are multiple well-respected, replicated studies showing that lifelong coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of:
There are multiple well-respected, replicated studies showing that lifelong coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of:
Neurodegenerative disorders (like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s)
Liver cirrhosis
Type 2 diabetes
Are health insurance companies asking about your espresso intake yet? Not quite. But give it time.
The Flip Side
Coffee isn’t perfect. It’s not a sleep aid — no surprise there. It can raise blood pressure temporarily. And the anxiety/jittery edge is real. As for "it’s too acidic", that’s a misunderstanding — coffee’s pH is actually milder than orange juice. The acidic feeling comes from how your gut reacts, not the coffee’s pH.
Coffee isn’t perfect. It’s not a sleep aid — no surprise there. It can raise blood pressure temporarily. And the anxiety/jittery edge is real. As for "it’s too acidic", that’s a misunderstanding — coffee’s pH is actually milder than orange juice. The acidic feeling comes from how your gut reacts, not the coffee’s pH.
Bottom Line?
Coffee probably isn’t killing you.
It might actually be helping.
But like most things in life...
Coffee probably isn’t killing you.
It might actually be helping.
But like most things in life...
“One more cup of coffee for the road, one more cup of coffee ’fore I go to the valley below.”
Bob