Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest It is disconcerting that while this article is fueled by a hot cup of coffee, whether the drink is healthy or unhealthy is still up for discussion. Depending on your level of paranoia or hypochondria, coffee can either improve your well-being or give you cancer or heart disease. It has been a universally accepted habit, though, that if you are in need of a legal stimulant, it’s got to be coffee. So what’s the deal with coffee? Recently, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified drinking very hot beverages, drinks hotter than 65 degrees Celsius, as a probable carcinogen, but coffee isn’t included on the list as it is usually consumed at temperatures lower than 65 degrees Celsius. It hasn’t always been the case, though. Back in 1991, coffee was classified by IARC as possibly causing cancer—attributed to studies linking coffee drinking to incidences of bladder cancer. However, recent and better studies have indicated that it is no longer possible to determine whether drinking coffee causes bladder cancer. IARC has also concluded that coffee is unlikely to cause breast cancer, prostate cancer, or pancreatic cancer. Coffee is also not linked to liver cancer and endometrial cancer. “There is no study yet stating that coffee is a carcinogen. But it is contraindicated in pregnancy because it seems to be related to low birth weight of neonates,” Dr. Juvy Paz Purino, M.D., MPM, Development Management Officer V of Department of Health-Regional Office IV-A, said. “Coffee is a potent source of antioxidants and is well-known for its stimulating effect; that’s why it’s the most popular energy booster in the morning,” Dr. Purino added when asked about the drink’s health benefits. Coffee: The Pros & Cons So what’s the truth about coffee? Is it good or bad? “It’s a great question but the answer is not so simple,” Dr. Mark Hyman of EcoWatch.com stated in a video. First off, Hyman said coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants (in American diet). According to him, in a recent animal study, researchers saw improvements in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cholesterol when mice consumed coffee and fat together. In addition, Hyman noted that several studies has shown that drinking coffee lowers the risk for type 2 diabetes, decreases cancer risk and improves mood and memory. Coffee has also been seen to bolster metabolism and sports performance to the delight of fitness enthusiasts and athletes. In most cases, people drink coffee to increase mental alertness. Coffee is also used as an enema to treat cancer known as the “Gerson Therapy.” In this particular therapy, cancer patients are treated with caffeinated coffee in the form of enemas every four hours daily. On the other side of the fence are coffee’s side effects. Coffee is usually caffeinated, so drinkers can also become dependent on coffee. Because of caffeine, coffee may cause insomnia, nervousness, and restlessness, and in extreme cases could cause upset stomach, nausea and vomiting, and increased heart and breathing rate. Increased coffee consumption might also cause headache, anxiety, agitation, ringing in the ears, and irregular heartbeats. With all these benefits and hazards being presented, one can’t help but wonder if coffee will remain a mysterious aromatic beverage—and whether it’s good or bad will remain undetermined. Fortunately, Dr. Hyman pensively offered an answer that made sense. “It’s not black and white. Simply put, it’s not about the coffee, it’s about the person. How people respond to coffee is controlled by genetics and how that affects caffeine metabolism. The effects of coffee are not the same for everyone,” Dr. Hyman concluded. We rest our case.