Confused about coffee? Some people still say it is bad for you but is it? Or are their opinions outdated? This is my perspective.



Article Shortcuts* The Birth of the "Coffee Is Bad For You" Myth* Where the First Coffee Came From* Coffee Brewing Methods* Spilling the Beans About Coffee's Health Benefits* Coffee and Physical Performance* Coffee and Weight Management* Coffee, Insulin Resistance and Diabetes* Coffee and Cardiovascular Disease* Coffee and Cancer* Coffee and Liver Health* Coffee, Cognitive Function, and the Nervous System* Coffee and Bone Health* Coffee and Gut Health* Final Sips



The Birth of the "Coffee Is Bad For You" Myth



The year was 1992. In sports, the Blue Jays won the World Series, the Redskins won the Super Bowl, and Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf won at Wimbledon.



In entertainment, Tom Hanks yelled, “There’s no crying in baseball!” while Jack Nicholson scorned, “You can’t handle the truth!”



In politics Bill Clinton was Man of the Year, explaining “I didn’t inhale.”



And in the world of coffee, health advocates warned the public of the problems coffee could cause. As Dr. Tony Chou said,



The recent decline in caffeine and coffee consumption reflects the widespread awareness of the debate about possible adverse effects of caffeine on health.Dr. Tony Chou, Western Journal of Medicine, 1992



Fortunately, Starbuck’s didn’t listen. By 1992, they'd grown to 165 coffee shops and went public on the stock exchange. That same year, John Sylvan and Peter Dragone founded Keurig.



1992 was a long time ago. Like those who still want Zubaz to stay in fashion, some people still hold onto the beliefs about coffee that were common back then.



Times marches on. Research accumulates. Thinking evolves. Beliefs change.




Coffee Or Die



Coincidentally, I’m wearing a Black Rifle Coffee Company t-shirt that says, “Coffee or Die” as I write this article.



Vanessa and I love coffee.



We love the delightful aroma, the unique and flavorful taste (well, at least most dark roasts; not so much the light roasts or medium roasts), and even the warmth of the cup as we begin each day.



I don’t love it enough to die for it, though. And if I believed it was detrimental to my health, I’d give it up right away.



I started writing this article to find out what was bad about coffee; to see if there were reasons to stop drinking it.



However, the more papers I read and reviewed (many of which you’ll find in the references section at the end), the more I realized that it’s seriously good for you.




Coincidentally, I’m wearing a Black Rifl...