Gaby
Many people around the world start their day with a cup of coffee. Coffee lovers often feel offended when someone criticizes their beloved beverage, searching for its flaws.
However, modern science increasingly recognizes coffee as beneficial, while stereotypes about its supposed harmfulness are becoming a thing of the past. Recently, researchers debunked four common myths about coffee.
Dark Roasting Doesn’t Make Coffee Stronger
Dark roasting refers to the process of processing coffee beans at high temperatures for an extended period, resulting in a bitter flavor and a dark brown color. Many believe that coffee roasted this way is stronger and contains more caffeine. But that’s not true.
The difference between dark and light roasting lies in the degree of roasting of the coffee beans. In 2017, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University (USA) compared the caffeine concentration in coffee brewed from equal weights of medium and dark roasted Arabica beans sourced from the same region. Surprisingly, the team found a higher caffeine concentration in the medium roast samples, not the dark roast.
Coffee Doesn’t Hinder Children’s Growth
There’s a common belief that children shouldn’t drink coffee or any caffeinated beverages because it stunts their growth. This claim has no scientific basis, according to Popular Science.
No study has linked coffee consumption to stunted growth. Dr. Roy Kim, a medical doctor, stated in a blog for the Cleveland Clinic that “caffeine does not affect growth.” It’s even unclear where this idea originated, the scientist noted. Dr. Kim also mentioned that caffeine can suppress appetite, which is beneficial for those struggling with excess weight.
However, the researcher believes that coffee can negatively affect children. Consuming this beverage can sometimes lead to sleep and attention issues, abnormal heartbeats, anxiety, and stomach upset. Additionally, after drinking coffee, they may become more irritable.
Coffee Doesn’t Dehydrate the Body
Some people think that coffee dehydrates our bodies. This belief likely stems from the fact that caffeine is a diuretic. Therefore, after consuming it, the body is thought to become dehydrated.
A study from the University of Birmingham involving 50 adult men, published in 2014 in the journal PLOS One, analyzed their physical activity, diet, and fluid intake. During the first experiment, each volunteer drank four cups of coffee, each 200 milliliters, and during the second, the same volume of water. As a result, the researchers found no significant differences between the hydrating properties of coffee and water.
Coffee Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease
Another common myth about coffee is that it causes heart disease. This misconception may arise from the fact that this aromatic beverage can make the heart beat faster. However, scientists do not link coffee consumption to the development of heart diseases. In fact, the opposite is true.
A 2022 study published in the European Society of Cardiology journal found that two to three cups of coffee a day may even improve heart health. To reach this conclusion, the research team examined how coffee consumption affects the health of over 500,000 Britons. The scientists concluded that this daily coffee intake is associated with “a significant reduction in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality.”
Of course, it’s best to consult your family doctor about your individual coffee intake. After all, they know better than anyone what you can enjoy and what you should avoid overindulging in.
