The Facts about Coffee

Coffee has negligible nutritional value. Coffee contains caffeine. Consuming more than 200 mg of caffeine doubles the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, but the body adapts by creating more receptors unless a fatal dose is consumed. Caffeine lowers glucose levels impairing judgment. Caffeine stimulates insulin production and raises cortisol levels.

Coffee also contains kahweo palmitate and cafestol palmitate. These compounds raise glutathione levels in the liver, esp. the former. The latter is responsible raising cholesterol levels.

Thus in healthy people, coffee should probably only be consumed immediately before strenuous exercise, unless one is desperately trying to stay awake. Raising glutathione levels in the liver is helpful to those with chronic liver disease or those at risk.

Most everything published about coffee is biased opinion and not factual. Civilized people drink tea not coffee. In places where people live longer, they do not drink coffee.

Preventing Skin Cancers

There are lots of theories about preventing skin cancer, but little evidence based on human trials. Higher levels of vitamin D are needed to prevent some cancers. So, regular, moderate exposure to sunlight may yield some protection. A diet conducive to protecting healthy cells and destroying damaged cells is theorized to be beneficial. Healthy cells are protected by a diet rich in the pigments from the whole spectrum of cartenoids, esp. astaxanthin, beta-carotene, etc., together with the fern, polypodium leucotomos, along with foods that increase levels of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dimutase enzymes. Based on animal studies, it is conjectured that caffeine consumption before endurance running may help in destroying damaged cells. This, of course, could be combined with the topical application of noni juice to prevent basal cell growth. No proof that any of this works, but I am personally not will to take the chance involved in not trying.