Is coffee healthy? Depending on the day, caffeine's most popular source, coffee, gets either praised or punished. With so many differing opinions on the healthfulness of caffeine and coffee- what is the truth? And why does it work for some people and NOT for others?

Tolerance Factors

Whether someone reacts negatively or positive to coffee is different for each individual, and it will change with one's diet and health. 

For example, someone who has a history of dieting, malnutrition, or a slowed metabolism will probably not respond so well to coffee at first. This is most likely because those conditions force the body to use the stress response as a coping mechanism for survival due to inadequate fuel. Adding caffeine to their diet will give a sense of "false energy" driving the body into deeper energy exhaustion. Additionally, caffeine intolerance (ie. inability to tolerate coffee —makes you feel wired or jittery) can also be a sign of under-active phase 1 detoxification! Yes, that means that your liver is missing key nutrients and/or conditions that allow it to detoxify caffeine efficiently!

Is Coffee Healthy?

On the other hand, when coffee is used with adequate food and nutrient intake, and when a person is not stuck in the stress response, caffeine in the form of coffee can have a very therapeutic and even "vitamin-like" effect according to Dr. Ray Peat, PhD.

According to Dr. Peat's research caffeine is a vitamin-like nutrient:

• Coffee drinkers have a lower incidence of thyroid disease, including cancer, than non-drinkers.
• Caffeine protects the liver from alcohol and acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other toxins, and coffee drinkers are less likely than people who don’t use coffee to have elevated serum enzymes and other indications of liver damage.
• Caffeine protects against cancer caused by radiation, chemical carcinogens, viruses, and estrogens.
• Caffeine synergizes with progesterone, and increases its concentration in blood and tissues.
• Cystic breast disease is not caused by caffeine, in fact caffeine’s effects are likely to be protective; a variety of studies show that coffee, tea, and caffeine are protective against breast cancer.
• Coffee provides very significant quantities of magnesium, as well as other nutrients including vitamin B1.
• Caffeine “improves efficiency of fuel use” and performance: JC Wagner 1989.
• Coffee drinkers have a low incidence of suicide.
• Caffeine supports serotonin uptake in nerves, and inhibits blood platelet aggregation.
• Coffee drinkers have been found to have lower cadmium in tissues; coffee making removes heavy metals from water.
• Coffee inhibits iron absorption if taken with meals, helping to prevent iron overload.
• Caffeine, like niacin, inhibits apoptosis, protecting against stress-induced cell death, without interfering with normal cell turnover.
• Caffeine can prevent nerve cell death.
• Coffee (or caffeine) prevents Parkinson’s Disease (Ross, et al., 2000).
• The prenatal growth retardation that can be caused by feeding large amounts of caffeine is prevented by supplementing the diet with sugar.
• Caffeine stops production of free radicals by inhibiting xanthine oxidase, an important factor in tissue stress.
• Caffeine lowers serum potassium following exercise; stabilizes platelets, reducing thromboxane production.

If you want to read more from Ray Peat, you can find his full article here.

Tips for tolerating coffee better

How to use coffee in your diet to tolerate it better:

• Make sure you are eating enough food to keep your body out of the chronic stress response, ie. survival mode
• Support your liver and detoxification system with lots of nutrient dense and easy to digest carbohydrates like ripe fruits along with anti-inflammatory proteins
• Consume coffee with balanced meals containing protein, carbohydrates, and fats
• Don't consume coffee on an empty stomach
• Save your coffee for after breakfast to avoid raising blood sugar levels
• If you want to drink coffee in isolation, be sure to add cream (fat), honey/sugar (carbs), and collagen hydrolysate (protein) for best tolerance.
• Sometimes coffee is best eliminated while you work on building up your nutrition and reducing sources of chronic stress
• Try transitioning to decaf or half-caf to reduce your caffeine load

My favorite espresso machines:

Looking to upgrade your coffee addition machinery? After a great deal of hands-on research, these are my two favorite machines at a reasonable price point:

1. Bambino Plus — great for kitchen with limited space or if you're the only coffee drinker in the house (this is what I use at home).
2. Barista Express — wonderful full service espresso machine with grinder that is perfect for a house with multiple coffee drinkers and ample counter space.

I hope this post helps you modify your coffee habit into a way that works for your health and not against it.

Is coffee healthy for your body? Please share in the comments!

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References:
Peat, Ray. Caffeine: A vitamin-like nutrient, or adaptogen. 2006. Retrieved on March 15, 2014 from http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/caffeine.shtml
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/abs/glucose-control-upon-waking-is-unaffected-by-hourly-sleep-fragmentation-during-the-night-but-is-impaired-by-morning-caffeinated-coffee/398A3EDA8C30EC89ADBB4C74C8E244B0