7 Myths About Caffeine

Caffeine Myth No. 3: Caffeine increases risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer
Fact: Moderate amounts of caffeine–about 300 milligrams, roughly three cups of coffee–apparently cause no harm in most healthy adults. Although some people are more sensitive to its effects, including older people and those with high blood pressure. Here are the facts by condition.

Osteoporosis: At high levels (more than 744 milligrams per day, around seven or eight cups of coffee), caffeine may increase calcium and magnesium loss in urine. But recent studies suggest it does not increase your risk for bone loss, especially if you get enough calcium. You can offset the calcium lost from drinking one cup of coffee by adding just two tablespoons of milk. However, research does show some links between caffeine and hip fracture risk in older adults. Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine on calcium metabolism. If you’re an older woman, discuss with your doctor whether you should limit your daily caffeine intake to 300 milligrams or less.

Heart disease: According to the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, caffeine consumption does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and does not raise cholesterol levels or cause irregular heartbeat. A slight, temporary rise in heart rate and blood pressure is common in those who are sensitive to caffeine–but the rise is minimal and comparative to normal activity like walking up stairs. That said, ff you have high blood pressure talk to your doctor about caffeine intake as some people may be more sensitive to its effects. Also, more research is needed to tell whether caffeine increases the risk for stroke in people with high blood pressure.

Cancer: According to The New York Times, scientists conducting an international review of 66 studies found coffee drinking had “little if any effect on the risk of developing pancreatic or kidney cancer. In fact, another review suggested that compared with people who do not drink coffee, those who do have half the risk of developing liver cancer.” And a study of 59,000 women in Sweden (the country with the highest coffee consumption per capita in the world) found no connection between caffeine consumption and breast cancer.

Next: Myth No. 4

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Aubrae F.

7:39PM PDT on May 10, 2013

I usually have a nice cup of coffee before I go to bed. Most of the time I can't sleep without it. My bowels like there fair share of joe aswell....when I stop the 6 cups a day...my bowels say fine I won't go either. For you hard coffee drinkers out there try it, you'll see a difference in your bowel function.

May 10
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Kayleigh H.

12:12AM PDT on May 8, 2013

Thanks

May 8
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Duane B.

3:24PM PDT on Mar 17, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

March 17
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Natasha S.

8:07AM PST on Feb 7, 2013

Thanks for this interesting list!!!

February 7
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katarzyna p.

6:00AM PST on Jan 22, 2013

i like how your article was written. the myths are ones i've read on this site before, but it's the way it's been written is good. as always, it's about moderation and they way you described it was eloquent! myth #5 was especially well written. it's the sodas etc that kids drink which are more 'unhealthy' or 'put kids more at risk' than coffee itself

January 22
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Mary D.

3:34PM PDT on Aug 14, 2012

Thanks.

August 14
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3:33PM PDT on Aug 14, 2012

Thanks for useful list.

Sarah L.

6:42AM PDT on Jul 8, 2012

I believe that everything in moderation should be observed. And certianly having 2 cups of coffee everyday should not pose any sort of harm

July 8
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Angie H.

6:12PM PST on Dec 22, 2011

Caffeine is a drug! I was weened onto tea as a kid, I love it and miss it a lot as I got allergic to it. Had chronic fatigue for 15 yrs. Doc said I'd have to learn to I've with it as there was no cure! yeah Right! Also had severe insomnia. One night I went to bed and woke up with a huge rash all down my thigh over 3 days it turned into hundreds of blisters. Took 3 weeks to go away then a week or 2 later it would break out somewhere else. 2 Drs. said it was shingles I knew it wasn't. 5 months later no thanks to any dr. A friend told me her friend broke out in blister from caffeine. I was shocked as I had tried everything else never thinking it could be my 2 to 8 cups of tea a day. Stopped drinking tea and slept 10 hrs. a night for about 3 months and never got the blisters again. Use to then have one decaff in the a.m then my fingers were beginning to get arthritis looking nodules and pain. dr. said arthritis but blood test said no arthritis. I stopped the one decaff and pain in fingers went away only one knuckle has a bit of a deformed. I think caffeine drinks can cause arthritis. Use it sparingly and wisely. Oh decaffe still has a small amount of caffeine in it about 10%