ISSUE: 9/13/06 > FEATURES > caffeine:pros and cons for health
In her 1980 hit “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton sings, “Tumble out bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition.” This daily occurrence of downing a cup of joe is one that many Belmont students also take part in. However, Dolly and Bruins alike may be unaware of the effects of java, both negative and positive.
There has long been talk of the nutritionally negative nature of coffee. However, new studies suggest coffee may have some merit. According to WebMD.com, coffee consumption can actually decrease the risk of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Furthermore, java can also improve moods and help prevent cavities.
Caffeine is not without its faults, however.
“[Coffee] may cause nervousness, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, sleeplessness and irritability,” WebMD.com reports.
A Harvard Medical press release further expands on the negative effects of caffeine on the heart, more specifically, increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Some of the negative effects are especially problematic for athletes.
“Caffeine is a diuretic,” said Tiffany Watson, lifetime fitness professor at Belmont.
“Therefore, when we consume caffeine in significant amounts prior to intense physical activity, there is a greater risk for dehydration.”
Most students drink coffee because they say they cannot function without it, despite the fact that the World Health Organization issued a statement saying there is no link between coffee and addiction. The idea of needing a coffee fix might not be myth, however. WHO also says some folks might have withdrawal when they cut back.
Despite the facts, there is no cause for a boycott of Bongo Java. The Food and Drug Administration deemed caffeine as a safe substance, as long as the drinker consumes a moderate amount, which they suggest is three cups. This idea of moderation is especially important to women who are pregnant, although the FDA states that there is no connection between caffeine and birth defects.
Professor Watson also said, “In smaller amounts, caffeine can act as a stimulant and allow for improved performance during shorter bouts of physical activity.”
So Dolly Parton was on the mark.
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