Cure Or Curse: The Ultimate Dilemma Of Coffee

Everyone loves a good cup of coffee. It is the ultimate elixir to cure away the problems of the world. The caffeine boost helps millions to get their day going strong and help keep it that way. According to the Federal Advisory Committee that recommends the Dietary Guidelines of America, 5 cups of coffee per day adds significantly to a healthy lifestyle. But it could be a habit bordering on addiction if it falls into the wrong hands and could lead to many health risks.

According to a research study not cited by the advisory committee, scientists have identified a specific location in a person’s genome, which processes caffeine slowly. If a person has that specific gene variant, it may lead to an increase in the risk of heart attack and hypertension. Due to the expensive nature of gene testing, many people don’t know whether they are carrying that specific gene variant.

Although, coffee poses a significant health risk for some, there is significant variance on how coffee reacts to specific individuals. According to Sander Greenland, an epidemiology professor at UCLA , making a possible connection between coffee and an increase in health risk doesn’t make sense due to the variance of genetic makeup of people. “There are spectacular metabolic differences in people and to expect that coffee will have the same health effects on everyone is absurd” noted Greenland.

Several studies support the findings of the advisory board, noting that people who drink coffee might actually have more resistance to to heart disease. But the studies show that they do not take genetic testing into account or how people process caffeine. There is a distinct conflict in the figuring out the potential health risk or advantages of coffee. The conflicting study shows that coffee could ultimately be conversation point, whether you love coffee or not.