Death by Coffee? Maybe not…

It’s 5 am and the coffee is made.  Every morning, I do “coffee yoga”, that is my short yoga routine while the coffee brews.  A few years ago I woke up one morning and realized I’d had coffee every day, for decades.  That’s just weird, I thought, and promptly quit drinking coffee for a month.  I didn’t notice anything, except I missed that delicious aroma of the morning brew, so the coffee ritual continues.

I usually write my weekly columns accompanied by an early morning cup of coffee, and this morning is no different.  Ponder the irony then that I would be commenting on a recent study that showed an association between coffee consumption and an increased death rate.  As always, there’s more to the story and it may take me two cups of coffee to get there.

Published this month in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings is a study that examined over 43,000 people and collected data going back 17 years, during which time 2512 people died.  A third of them died of heart disease but coffee consumption did not correlate with death from heart disease – interestingly the increase in death associated with coffee intake was distinctly non-cardiac related.

The results showed that men of all ages who drank more than 4 cups of coffee per day had a 21% increased death rate, while in women the risk wasn't found.  However, in men younger than 55 years of age there was a 56% increased risk of death and in younger women the risk of death was increased 113% compared to those who did not drink coffee.  These associated risks were not found in people who drank less than 4 cups of coffee per day.  And by the way, a cup was defined as 8 ounces or less.

Previous studies have suggested an increased risk of death from coffee consumption but most studies are weakened by the fact that many coffee drinkers are also smokers.  When adjusting the data to account for smoking there has not been a strong indication that coffee increases the death rate.

Coffee is Beneficial

Have heart, for there are numerous studies that show coffee consumption is not only safe but is actually associated with decreases in diseases such as stroke, heart failure, diabetes and dementia.

In 2012 Dr Lanfranco D'Elia, from the Federico II University of Naples, Italy, reported on their study examining the risk of stroke as it relates to coffee consumption.  484,757 participants were followed for up to 24 years during which time 7272 strokes occurred.  It was found that modest coffee consumption of up to 3 cups per day was associated with a 14% decreased risk of stroke, while higher consumption did not increase risk of stroke.

A Scandinavian study from 2012, published in Circulation, showed a decrease is the risk of heart failure in coffee drinkers who consumed about 2 cups per day.  As consumption increased to 4 cups risk reduction disappeared and above 5 cups per day risk started slightly increasing.

Diabetes risk goes down with coffee intake and declines even further with decaffeinated coffee intake.  A 2006 study from the Archives of Internal Medicine examined 28,812 women over an 11-year period and found the more coffee they drank the less risk they had for diabetes.  More than 6 cups per day was associated with a 22% decrease in diabetes, while decaf drinkers faired even better with a 33% reduction in diabetes.

Abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, have also been shown to be reduced in coffee drinkers, and drinking decaf did not seem to add any benefit.  A group of 130,000 participants in the Kaiser healthcare system were studied and it was shown that drinking more than 4 cups of coffee per day was associated with an 18% reduction in hospitalizations for arrhythmia, while there was no change in risk of heart disease in general.

Coffee has clearly been shown to increase mental and physical performance in numerous studies, as any coffee drinker can tell you.  It has also been associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementias such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. 

What Jives with Java?

Coffee beans, similar to cocoa beans and tea leaves, contain a few healthy vitamins and minerals, but it is the power-packed anti-oxidant chemicals called polyphenols that seem to be the real benefit to coffee drinkers.  In fact, studies show coffee is the main source of anti-oxidants in our American coffee culture. 

The anti-oxidant effect of coffee may be the link to lower rates of certain diseases in which oxidation and inflammation seem to play a role in their development.  By protecting the body from oxidative stress the anti-oxidants in coffee may protect delicate organs such as the pancreas in diabetes and neurons in dementias. 

Caffeine is the other component in coffee that clearly impacts health.  It increases brain activity by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine.  The result is more norepinephrine and dopamine which lead to increased mental acuity markers such as mood, memory, reaction time and general cognitive function.

Metabolism and physical performance are also increased by caffeine intake, via the ramping up of brain chemicals that increase metabolism and also by encouraging the breakdown of fat stores to be used for energy production.

Perhaps this latest study of coffee consumption lends credence to the old saying “all things in moderation”.  We should beware of the assumption that if a little of something is good then a lot is better.  I’ll definitely stick to my 2 to 3 cup per day maximum on the joe, but meanwhile enjoy just another sip…

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Monday, August 26^th, 6pm

“Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for WOMEN”

Monday, September 9^th, 6pm

RSVP @ 245-6911 or rsvp@imcwc.com

Bio

Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.  He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions.  He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com) and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics (www.bellezzalaser.com).  Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.

Pour Me a “Myer’s” Cocktail

One of our more popular treatments is getting a vitamin mixture injected directly into the bloodstream, which has the advantage of achieving blood levels as much as ten times higher than possible with oral vitamin intake.  These higher blood levels make intravenous (IV) infusions effective in treating a wide range of medical conditions, especially acute asthma attacks, migraines, allergies, infections and muscle spasms.  We find them especially helpful for patients with chronic fatigue or any chronic illness.

The idea of infusing high doses of vitamins intravenously was pioneered by the late Dr John Myers, a physician from Baltimore, Maryland, who up until his passing in 1984 infused 1000’s of patients with his unique formulation of vitamins.  Since that time his original formula has been modified and other formulas created for a wide variety of diseases – but the basic formula has remained, used successfully by hundreds of physicians, and is known as the “Myer’s cocktail”.

The key ingredients for the Myer’s cocktail are vitamin C, vitamin B complexes, calcium and magnesium.  The IV infusion is mixed under sterile conditions and given over a period of 15-30 minutes in the comfort of the office.  The high levels of vitamins and minerals in the blood will “force” the nutrients into cells that may be depleted.  The only common side effect is mild vein irritation during the infusion, which is relieved by simply infusing slower or adjusting the concentration. 

Vitamin C has been shown to have an anti-viral effect, but only at higher concentrations, making it especially valuable in treating acute viral respiratory infections.  It can also destroy histamine thus its role in treating allergies, asthma and hives.  At the highest doses vitamin C has been shown to generate the production of hydrogen peroxide, which is toxic to cancer cells while normal cells have the ability to resist harm.

Magnesium will promote the relaxation of smooth muscle around blood vessels and bronchial airways.  This makes magnesium helpful in treating asthma attacks.  Several double-blind studies have shown IV magnesium treatment for severe asthmatics lowered the hospitalization rate by about 50%.  A meta-analysis of seven studies concluded that IV magnesium for severe asthma attacks reduced hospitalization by 90%.  Calcium infusions have a similar effect and the addition of vitamin C and the B vitamins seems to improve and extend the benefits of magnesium alone.

The concentration of magnesium is very high in heart muscle cells and several studies show patients with heart disease have lower levels of magnesium in heart muscle cells.  As magnesium plays a key role in energy production it makes sense why it seems to help diseases such as heart failure as well as overall energy and stamina. 

Migraine headaches respond well to IV magnesium infusions with several clinical trials showing complete relief in most patients.  Even the migraine-associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light resolved.

Most patients with fatigue or even chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) will benefit from Myer’s cocktail infusions, often within the first few treatments.  Ongoing maintenance infusions every few weeks are usually necessary to maintain good results but some patients improve enough that further treatments are not necessary.  There are a few research studies showing patients with CFS have magnesium deficiency, either in the bloodstream or only inside the red blood cells despite normal blood levels.

Chronic pain, including that from relapsing injury or fibromyalgia, has been shown to improve with Myer’s cocktails.  One study showed 74% of patients improved while 64% only required four or fewer injections.  Some practitioners report success using Myer’s cocktail for acute muscle spasms. 

Upper respiratory infections caused by viral invaders often respond dramatically with Myer’s cocktail infusions.  Within minutes symptoms improve in about 1/3 of patients while about ½ of patients note the overall course of illness shortens considerably.  People who don’t seem to respond just don’t ever respond, while those who do respond do well with repeated treatments.  Even chronic sinusitis has consistent reports of responding to Myer’s infusions.

We also use the Meyer’s cocktail in cases of stress and adrenal fatigue.  The highest concentration of vitamin C in the body is found within the adrenal gland and giving general support to the adrenals seems to help the system cope with everyday stressors.  This supportive role may be another reason people with viral infections improve quicker with a Meyer’s cocktail.  Cancer and severe chronic illnesses are both good indications for Meyer’s cocktail to help with nutrition and immune function. 

Most patients will experience an increase in energy, improved mind clarity, decreased depression and anxiety, improved mood, faster recovery times, and less illness.  We have athletes who benefit from a Myer’s before and after strenuous events.

The intravenous nutrient therapy provided with Meyer’s cocktail has been found by hundreds of practitioners to be a safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions.  Although most evidence in favor of Meyer’s is anecdotal from the experience of providers there are some published research studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of the Meyer’s or some of its ingredients.

Our IV team is certified in IV nutrition and chelation (removal of heavy metals) therapies by the American College for Advancement in Medicine.  Experiencing a treatment is as simple as scheduling an appointment with our RN coordinator. 

FREE SEMINARS

“Detoxification Made Simple”

Monday, August 26^th, 6pm

RSVP @ 245-6911 or rsvp@imcwc.com

Bio

Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.  He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions.  He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com) and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics (www.bellezzalaser.com).  Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.