| Coffee is the second most commonly traded | | | | markers of inflammation. |
| commodity in the world (following oil), and is widely | | | | In this study, the regular daily consumption of 8 cups |
| consumed around the world as the second most | | | | of coffee per day was found to significantly reduce |
| popular beverage (after water). It is estimated that | | | | the blood levels of several proteins associated with |
| the coffee industry generates some $60 billion in | | | | chronic inflammation (by as much as 16 percent, |
| revenue every year. | | | | when compared to no coffee consumption). |
| In the United States, coffee drinkers consume an | | | | Moreover, HDL cholesterol levels increased by 7 |
| average of 3 cups of this caffeine-loaded beverage | | | | percent during the final phase of this study (when |
| each day. (Slightly more than 50 percent of | | | | compared to the "no coffee" first phase), when the |
| Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, while another | | | | research volunteers were consuming 8 cups of |
| 30 percent of the population drinks coffee on an | | | | coffee per day (and the ratio between LDL |
| occasional basis.) | | | | cholesterol and HDL cholesterol decreased by 8 |
| Many health claims have been for coffee, although | | | | percent during the final phase of this study). At the |
| few have withstood the scrutiny of serious research. | | | | same time, although previous research has suggested |
| However, previous research studies have suggested | | | | that coffee consumption may improve glucose |
| that regular coffee consumption may reduce | | | | control in diabetics, there was no evidence of |
| inflammation in the body, and increase HDL levels | | | | improved glucose metabolism or blood-glucose levels |
| (HDL is also known as "the good cholesterol"). A | | | | with increasing coffee intake in this particular study. |
| newly published clinical research study, in the | | | | Therefore, this intriguing little prospective clinical |
| American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has evaluated | | | | research study revealed that drinking 8 cups of |
| these claims, and the results of this research study | | | | coffee per day appeared to decrease the level of |
| will be of considerable interest to coffee lovers | | | | inflammation-associated proteins in the body, while |
| everywhere. | | | | also increasing levels of heart-healthy LDL cholesterol |
| In this study, 47 volunteers who regularly consumed | | | | in the blood. However, this small and brief study |
| coffee were evaluated. During the first month of this | | | | cannot answer the very important question of |
| study, these research volunteers refrained from | | | | whether or not these observed biochemical changes |
| drinking coffee. During the second month of this | | | | in the blood will actually translate into improved health. |
| study, each volunteer consumed 4 cups of filtered | | | | Nonetheless, this study's finding that HDL cholesterol |
| coffee per day (each cup contained 150 ml of | | | | levels increase with regular daily coffee intake may |
| coffee). Finally, during the third month of this study, | | | | indeed be good news for folks with |
| each volunteer consumed a nerve-jangling 8 cups of | | | | mildly-to-moderately decreased HDL levels. Longer |
| filtered coffee per day! Blood samples were collected | | | | term prospective clinical studies will be necessary, |
| throughout this research study, and were tested for | | | | however, to quantify the actual health benefit, if any, |
| total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the | | | | of regular coffee consumption. |
| "bad cholesterol"), and caffeine, as well as for several | | | | |