It’s official: Americans should drink more coffee

Washington Post ^ | 02/23/2015 | Roberto A. Ferdman

[SeekAndFind]

When the nation's top nutrition panel released its latest dietary recommendations on Thursday, the group did something it had never done before: weigh in on whether people should be drinking coffee. What it had to say is pretty surprising.

Not only can people stop worrying about whether drinking coffee is bad for them, according to the panel, they might even want to consider drinking a bit more.

The panel cited minimal health risks associated with drinking between three and five cups per day. It also said that consuming as many as five cups of coffee each day (400 mg) is tied to several health benefits, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

"We saw that coffee has a lot of health benefits," said Miriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University and one of the committee’s members. "Specifically when you're drinking more than a couple cups per day."

That's great news if you're already drinking between three and five cups each day, which Nelson and the rest of the panel consider a "moderate" level of consumption. But you know what? You probably aren't, because people in this country actually tend to consume a lot less than that. On average, Americans only drink about one cup of coffee per day, according to data collected by the United States Department of Agriculture. Even when Americans drank the most coffee they ever have, back in 1946, they still only drank two cups a day on average.

Interestingly enough, it isn't just people in the United States who drink less-than-moderate amounts of joe each day. No country in the world downs more than 3 cups each day per capita,

[LostInBayport]

Coffee is a staple in my life. I get up and the first thing I do is make a cup. I drink it on the way to the shower, leave it on the sink and finish it when I get out.

I drink cups throughout the day. The few times in my adult life where I haven’t had a cup by late morning...well, it’s not pretty. Think Godzilla and Tokyo.

[trisham]

One cup of coffee a day? Pikers!

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Wake me up when some genius says Americans should drink more great Kentucky whiskey.

[Delta 21]

Looking at the graph I was thinking that we were kinda slacking off from our WWII era drinkers, but you had to be hard core to make it back then!

[SpaceBar]

Coffee is awesome stuff. On a recent trip to California, I purchased two pounds of fresh ground Peets to take home.

[Thom Pain]

Off the top of your head can anyone tell me how much coffee is 400 mg? Wasn’t this published by an American agency paid for with US $$? Just what planet (or continent) are these a@@wipes from?

[Windflier]

taste like battery acid despite dumping cream and sugar in it

I drink 100% Colombian coffee black, without sugar or any other poofter additives. Four to five large mugs a day.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Off the top of your head can anyone tell me how much coffee is 400 mg?"

I can. It's 100mgs less than 500mgs and 100mgs more than 300mgs.

[Windflier]

I drink coffee every weekday. If I didn't have it, I'd go into convulsions like a meth addict.

You must be all kinda fun to be around on the weekends ;-)

[Windflier]

Never tried it. Never will.

Good. More for me.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Not only can people stop worrying about whether drinking coffee is bad for them, according to the panel, they might even want to consider drinking a bit more.

They can't. I drank it all.

[Mad Dawgg]

"One cup of coffee a day? Pikers!"

[Joe 6-pack]

If it weren’t for coffee and tobacco, I wouldn’t consume any vegetables.

[trisham]

LOL!

[SpaceBar]

The 400 mg refers to the caffeine content of five cups (according to the article).

[Fast Moving Angel]

What do they want to talk about? I have a little home espresso maker and have a quad (about 15 ounces) espresso every morning — and that’s it (unless it’s summer, then I have about a 32 ounce iced coffee every morning). Is that enough to satisfy them?

[wally_bert]

Wonder what agave would do to coffee? I have only recently discovered it.

[Zeneta]

If it weren’t for coffee and tobacco, I wouldn’t consume any vegetables.

---

Don’t forget the beer !!!

[upsdriver]

It’s official: Americans should drink more coffee

I'd like to help, really I would but I cannot possibly drink more coffee than I already do.

[Joe 6-pack]

I don’t drink alcohol (anymore. Met my lifetime’s quota by 34).