Is Coffee Good For Arthritis
Coffee could potentially benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis because of the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee. 5 Reducing inflammation in the body could help reduce joint pain. Also, the stimulating effects of caffeine help to fight physical and mental fatigue that is common with rheumatoid arthritis.
The Type Of Caffeine Matters
But if youre thinking energy drinks are a good choice because they also contain caffeine, think again. Energy drinks use synthetic caffeine a substance first created by Monsanto, which your body processes differently than natural caffeine.
Soda also has caffeine, but it isnt a healthy choice either, and not just because of its high sugar content. In fact, soda has serious health risks, beyond just contributing to weight gain and being bad for your teeth.
And even with healthful choices, like coffee and tea, its still important to consume caffeine in moderation. Excessive amounts of caffeine can overstimulate your nervous system, adrenal glands, and interfere with sleep. So if you drink caffeine-containing beverages, be conscious and listen to your body when you do.
Caffeine And Its Effects On Joint Pain
As a stimulant, caffeine can have multiple effects on your overall health, both positive and negative. A study from 2000 suggested a connection between caffeine and rheumatoid arthritis, a common source of joint inflammation. Subsequent research has produced mixed results. A more recent study in Finland indicates there may be a link between how many cups of coffee people drink daily and their joint pain. In the article below, Los Angeles spine surgeons discuss a few of the ways caffeine can negatively affect joint pain.
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Caffeine May Counter Age
A chronic inflammatory process that occurs in some, but not all, older people may trigger cardiovascular problems, a new Stanford study shows. Part of the solution might be found in a cup of coffee.
Mark Davis and his colleagues studied blood samples from more than 100 clinical trial participants, as well as data about the participants, and found a link between chronic inflammation and the chronic diseases that accompany aging.Steve Fisch
Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have unearthed a connection between advancing age, systemic inflammation, cardiovascular disease and caffeine consumption.
Extensive analysis of blood samples, survey data and medical and family histories obtained from more than 100 human participants in a multiyear study has revealed a fundamental inflammatory mechanism associated with human aging and the chronic diseases that come with it.
The study, published online Jan. 16 in Nature Medicine, implicates this inflammatory process as a driver of cardiovascular disease and increased rates of mortality overall. Metabolites, or breakdown products, of nucleic acids the molecules that serve as building blocks for our genes circulating in the blood can trigger this inflammatory process, the study found.
The study also provides evidence that caffeine and its own metabolites may counter the action of these circulating nucleic-acid metabolites, possibly explaining why coffee drinkers tend to live longer than abstainers.
The Buzz On Your Body And Caffeine
To understand how your body reacts to caffeine, first think about any underlying health issues you may have. Anxiety, for example, can cause the heart to beat faster, and that prolonged stress on the heart could lead to chronic inflammation, specifically in the form of cardiovascular disease. “Caffeine can stimulate catecholamines, and if you are someone who suffers from anxiety and palpitations or irregular heart rhythms, stimulating catecholamines can exacerbate your symptoms,” Eudene Harry, MD, the medical director for Oasis Wellness and Rejuvenation Center in Orlando, explains. “Otherwise, most individuals who do not have these conditions, based on many studies done to this point, can tolerate moderate caffeine consumption.”
Outside of underlying conditions, consider how quickly your body metabolizes it. “If someone is a slow metabolizer , they may experience an inflammatory reaction or a spike in the stress hormone, cortisol,” says Will Cole, DC, a leading functional medicine expert and the author of The Inflammation Spectrum.“This can be an issue especially with adrenal fatigue and other hormone problems. Some people have an initial spike in cortisol from caffeine but gain tolerance over time, while others donât adapt to caffeine.”
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So Should You Avoid Coffee If You Have Arthritis
If you already have rheumatoid arthritis especially RF-positive rheumatoid arthritis then it is probably best to limit your coffee consumption as far as possible.
For everyone else, it seems wise to try to reduce coffee intake, given that the effect on arthritis is proportional to consumption. Try to stay under 4 cups per day and your risk will remain within manageable limits.
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The Downside Of Coffee
Depending on your bodys sensitivity and how much you drink, java can have a downside. There is, of course, the issue of insomnia which is why experts advise you to avoid coffee or other caffeinated beverages late at night.
And the jitters may make coffee unwise for people who have Parkinsons or tremors caused by something else, says Dr. Arora. Coffee may also aggravate heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease .
You can also end up with fatigue, especially if you drink too much coffee. Then youre pumping out a bunch of adrenaline and cortisol which puts you in panic mode and causes stress, explains Zarabi. Inflammation is the bodys response to stress.
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Caffeine The Heart And Inflammation
Caffeine has upsides and downsides for your health. But new research suggests your morning mug of joe could be a net positive when it comes to your cardiovascular risk.
Researchers from Stanford University in California reporting in the journal Nature Medicine found that the more caffeine older people consumed, the more protected they were against chronic inflammation. In the process the scientists uncovered an intriguing connection between aging, systemic inflammation, heart disease and caffeine.
The multi-year study involved analyzing the medical and health histories, blood samples, and survey responses from 100 people, both young and old. Using the data, the scientists discovered the mechanism behind a key inflammation process associated with chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes that tend to increase as we age.
Heres what they found: Some of the older people in the study were shown to have increased production of immune cells called interleukin 1 beta . These cells help to fight off infections, but when their production is in overdrive, inflammatory conditions like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimers disease can result. In fact chronic inflammation is thought to underlie up to 90 percent of non-communicable diseasesfrom heart disease and diabetes to dementia, cancer, arthritis, and mood disorders.
See www.knowyourrisk.com for info on Cleveland HeartLabs inflammation tests.
Good Benefits Of Caffeine
Caffeinated coffee and tea are already a part of many peoples day, and this new finding furthers the possibility that they could be a healthy choice.
More research is needed to fully explain how caffeine is interfering with inflammation. But a growing body of research is showing us how healthful coffee and tea can be and not only because they may help to block inflammation.
Coffee has been shown to have some unexpected and stunning anti-aging health benefits, from decreasing the risk of diseases, including dementia, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, to prolonging life expectancy overall.
In his landmark book, How Not to Die, Michael Greger, MD, explains the effectiveness of coffee consumption in preventing and treating Parkinsons disease. And the key helpful ingredient appears to be the caffeine.
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Inflammation And Its Effect On The Body
Inflammation is how the body protects itself from the infection caused by a virus, bacteria or different toxic chemicals. Some common signs of inflammation in the body are redness, heat, swelling and pain. Inflammation can also affect the body system without symptoms. Altogether, inflammation is the bodys response to fight the bacteria that enter the body to keep infections and health complications away.
Chronic inflammation can damage the body over the long term and lead to joint pain, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimers, etc. Therefore, it is essential to eat the right food, get quality sleep, and exercise.
How Caffeine Affects The Joints
Fact Checked
Joints are located where two bones meet, with a primary responsibility of supporting skeleton flexibility. Some are hinge joints, such as ones in elbows and knees. Others are the ball-and-socket type such as in shoulders and hips. The nutrients you consume have a direct effect on the health and functionality of your joints. Caffeine, a common stimulant found in coffee and sodas, has been shown in preliminary studies to reduce pain associated with certain forms of joint pain and possibly delay or prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or RA.
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Caffeine And The Digestive System
When it comes to the gastrointestinal system, however, caffeine-containing foods and beverages could be problematic. Coffee, in particular, which may contain anywhere between 80 and 130 mg of caffeine, has been associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease .
Some people drink coffee in the morning in order to be able to move their bowels. It’s commonly thought that it is the caffeine that stimulates the bowels, but more likely it is also due to the other chemicals found in coffee. The evidence seems to support the idea that coffee can stimulate the colon, even decaffeinated coffee . For people with IBD, moving the bowels more frequently may be problematic, especially if chronic diarrhea is already a problem.
May Enhance Exercise Performance
When it comes to exercise, caffeine may increase the use of fat as fuel.
This is beneficial because it can help the glucose stored in muscles last longer, potentially delaying the time it takes your muscles to reach exhaustion (
It may also protect against diabetes.
A review noted that those who drink the most coffee have up to a 29% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Similarly, those who consume the most caffeine have up to a 30% lower risk .
The authors observed that the risk drops by 1214% for every 200 mg of caffeine consumed .
Interestingly, consuming was also linked to a 21% lower risk of diabetes. This indicates that other beneficial compounds in coffee can also protect against type 2 diabetes .
Summary
Caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea may reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, although this may depend on the individual.
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Effects Of Caffeine On The Body
Caffeine tends to be seen in a positive light because it can heighten alertness, which in turn may translate into better performance at work or school. Caffeine can also stimulate metabolism and reduce anxiety in some people. However, there can also be negative effects, such as a decrease in the quality of sleep. Sleep is extremely important for people with IBD, and care should be taken to lessen the potential for caffeine to cause sleep disturbances.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much
Patients with RA often experience fatigue, so they may turn to coffee to give them a boost. Other people simply like the taste or are in the habit of drinking it.
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Experts say that until more research clarifies caffeines role theres probably no reason to stop drinking what you love. You might want to drink in moderation something like a cup or glass or two a day especially if caffeine makes you hyper or keeps you up at night.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does say that up to four or five cups of coffee, some 400 mg a day, is not associated with any dangerous side effect, but it notes that people vary in their sensitivity, and that some medications can impact caffeine metabolism.
Youre definitely overconsuming if you experience insomnia, jitters, a fast heart rate, nausea, a headache, or other unwanted effects, the FDA says. If you decide to cut back, do so gradually to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms like headaches or anxiety.
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Can Coffee Cause Gastritis
Perhaps youve just developed gastritis, or maybe youve been battling it for a while. Regardless of what youve been dealing with in your digestive system, chances are youve pondered what foods and drinks can affect your body and in what way. Specifically, many coffee drinkers have probably wondered, Can coffee cause gastritis?. If youve been drinking coffee for years and wondered if coffee can cause gastritis, youre not alone. Read on to learn about how coffee can affect the inflammation of the stomach if you cant say no to that morning cup of coffee which type of coffee might be right for you and your digestive system.
Does Decaf Coffee Protect You Against Gout
Both kinds of coffee caffeinated or decaffeinated, have a positive impact on the resistance of gout or protecting from the unwanted sensation of pain from gout.
A study from 2007 shows that decaffeinated coffee did have a positive effect in lowering gout risk. However, the effects werent prominent enough compared to the effects shown by high-test brew.
Though its still not clear with solid evidence, to what extent coffee can surely help with the gout risk, the presence of chlorogenic acids and other antioxidants along with caffeine do affect it.
It might be the unique blend of the components that helps in protecting against the condition. In the case of decaffeinated coffee, the caffeine amount might be low but there are still the polyphenols and other antioxidants present.
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No Bones About It: Drinking Coffee May Increase Arthritis Risk
July 25, 2000 â Hereâs some news Starbuckâs probably doesnât want you to know: A new report suggests heavy coffee drinking may raise your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The findings are based on two studies of more than 25,000 people in Finland.
âThis is probably the most comprehensive look at a large number of patients to look at a potential risk factor,â says Beth Jonas, MD. But Jonas, a clinical assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a board-certified rheumatologists, hastens to add that these findings raise many unanswered questions, and that the coffee-drinking habits of those in Finland may not be comparable to those of Americans. Jonas was not involved in the study.
Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation of the lining of the joints in the body and can lead to deformity and disability. It occurs when the bodyâs immune system attacks the joints, although it is not known why. There is also no cure.
Lead author M. HeliÃövaara, MD, and his colleagues at the Social Insurance Institution, Research and Development Centre in Turku, Finland, studied the association between coffee drinking, rheumatoid arthritis, and a blood marker called rheumatoid factor that is found in about half the cases of rheumatoid arthritis. They published their findings in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease.
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How Much Caffeine Is Safe
Caffeine’s stimulant effect is why many of us reach for coffee, but as many have experienced, too much caffeine can cause jitters and a racing heart. This raises the question of whether too much caffeine from coffee could at some point turn inflammatory.
Research is limited, but a range of coffee intakes were included in those studies in which coffee was associated with decreases in inflammatory markers. Subjects with higher caffeinated coffee intakes appeared to reap very similar benefits compared to those who consumed less. That doesn’t mean you should consume that much caffeinated coffee. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is generally safe, an amount found in 4 or 5 cups of coffee . Pay attention to the amounts that feel good to you and scale back if you notice side effects, such as anxiety, rapid heart rate, upset stomach, headaches or mood changes.
However, it’s important to note that each individual metabolizes caffeine differently, some of which is dictated by our genetic makeup, and excessive caffeineor even just a little more than your normcan lead to inflammation in other ways. One of the most common side effects of caffeine is disrupted sleep, which has been shown to contribute to inflammation. In fact, a lack of good-quality sleep is associated with generating inflammation and increases in CRP and other inflammatory markers.
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Bottom Line On Coffee And Inflammation
Coffee is a primary source of polyphenols in our diet, and these antioxidant compounds exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in most people. You can definitely drop any guilt you had over your morning joe, but do keep tabs on your overall intake to fully reap coffee’s benefits. If you enjoy several cups throughout the day, consider switching to decaf after 1 to 2 cups of caffeinated, and limit all caffeine intake after lunch to prevent sleep disruption. It’s also a good idea to go easy on what you add to your coffee. A little cream and sugar won’t hurt, but it’s probably best to avoid coffee drinks loaded with added sugars.
Why You Should Enjoy Coffee Consciously
Coffee accounts for almost half of the total exports from tropical countries, so coffee production has a massive impact on the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of families and farmers. Regrettably, many of them are living in poverty.
Therefore, the kinds of coffee we choose have a profound impact on the kind of world we shape for future generations. Fair trade, shade grown, and organic coffees are the types to reach for to help to shape a fairer and healthier world.
If thats something you want, your choice of coffee can make a powerful impact on the lives of many, including your own.
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