Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

1st Cup Of Coffee: Hardening Your Arteries

Posted by Hemos on from the caffiene-is-gud! dept.

mikewhittaker writes "A recent article on The Times refer to a report which indicates that the intake of caffeine from a single coffee can have adverse effects on your arteries and heart." Actually, it goes so far to say that the first cup of coffee is the worst. Of course, basically, anything you do is bad for at some level, so I guess it's choosing your poisons.

3 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. addictive qualities by fetta · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's easy to test out the health effects of caffeine - just give it up for a month.

    Every 6 months or so, I quit caffeine cold turkey - no soda, no coffee, etc. The first 3-4 days are miserable - headaches, fatigue, etc. After that I start feeling much better, sleeping better, having more energy, etc. It's pretty clear that I feel better and healthier without that morning copy of coffee.

    Of course, then some deadline pops up and I'm back to drinking 2 cups of coffee and a six pack of diet coke per day. What drives me nuts is that I know better - I've been through this cycle at least 5 times. Thanks God I never started smoking! If I have this much trouble giving up caffeine, I can't imagine what nicotine would do to me.

    --
    ** The opinions expressed here are my own, and do not reflect those of my employers - past, present, or future**
  2. Shame by mwillems · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is rather a shame that society (North American society) is so obsessed now with risk aversion!

    Everything we do has good and bad affects. Coffee makes you feel good but shortens life. Good choice for each to make. Wine lessens cardiovascular degeneration but increases the chance of liver ailments. Flying gets you tere quickly but you can fall. Peanuts are wholesome food but can kill one in a million. In the USA, only the negative part of each of these equations is being seen. Playgrounds have no swigs here anymore becuase they too can be dangerous.

    Well, I for one will not worry. I make my own choices. I take calculated risks. I am aware that it all ends in tears anyway: no-one lives over 110 years and anyway, by 80, half of us have Alzheimers. Best enjoy the three score years and ten I'd say.

    Would talk more but must be off for a coffee.

    --

    ---
    BDOS ERR ON A:>
  3. It's temporary, folks! by steveha · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is no big deal, unless you have high blood pressure, because the effect is very temporary. The article said "one cup hardened the blood vessels for at least two hours". It's not like you are going to need bypass surgery or something.

    If you have average blood pressure, or (as I do) slightly low blood pressure, then have some coffee to celebrate the news!

    --
    lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely