Coffee

For all those who fuel their mornings with coffee…

The Washington Post (11/16, Huget) reports in “Eat, Drink & Be Healthy” that recent studies have highlighted potential health benefits of coffee. While the beverage can cause insomnia, heart palpitations, and acid reflux in some people, epidemiologist Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH, of the Harvard School of Public Health, “says that…strong evidence exists for coffee’s protective effect against type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. In the former, it appears that it may be something in coffee other than its caffeine that offers protection, as decaffeinated coffee has also been found to reduce risk. With regard to Parkinson’s and many other diseases and conditions, caffeine may be the key component,” he explained