Why Caffeine Isn't Evil

I don't think there's a food substance around with more conflicting information than caffeine.

Caffeine is a substance that has been the subject of study literally thousands of times over the years. Unfortunately, much of that study has been financed by groups with strong feelings either for or against it, so the results should be viewed cautiously. If most of the studies are looked at together, though, some patterns emerge. Caffeine isn't the enemy some would have you believe.

First, what is caffeine? It's a chemical compound discovered in 1819 by a German chemist named Maxwell Haus (ok, actually his name was Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, but how cool would that have been?). It is a central nervous system stimulant. In nature, it acts as a natural pesticide by paralyzing and killing animals that eat plants that contain it. For our purposes, it's what gives coffee and tea their zing, and makes them the most popular beverages on the planet.

Green tea has less caffeine than black tea; black tea has less than coffee. Dark roast coffee actually has less caffeine than light roast (the roasting process reduces caffeine content). Espresso beans actually have less caffeine than light roast coffee, but espresso is brewed with much less water and so the higher concentration gives it more kick than it would otherwise have.

Caffeine used to be counted as a banned substance by the International Olympic Committee, but in 2004 the IOC removed it from the list. The concern was that it would function as an ergogenic, i.e. a performance enhancer. While several studies have shown that ingesting caffeine prior to athletic activities can increase performance, it would seem that the IOC correctly figured it has bigger substance problems to deal with.

The downsides of caffeine are remarkably few. Taking large amounts can lead to nervousness, irritability and insomnia. Coffee tends to be acidic, and drinking large amounts of it can lead to stomach upset. On that note, the ganoderma added to OrganoGold coffee balances the acidity and eliminates any acid reflux problems coffee drinkers can get.

The upsides are far more numerous. Drinking as little as one to three cups of coffee a day will reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes, while several studies agree that coffee will reduce your chances of developing Parkinson's, gallstones, colon cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver.

It seems that caffeine, in tea or coffee, is actually pretty healthy. Yes, you can get it in soft drinks and those "energy drinks", but bear in mind that they are usually full of other chemicals that really have no place in the human body. Instead of sugar, artificial sweeteners, or other chemicals, getting your caffeine from coffee or tea will also give you a big payload of antioxidants, which protect your body from cell damage that can lead to cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

So, drink up. But remember, while coffee and tea are good for you, cream, sugar, whipped topping, sprinkles, and whatever else the coffee chains offer, aren't. There are enough varieties of coffee and tea out there that I'm sure you can find one you like without turning it into dessert in a cup. Now get out there and start exploring!