It is known that coffee protects against type 2 diabetes, cancer, liver diseases, depression, neurological and cardiovascular diseases with the phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acids, cafestol, kahweol) and alkaloids (caffeine, trigoneline) it contains 1 . It also facilitates the formation of healthy intestinal microbiota.
In addition, the release levels of compounds contained in different coffee varieties with different cooking methods have been the subject of many studies. In a study, it was observed that when Robusta, Arabica and green coffee beans were prepared in the form of simple brewing, French press, espresso and Turkish coffee, the antioxidant activity and fluoride amount were highest when green coffee beans were prepared in the form of Turkish coffee 2 . In another study, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in espresso coffee prepared with lightly roasted coffee beans by electrochemical method 3 .
Is there anything harmful in coffee?
In recent years, studies have begun to draw attention to the amount of acrylamide in roasted coffee beans, which is carcinogenic, and to reduce the amount of acrylamide in coffee. So much so that the intake of acrylamide, which is found in foods such as potato chips, french fries, baked goods and roasted coffee prepared at temperatures above 120 degrees, varies depending on the country, but 9-29% is due to coffee consumption. To avoid acrylamide, they advise us to choose quality green coffee and prefer Arabica to Robusta 2.
How many cup of coffee?
In response to the question of how many cups of coffee we should consume per day, many studies have been conducted explaining the relationship between long-term coffee consumption and heart diseases, nervous system diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and various rheumatic diseases. For example here is a study showing that those who drink 3-5 cups of coffee a day have the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease 3 . There are studies showing that there is no relationship between excessive coffee consumption and the development of dementia 4 . There is a study showing that the risk of gout is significantly reduced in those who consume six cups of tea and three cups of coffee a day 5 . An other study suggesting that 400 ml of coffee a day is protective against depression 6 . Again, the study on migraine and caffeine intake emphasizes both the therapeutic and triggering aspects of caffeine and recommends that those with migraine do not take more than 200 mg of caffeine per day (1 cup of filter coffee or 3 cups of Turkish coffee) 7 . There is also a study showing that 4 cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of heart failure , but consuming larger amounts increases the risk of heart failure 8 .There are also studies and publications explaining the mechanisms by which it reduces the risk of fatty liver and type 2 diabetes 9 .
As a result, it is clear that drinking 3-4 cups of Turkish coffee or filter coffee a day will be beneficial as it will reduce the risk of heart, diabetes and depression. If possible, green coffee should be consumed due to the low amount of acrylamide, but since the most important reason for drinking it is its taste and pleasant smell, it would be beneficial to brew our coffee from at least lightly roasted Arabica beans.
- Chemical composition and health properties of coffee and coffee by-products ↩︎
- Acrylamide in coffee: What is known and what still needs to be explored. A review ↩︎
- Long-term coffee consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies ↩︎
- Coffee Consumption and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies ↩︎
- Dose-response relationships of tea and coffee consumption with gout: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank ↩︎
- Coffee, tea, caffeine and risk of depression: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies ↩︎
- The Ambiguous Role of Caffeine in Migraine Headache: From Trigger to Treatment ↩︎
- Habitual coffee consumption and risk of heart failure: a dose-response meta-analysis ↩︎
- Coffee and Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Arguments for a Causal Relationship ↩︎
Dr. Osman Ertürk
He graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 2004. After 8 years of emergency medicine, he worked as a flight physician and occupational physician at the Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport Portclinic Health Unit for 12 years. He is currently working as a research assistant at ALKU Training and Research Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases. He founded the website CureAsk.com with the aim of alleviating the anxiety of patients, especially in cases requiring specific treatment, and enabling them to meet with relevant specialist doctors in another city or even another country.