Stimultes the central nervous system.
Can help you stay awake and alert.

Drawbacks
May contribute to difficulty falling asleep ad disturbed and reduced sleep.

Drinking large amounts can cause irritability and jittery nerves.
Increase excretion of calcium.

Our major source of caffeine, coffee is the substance millions of North Americans use to stay alert. In addition to caffein coffee contains nearly 400 other chemicals,including trace amounts of vitamins and minerals, tannins, and caramelized sugar.

Coffee is not entirely calorie-free; while 6 oz.(180 ml.) cup of sugar free black coffee has only 4 calories some speciality coffee drinks have more fat and calories than a rich dessert. A cup of whole milk mocha topped with whipped cream is on a par with hot fudge sundae.

A dedicated coffee drinking might consider reducing caffeine from other sources- for example giving up caffeinated soft drinks from the diet.

Possible Hazard

Coffee is best consumed in moderation. The following are possible
hazards linked to coffee:

Infertility. A number of studies have found that consuming more than 300 mg caffeine a day is associated with a delay in conception.
Heart problems. Caffeine prompts a temporary rise in blood pressure; it can also provoke cardiac arrhythmias in susceptible persons.

Bone Loss. Coffee increases calcium excretion in the urine. To compensate for this loss, heavy coffee drinkers should consume extra calcium-rich foods.

Caffeine withdrawal. Heavy coffee drinkers who stop imbibing coffee symptoms for a few days. Cut back gradually.

Cholesterol problems. Cafestol and kahweol, compounds in coffee, can boost cholesterol synthesis by the liver, these are found in highest concentrations in Scandinavians and Turkish coffees, as well as French-pressed brews.

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it increases the output of urine. This is concern for men with prostate problems.

DECAFFEINATED COFFEE

Many people drink decaffeinated coffee to escape the insomia and jittery nerves caused by caffeine. But even decaffeinated coffee has up to 5 mg of caffeine in 5 oz(150 ml)cup. People with sleep problems are better off avoiding coffee.

Did you know?
Coffee improves memory and mental function. Regular coffee consumption could help older people. A study on ageing revealed that coffee helped older people think more quickly , Improve their memory, with a history of coffee consumption had better performance results of test on mental function. Lifetime coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

credits to Readers Digest Food That Heal Food That Harm

There is overwhelming evidence to show that people who eat high amounts of fruit plus vegetables have lower rates of cancers, according to the Department of Epidemiology, at the Harvard School of Public Health. A study done in Japan a country with one of the highest cigarette consumption rates in the world, but a low incidence of lung cancer emphasizes his scientific fact.

Researches concluded that this was due to Japanese diet which is rich both in vegetables and fruits. The big buzzword in nutrition research right now is a set of chemicals contained in fruit and vegetables called phytochemicals. Citrus fruits and berries contain flavanoids, a phytochemical, which prevent cancer-causing hormones from attaching themselves onto a cell. Phytochemicals are available in supplemental pill form, but experts maintain that they cannot substantially replace the real McCoy. Your body absorbs these phytochemicals best when consumed in their natural state.

Pregnant women who eat balanced diets with generous amounts of fruit containing folate greatly reduce their risk of having children who may develop early childhood brain cancers, such as those that can cause neural tube defects.