Coffee: Is the World’s No. 2 Beverage Healthy?

On Health with Houston Methodist

Coffee is the wake-me-up beverage used to start the day around the world. Americans alone drink 400 million cups of coffee each day, more than any other beverage except water. Whether you drink coffee for its unique flavor or you just want that jolt of java, you may wonder: Is coffee good or bad for my health? In this episode, we explore the benefits and potential downsides of coffee consumption.
Expert: Dr. Priya Davar, Primary Care Physician
Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber
Notable topics covered:

• What we actually consume when we drink coffee
• The science-backed benefits of coffee consumption
• The potential downsides of drinking coffee
• How to approach your overall caffeine consumption
• Who should limit their caffeine intake
• What is the healthiest way to take your coffee?
• Coffee alternatives: Do the benefits match the hype?
• Does bean preparation and brew matter, and is decaf really decaf?

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Chapters

1. Host introduction (00:00:00)

2. What is in coffee, and what makes it so enjoyable? (00:04:01)

3. What current research says about the health benefits of coffee (00:04:58)

4. The adverse side effects of consuming too much coffee (00:06:39)

5. Who should be wary of coffee consumption (00:08:11)

6. 500 milligrams of caffeine per day: How we should plan our caffeine intake for the day (00:08:41)

7. Does the way we brew coffee matter for potential health benefits? (00:10:41)

8. The healthiest way to take your coffee (00:12:05)

9. Coffee alternatives: Do these drinks live up to the claims? (00:13:25)

10. Why was coffee considered a carcinogen for so long? (00:15:41)

11. The differences between coffee beans (decaf, grind, etc.) (00:19:31)

12. Withdrawal: The one negative side effect of coffee to be aware of (00:20:30)

13. Do we build a tolerance to coffee? (00:21:09)

14. Is coffee an OK option for breakfast? (00:22:17)

15. We all respond to caffeine intake differently (00:23:31)

16. Does coffee affect our appetite? (00:24:12)

17. The differences between coffee and tea (00:25:24)

18. Why consistency is key if you want to see health benefits from drinking coffee (00:25:50)

19. Does coffee drinking stunt your growth? (00:26:30)

20. Host wrap-up (00:27:11)