coffee and health

💪🏻 RE: New Science on the Health Benefits of Coffee

This Summer, we noticed a few new - very extensive and comprehensive- studies on the benefits of drinking coffee… which seemed perfect for our last technical Summer series article! Below are some summaries and links to the studies, which we hope you’ll enjoy learning about:

In the most recent study published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine, daily coffee consumption was associated with longer lives on 171,616 people (mean age 55), followed for 9 years. Compared with those who did not drink coffee, daily coffee drinkers (1-5 cups per day) had lower risks for all-cause mortality after adjusting for lifestyle, sociodemographic, and other health factors. Benefits were most pronounced among the group who drank between two and four cups per day, whose risk of early death was 30% less likely than non-coffee drinkers. Interestingly, the positive effects were a lot less pronounced for those who drank coffee with an artificial sweetener, as opposed to real cream or sugar (one teaspoon, on average). Researchers believe other factors may be at play, including higher rates of obesity and hypertension among those using artificial sweeteners (yet recent studies on the effects of artificial sweeteners on gut microbiota suggest it may be best to stick to natural sweeteners, just milk/cream, or our favorite - just black!).

Back in April, three studies presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session found that drinking coffee - particularly 2-3 cups a day - was associated with a lower risk of heart disease and had a heart-protective effect for both people with and without cardiovascular disease. For the first study, researchers examined data from 382,535 people (mean age 57) without heart disease to see whether coffee drinking played a role in the development of heart disease or stroke during the 10 years of follow up. In general, having two to three cups of coffee a day was associated with the greatest benefit, translating to a 10%-15% lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart failure, a heart rhythm problem, or dying. The second study included 34,279 individuals who had cardiovascular disease. Coffee intake at two to three cups a day was also associated with lower odds of dying compared with having no coffee. Importantly, consuming coffee was not associated with a higher risk of heart rhythm problems, including atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is a common concern. In fact, in the 24,111 people who had arrhythmia, drinking coffee was actually associated with a 20% lower risk of death. In a third study, researchers looked at whether there were any differences in the relationship between coffee and cardiovascular disease depending on whether someone drank caffeinated or decaf. They found, once again, two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day to be associated with the lowest risk of arrhythmias, blockages in the heart's arteries, stroke or heart failure. Decaf coffee did not have favorable effects against arrhythmia or heart failure, but did reduce cardiovascular disease. The studies attributed the benefits not only to caffeine, but to the over 100 biologically active compounds in coffee beans that can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, boost metabolism, and inhibit the gut's absorption of fat.

We hope this was an interesting read… and it makes us so immensely happy to be able to offer you a delicious cup of coffee that we know will benefit your health in the long run… thank you for starting your day Brewing Greatness with us,

💛 Jolian & Lisbeth

P.S. The new crop of Poaquil should be finally arriving at the roastery in early September! 🙌 (we’ll announce it on our website and Instagram/Facebook, and we’ll be sending samples in your boxes as soon as it arrives!).

RE: Coffee and Health | Myths vs. Science

In this first Summer Series, we’d like to demystify some of the latest, scientific findings on coffee! And hopefully do our part to clarify and counteract all the misinformation that’s so easily found in our online feeds these days! Below, an amazing scientific review by our own medical expert -  Jolian Rios, MD,  ABIM Board Certified.

Myth #1: All Studies are Scientifically Valid

Coffee has been widely studied - there have been hundreds of studies published about it over the years. Yet, the first thing to keep in mind is that not all studies are created equal - as they can go from very strict, scientifically valid Cohort, Case-Control, and Randomized Controlled Trials where data drives the findings, to an Opinion Paper, which is simply someone sharing their thoughts  - of course, their findings do not carry the same weight! To make matters worse, these Opinion Papers are many times “interpreted” and reported by the media in ways that favor their ratings. So every time you read something, go to the source, and please don’t share it if it is not a scientific source! - advice that seems especially relevant right now!

Myth #2: Coffee = Caffeine

When we think of coffee, we immediately think about caffeine; yet we should keep in mind coffee contains many other compounds with potential health benefits. These include polyphenols such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, diterpenoids, and other antioxidants, as well as potassium, magnesium, niacin, and lignans. In fact, concentrations of these phenolic antioxidants are much higher in brewed coffee than in brewed tea - which is often touted as an antioxidant powerhouse!

Myth #3: Caffeine is Unhealthy

Caffeine is quickly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and it gets metabolized by the liver. It antagonizes adenosine receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems - and in this way, it can have a variety of effects. Some of the main effects found so far:

  • Caffeine is a proven analgesic, property that has been used for the treatment of headaches, specifically tension and migraine headaches [1,2]. 

  • Multiple cohort studies with over 600,000 individuals found it may reduce stroke risk [3-6]. 

  • Two case-controlled studies and two cohort studies have shown a small protective effect of coffee consumption advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, animal models have shown long-term caffeine consumption may delay or reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease [7,8].

  • Randomized Controlled Trials of healthy individuals have found caffeine improves cognition, mood, vigilance, and reaction time - regardless of age and gender [9-14].

  • A study with sleep-deprived Navy SEAL trainees showed improvement of cognitive function, learning, memory, and mood despite continuous exposure to stressors with an optimal dose of 200 mg of caffeine (about two cups of coffee!) [15]. 

Myth #4: Coffee is Unhealthy

Numerous studies on coffee have actually shown the opposite - there are several health benefits from long-term coffee consumption. Some examples:

  • A matched case-control of almost 1700 women with BRCA gene mutation found that coffee intake was associated with 10% - 69% lower risk of breast cancer, this was a dose-dependent effect, with the lowest effect being seen on women who drank 1-3 cups of coffee and the largest effect seen on those who drank more than 6 cups of coffee per day [16]

  • A case-control study of 1900 women found that coffee intake was associated with a 40% lower risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee per day [17].

  • A meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies showed a decreased risk of endometrial cancer in coffee drinkers [18].

  • A large prospective analysis of over 47,000 men found a strong dose-dependent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer [19].

  • Several studies, including randomized trials, and cohort studies, have shown that coffee consumption, including decaf, decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes, by improving insulin sensitivity as well as insulin secretion [20-24].

  • Another study showed caffeine in coffee to be a potent stimulator of smooth muscles that prevent constipation [25]. 

  • A meta-analysis of 14 different studies shows that coffee drinkers had 39% less probability of developing cirrhosis [26].

Thus, coffee has been shown to have positive effects on multiple systems and may even lower the risk of multiple chronic diseases in the long term. I’ve listed the studies used for reference, in case you’d like to read in a lot more detail on your own (it pairs perfectly with a great cup of Ethos to keep you awake!). 

So, let’s keep enjoying coffee, and let’s continue to make a difference, to Brew Greatness in the world!

- Jolian

REFERENCES

  1. Goldstein J, Silberstein SD, Saper JR, Ryan RE Jr, Lipton RB. Acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine in combination versus ibuprofen for acute migraine: results from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, single-dose, placebo-controlled study. Headache. 2006;46(3):444-453. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00376

  2. Diener HC, Gold M, Hagen M. Use of a fixed combination of acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen and caffeine compared with acetaminophen alone in episodic tension-type headache: meta-analysis of four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies. J Headache Pain. 2014;15(1):76. Published 2014 Nov 19. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-76

  3. Larsson SC, Virtamo J, Wolk A. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. Stroke. 2011;42(4):908-912. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.603787

  4. Lopez-Garcia E, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Rexrode KM, Logroscino G, Hu FB, van Dam RM. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. Circulation. 2009;119(8):1116-1123. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.826164

  5. Larsson SC, Männistö S, Virtanen MJ, Kontto J, Albanes D, Virtamo J. Coffee and tea consumption and risk of stroke subtypes in male smokers. Stroke. 2008;39(6):1681-1687. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.504183

  6. Larsson SC, Orsini N. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;174(9):993-1001. doi:10.1093/aje/kwr226

  7. Arendash GW, Schleif W, Rezai-Zadeh K, et al. Caffeine protects Alzheimer's mice against cognitive impairment and reduces brain beta-amyloid production. Neuroscience. 2006;142(4):941-952. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.07.021

  8. Barranco Quintana JL, Allam MF, Serrano Del Castillo A, Fernández-Crehuet Navajas R. Alzheimer's disease and coffee: a quantitative review. Neurol Res. 2007;29(1):91-95. doi:10.1179/174313206X152546

  9. Fredholm BB, Bättig K, Holmén J, Nehlig A, Zvartau EE. Actions of caffeine in the brain with special reference to factors that contribute to its widespread use. Pharmacol Rev. 1999;51(1):83-133.

  10. Jarvis MJ. Does caffeine intake enhance absolute levels of cognitive performance?. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1993;110(1-2):45-52. doi:10.1007/BF02246949

  11. Kamimori GH, Johnson D, Thorne D, Belenky G. Multiple caffeine doses maintain vigilance during early morning operations. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2005;76(11):1046-1050.

  12. Lorist MM, Snel J, Kok A, Mulder G. Influence of caffeine on selective attention in well-rested and fatigued subjects. Psychophysiology. 1994;31(6):525-534. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1994.tb02345.x

  13. Ker K, Edwards PJ, Felix LM, Blackhall K, Roberts I. Caffeine for the prevention of injuries and errors in shift workers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;2010(5):CD008508. Published 2010 May 12. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008508

  14. Smith A, Sutherland D, Christopher G. Effects of repeated doses of caffeine on mood and performance of alert and fatigued volunteers. J Psychopharmacol. 2005;19(6):620-626. doi:10.1177/0269881105056534

  15. Lieberman HR, Tharion WJ, Shukitt-Hale B, Speckman KL, Tulley R. Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during U.S. Navy SEAL training. Sea-Air-Land. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002;164(3):250-261. doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1217-9

  16. Nkondjock A, Ghadirian P, Kotsopoulos J, et al. Coffee consumption and breast cancer risk among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Int J Cancer. 2006;118(1):103-107. doi:10.1002/ijc.21296

  17. Baker JA, Beehler GP, Sawant AC, Jayaprakash V, McCann SE, Moysich KB. Consumption of coffee, but not black tea, is associated with decreased risk of premenopausal breast cancer. J Nutr. 2006;136(1):166-171. doi:10.1093/jn/136.1.166

  18. Bravi F, Scotti L, Bosetti C, et al. Coffee drinking and endometrial cancer risk: a metaanalysis of observational studies. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;200(2):130-135. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.10.032

  19. Wilson KM, Kasperzyk JL, Rider JR, et al. Coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk and progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011;103(11):876-884. doi:10.1093/jnci/djr15

  20. Huxley R, Lee CM, Barzi F, et al. Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(22):2053-2063. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.439

  21. van Dam RM, Feskens EJ. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lancet. 2002;360(9344):1477-1478. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11436-X

  22. Rosengren A, Dotevall A, Wilhelmsen L, Thelle D, Johansson S. Coffee and incidence of diabetes in Swedish women: a prospective 18-year follow-up study. J Intern Med. 2004;255(1):89-95. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01260.x

  23. van Dam RM, Willett WC, Manson JE, Hu FB. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study in younger and middle-aged U.S. women. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(2):398-403. doi:10.2337/diacare.29.02.06.dc05-1512

  24. Salazar-Martinez E, Willett WC, Ascherio A, et al. Coffee consumption and risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140(1):1-8. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-140-1-200401060-00005

  25. Murakami K, Okubo H, Sasaki S. Dietary intake in relation to self-reported constipation among Japanese women aged 18-20 years. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006;60(5):650-657. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602365

  26. Liu F, Wang X, Wu G, et al. Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0142457. Published 2015 Nov 10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142457

RE: In THE NEWS | Coffee drinkers live longer!

On our last 'Re: Summer Series', we wanted to cover a topic that seems to be perennially on the news... coffee & health. While there's a lot of information (and misinformation!) out there, the great news is that the latest (highly reputable, peer-reviewed) research seems to be on the side of coffee drinkers!

That's right. 'Coffee drinkers live longer' was the main conclusion of the most recent coffee study* in the latest issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). They followed a group of half a million people over 10 years and analyzed the relationship between coffee drinking habits and mortality, and found coffee drinkers (even those drinking over 8 cups a day!) died at a statistically-significant lower rate than those who didn't drink any coffee. This was also true for Decaf coffee drinkers, suggesting the non-caffeinated components in coffee are responsible for the effect (something that would make a lot of sense, if you consider that is mostly phytochemical antioxidants!). If you'd like to get into the details, here's the link to the study. And while the scientist in us is really excited... we must also point out that this was an observational study... which means we can not prove that drinking coffee will actually add a few years to your life... but we can always have fun trying! (and make a difference!)

Jolian & Lisbeth

PS. A few news of our own - we recently received a "cease-and-desist" letter from another Florida roaster who had apparently registered a Trademark for "Florida Cold Brew"... so we'll be temporarily out of a Cold Brew Blend offering (alternatively, we'll be more clearly identifying some great single-origins for Cold Brewing... i.e. Poaquil & Huehue!). On a more positive note, the new roaster has given us some amazing flavor profiles, and more flexibility to do lighter roasts... we're working on our first-ever Holiday Blend that will highlight this new capability (i.e. a mix of lighter-roasted and darker-roasted coffees to balance vibrant and bold flavors) - we would love to hear your NAME ideas!!!

Finally, on an even more positive note, we have some news from our Poaquil Co-Op! Coffee growers from the whole region are meeting next month, and they'll be sharing with them their "success story" with us!!! They also said they'll try to do a video message for all of you who have (and continue to make) this all possible! Stay tuned :)

CITED REFERENCE

*Loftfield E, Cornelis MC, Caporaso N, Yu K, Sinha R, Freedman N. Association of Coffee Drinking With Mortality by Genetic Variation in Caffeine Metabolism: Findings From the UK Biobank. JAMA Intern Med.2018;178(8):1086–1097. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.2425

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