Vindication for the Coffee Addict!

Delicious Cuban Coffee: Black and Yummy just the way I like it

My big brother texted me some good news that is bound to leave my mother un-amused: researchers at the University of South Florida have found that 5 cups of coffee a day could reverse memory problems associated with Alzheimer's Disease! Anyone who knows me in real-life will know that I have an unhealthy relationship with coffee and most caffeine-enriched products. So you can imagine my delight at the news. For years I have been addicted to coffee and have been lectured on how bad it is for me! Indeed, I have worked in the field of addiction before and I know that dependency on anything can never be a good thing but coffee has always been my Achilles' heel. So today I feel some satisfaction and some vindication. Coffee is actually not all bad! So if you have noticed my lost trains of thought, inexplicable memory losses, erratic behaviour in real life, it is probably not due to the coffee! Okay, I should also point out that the Florida research findings have only been done in mice and human trials are yet to start.

Being the nerd that I am, I decided to take a cursory look through the scientific literature to explore the benefits of my favorite beverage. At the risk of inducing anyone reading this into a boredom-induced coma, I will be brief. Here are some examples of studies I found:

• Habitual coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developping Type 2 diabetes
• High Coffee intake is associated with a protective effect against hypertension, mainly in women

Before my fellow coffee-addicts start doing cart-wheels of joy, I should add that coffee is not good for pregnant women and has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Coffee also may cause you to have shaky hands and stain your teeth. So as my mother just reminded me (of course I called her to gloat!), it is a tricky balance. Anyway, my people, have to run and find a kettle; there is some coffee with my name on it to enjoy!