Let me introduce you to Giorgio – Giorgio Gaggia that is. As anyone knows, who has visited Foods Matter or been a judge for the Freefrom Food Awards, Giorgio is on duty from 9.30am every morning ready to supply us all with reviving and enlivening espressos, machiatos, Americanos, capucchinos or any other combination (even down to a ‘plan white’) that anyone requests.
We all feel that, no matter how much muttering may go on about the negative effects of caffeine, an injection of same is an essential part of the morning – but it is always nice to come across new research to suggest that not only does it taste good but that it is actually doing something for us!
So I was happy to pick, somewhere in my John Scott-guided research wanderings, this nice little piece from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Volume 16, Number 1, January 2009….
Marjo H. Eskelinen, Tiia Ngandu, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Hilkka Soininen, Miia Kivipelto
Midlife Coffee and Tea Drinking and the Risk of Late-Life Dementia: A Population-Based CAIDE Study
Abstract: Caffeine stimulates central nervous system on a short term. However, the long-term impact of caffeine on cognition remains unclear. We aimed to study the association between coffee and/or tea consumption at midlife and dementia/Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk in late-life. Participants of theCardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study were randomly selected from the survivors of a population-based cohorts previously surveyed within the North Karelia Project and the FINMONICA study in 1972, 1977, 1982 or 1987 (midlife visit).
After an average follow-up of 21 years, 1409 individuals (71%) aged 65 to 79 completed the re-examination in 1998. A total of 61 cases were identified as demented (48 with AD). Coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk of dementia and AD later in life compared with those drinking no or only little coffee adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and vascular factors, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and depressive symptoms. The lowest risk (65% decreased) was found in people who drank 3-5 cups per day. Tea drinking was relatively uncommon and was not associated with dementia/AD. Coffee drinking at midlife is associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD later in life. This finding might open possibilities for prevention of dementia/AD.
Yippee!!!!
However, while on the subject of coffee – and because I always try to find at least a tenuous link to allergy to slip into each blog – I had a little trawl around Google on the subject of both allergy to coffee/caffeine and whether coffee/caffein might be any help in the management of allergy.
I did not find much on caffeine allergy apart from a lengthy and heavily referenced article on About.com by medical laboratory technician, Ruth Whalen. This focuses on the psychological effects of caffeine allergy rather than any physiological effects, suggesting that caffeine allergy may result in delusion, mimic symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and panic and be misdiagnosed as a bipolar condition. She suggests that withdrawal symptoms (which will be similar to those suffered on withdrawal from amphetamines) may last up to twelve months with the mental symptoms taking even longer to resolve.
Quoting a paper by McManamy and Schube as far back as 1936, she also suggests that caffeine allergy may be far more common than is realised and may be responsible for many of the 21st century’s growing behavioural problems. She also suggests that resulting physical ailments will ‘resemble amphetamine poisoning, and include drug eruptions, masquerading as rosacea.’
In terms of helping to manage allergy, there is some evidence that caffeine reduces the release of histamine from mast cells, thereby reducing the severity of an allergic reaction. Researchers at Wongkwang University in South Korea, in research quoted in an article on the BBC and, apparently in the New Scientist, but which I have been unbale to track down elsewhere, claimed that they were able to able to prevent anaphylactic shock in rats with an infusion of strong coffee. However, most other research (see these links on Google Scholar) suggest that its effect is quite limited.
But then, as Tesco keep telling us, every little helps…. Enjoy your coffee!
How funny, Michelle. I have just come back into my office with hot pineapple juice, feeling smug that I avoided coffee today and then read your post.
Before I go back down to make myself one, I thought I would mention a study I saw recently that suggests coffee can help ease pain. I also posted recently about coffee being able to ward off a migraine (I find it really helps mine if I get it right at the start). Finally, a strong espresso straight after a meal helps the production of stomach acid. Fact.
All that said, it is very addictive. Am off back downstairs….
There appears to be some evidence that, although coffee does have positive cardiovascular benefits, these are largely lost if milk is added. A short sharp espresso is clearly the bevy of choice..?
Interesting. I know that tea and coffee (proper stuff with caffeine) have both helped me with I’m feeling asthmatic. Years ago when inhalers weren’t so effective I used to want a cup of tea when I felt asthmatic. I seemed to help, but at the time I didn’t know why. It still helps. Does it stimulate the body into action? I also keep reading about coffee being toxic. Do you know anything about this? Various specialists have suggested I keep coffee and alcohol intake to a minimum just because my immune system is rubbish and both put a load of extra effort on the body to process. I guess it’s everything in moderation. Decaf can certainly be full of nasty stuff. Gives me terrible reactions. I think the process of making it involves chemicals. Has to be the real stuff for me.
Goodness me – coffee does have a stimulating effect, doesn’t it!!!!! Three comments almost before the blog has left my desk!! Thank you all….
And, actually, I could have done a blog similar to the chocolate one last week as, if you search around, there is research somewhere or other saying that coffee is good (or indeed bad) for almost every condition that you can think of. I know that, for example, it is claimed to be both good – and bad – for blood sugar control in diabetes – and I think have heard about the migraine one too Micki. In fact, could that be related to the chocolate helping migraine theory?
However, very interested that you have found both tea and coffee helpful with asthma Ruth. And yes, avoid decaff like the plague. The best is decaffeinated with steam but most use chemicals so I am not surprised that you were getting reactions!!
When I was first pregnant 33 years ago coffee gave me a bad taste in my mouth, so I stopped. Then when I tried to resume drinking coffee after the birth it gave me a migraine again. So I stopped for good! A few years later I tried again and the migraine came back. I don’t have migraines otherwise. I really don’t miss coffee, and wake up bright and breezy every day. (Its in the evenings that I fall asleep watching TV or in the cinema!)
All goes to prove what individuals we all are!! I know lots of people who are simply not interested in coffee – and others who would kill for it……
I was once a coffee lover but after getting pregnant, I stopped drinking it. Although it is okay to drink coffee during pregnancy as long as it is in moderation, I still stopped because I don’t want to take any risk. Now I’m missing it, especially now that I’m getting more and more sleepy all throughout the day.