The Brew that is True

The NY Times’ Fitness & Nutrition section reports upon a compilation of studies in The Journal of the American Medical Association that have found some benefit in the consumption of coffee: Coffee as a Health Drink?

Researchers have found strong evidence that coffee reduces the risk of several serious ailments, including diabetes, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver.

None of the studies has been able to pinpoint the exact cause and effect, but several point to the level of antioxidants contained in a cuppa:

…researchers found that a typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than typical servings of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries and oranges.

But before you go hooking up the IV to the coffee urn, caffeine is still a bad thing.

Caffeine, perhaps coffee’s most famous component, seems to have little to do with it; studies that looked at decaffeinated coffee alone found the same degree of risk reduction.

In fact, it can be a harmful component

… caffeine could increase blood pressure and slightly increase levels of the amino acid homocysteine, possibly raising the risk for heart disease.

I believe I’ll take my chances with the caffeine demon. At least before noon!

(h/t to Instapundit.com’s Glenn Reynolds. But why did he post on coffee at 10:19 PM?)