Most modern vices seem to be, at the minimum, associated with some substantial harms. Excessive sun exposure, rich western diets, scotch, sloth, etc. And, then there’s coffee.
This is a review article covering the evidence behind various cardiovascular associations uncovered regarding the consumption of coffee. After noting coffee contains thousands of compounds, the most prominent of which are caffeine, alcohols, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories, the authors review the effects on various cardio-metabolic risk factors.
In brief, coffee consumption conferred:
- No observed effect on blood pressure.
- Decreased association with Type II diabetes.
- Uncertain relationship with serum lipds.
- A U-shaped relationship with congestive heart failure.
- Decreased incidence of coronary heart disease.
- Fewer cardiac arrhythmias.
- Reduced risk of stroke.
- Decreased risk of death.
Obviously, many of these findings are observational and potentially confounded by many other factors. But, at the least – despair not of your coffee addiction.
“Effects of Habitual Coffee Consumption on Cardiometabolic Disease, Cardiovascular Health, and All-cause Mortality”
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23871889
They're probably unable to correct for it, but I fear the proportion of the populace that thinks their super sugar cream Starbuck will convey some health benefit simply because the 10% of that drink that is actual coffee is good for them.
Similar to the people who eat salad for "health benefits" but put an entire bottle of ranch on it for taste.
Couldn't find any papers with health benefits of scotch though.