Studies Show That Drinking Coffee Has Many Health Benefits

[tex]

Hi All,

It doesn't matter what kind you drink, and it doesn't matter how much you drink - the benefits are the same, according to various studies. Drinking coffee lowers your risks of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and/or stroke.

Don't rush out and try it, though, because the medical community is unable to draw any conclusions from these studies, since they're usually done as surveys, rather than rigorous, double-blind trials - therefore, the white coats can't make any official recommendations, based on these studies. Apparently, they have no plans in the works for attempting any rigorous test trials, either.

Is it just me, or does anyone else get the impression that most doctors aren't particularly concerned about actually improving the health of the general public, by simple means of prevention - they see their job description as treating disease, not preventing it. Oh sure, they give lip service to popular campaigns, such as the anti-smoking movement, but that's a no-brainer - and where were they 40 or 50 years ago, when they should have been promoting that cause? (Most of them were contentedly puffing away, like the rest of us, I reckon. ).

Soooooooo, don't expect to see the medical community rolling out any big promotions to encourage coffee drinking, on the grounds, (no pun intended), that it helps to prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and/or stroke, or any other benefits.

http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=636422

Tex

[JLH]

I do not like the flavor of coffee. I'm doomed as usual.

I don't like maple flavor either. It must have super benefits.

Fish is on the same list....I know the benefits.

[tex]

I hear you - I don't drink coffee, either, and I rarely eat fish. That's probably why my colon rotted out.

Tex

[barbaranoela]

COFFEE here---without a doubt----but I only have my 4/5 cups in the morning---

This is going to be funny-----being I have no TASTE BUDS--- I only drink FLAVORED coffee---
I sorta THINK the flavor just like I do with ICE CREAM!!!

Luve Barbara

[mbeezie]

Couldn't agree more, Tex. The medical community, for the most part, just doles out medicine and runs tests. Did you know that most medical schools don't even teach nutrition, or if they do it is very minimal? A dietitian from UT Southwestern did a study and confirmed her suspicians about the lack of nutrition education. Pitiful in this day and age.

I DO drink coffee and it and potato chips are my only vices left, so I'm glad to hear that coffee drinkers may get some benefit. Not sure potato chips will ever make that list, but I have no intention of giving them up;-)

Mary Beth

[Stanz]

most doctors aren't particularly concerned about actually improving the health of the general public, by simple means of prevention - they see their job description as treating disease, not preventing it

Can't imagine how anyone could argue that one. Writing a prescription is so neat and tidy as they leave to see their next 15 minute appt. patient.

I love my coffee.

[JMulkey]

Hi everybody. New here. I gave up coffee completely when I found out I had LC. The doc said it could make it worse, so I don't drink it anymore, and I sure miss it. I was diagnosed last year, and am on my fourth round of Entecort, having another colonoscopy on Tuesday. I've had breast cancer, and my pet scan in October showed some diffuse uptake in the lower colon. Now it could be that it was just inflammation from the LC, but my GI said that it's not really known what LC looks like on a PET, so the colonoscopy is to make sure there's nothing else there. If there isn't, it might help my GI to know what my LC will look like on a PET. I have kind of tried the gluten free diet, even though I've not been tested for it, but it's just so hard, especially when there are other people in the family. My doc did a test when he did my scopes a year ago, on the upper part of my intestinal tract, through the stomach, but I don't know how reliable those are. I don't like the entecort, but it has helped with the D, although it still is not gone completely, and I'm on week six at this point. I can't stay on it any more than the end of this month, because I am already on SS disability for fibro and lupus, and it costs too much for my insurance, so I can only use two 30 day prescriptions of it a year. After that I will have to go on prednisone,...which I absolutely HATE. My disability is coming back up for revue, and I didn't have the LC diagnosis last time, so I'm hoping that it helps out with the review this time, because I surely can't work with this stuff.

Anyway, I digress :) I would LOVE to be able to have my coffee again. But I would have to find a milk substitute for it :)

[mbeezie]

JMulkey,

Welcome. Sounds like you have alot going on health-wise. I think diet can play a role in your MC (as well as your fibro and lupus). You were on the right track with gluten, but need to fully commit to it or won't see the benefit. Most of us are gluten, dairy and soy sensitive, plus many have additional sensitivities.

Doctors always tell people to get off of coffee when they have GI issues. Most of us have found that we tolerate it just fine. You might want to try SoDelicious coconut milk in your coffee. They also make some coconut milk creamers that are very tasty. I used to like milk and sugar in my coffee but gave it up and now prefer my coffee black.

Good luck with your colonoscopy on Tuesday.

Mary Beth

[ant]

Dear JMulkey,



I also wish you the best for your colonoscopy. I also hope you can stay on Entocort. It has taken me 7 months to taper down from three (9gm) to two (6gm) pills per day. 60 days (with diet) is not long enough for the gut to heal, but unfortunately most doctors do not know that. Having said that, there are plenty of people on this board who have achieved remission with diet alone.

I am sure you have been reading the posts, but take a look at Enterolab testing. It will clarify a number of food intolerance issues for you that other tests cannot.

We are here to help you, good days and bad, on your path to better health. Best wishes, Ant

[JLH]

JMulkey, we're glad you found us.

When I first arrived and read the great information at the PP site, I decided that going gluten free was much better than having D all the time.......No, it isn't easy but it's something one needs to do to get better.

BTW, just like Tex, Dr. Polly and some other PP, I am using diet alone to control my symptoms. I am avoiding gluten, dairy and soy.

[tex]

Hi JMulkey,

Welcome to our internet family. I'm sorry to hear of all your issues, and especially the limitations imposed on you by your insurance coverage. With such low limits on Entocort usage, if you want to control your symptoms, I'm afraid that diet is your only practical option. Prednisone, in the long run, will destroy certain vital functions of your body, and result in more, (and more severe), issues than it helps. It's simply not a safe long-term option.

Be aware that many of us have found that after we fine tune our diets, to eliminate all the foods to which we are sensitive, our other autoimmune diseases sort of fade away, until they are no longer a problem, or at least they are much less of a problem, depending on how much permanent damage has accrued in your body. Gluten, especially, is the cause of many autoimmune issues. True, the diet is not fun, and it is not easy, but it gets easier over time, and in view of the fact that it can make the difference between being sick all the time, and getting your life back, for many of us, adopting the diet is an easy decision, and one we will never regret. There are plenty of gluten-free substitutes available, to replace the foods that we love, in most cases, (though that's not necessarily true for everything, at least not yet - the selection does get better every year).

Regarding the coffee: If you stopped drinking it simply because of your doctors advice, there is no valid reason why you cannot drink coffee, if you wish. It will not make your MC worse, and not drinking coffee will not make your MC better. It's a personal choice - just don't tell your doctor, if you decide to resume drinking coffee, because most docs become upset with patients who do not follow their advice, even when that advice is wrong. Virtually all of us here have found that drinking coffee has no noticeable effect on our MC symptoms.

Regardless of what you decide to do, be assured that we will support you, and help in any way we can. Please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. And again, welcome aboard.

Tex

[JMulkey]

Thanks so much for all of your responses :) I have so much other stuff going on besides the MC. I had cancer three years ago and take a med daily because of it. It, in itself, can cause many of the symptoms I'm having from the MC, but I won't go off of it, my cancer was estrogen driven, so I will continue to take the other med for it. Because of this med, also, I'm developing osteoporosis, and I'm sure the years of being on and off of prednisone hasn't helped. I've already had cataract surgery in both eyes, in my 40's due to the prednisone use trying to control the Lupus.

The reasons for the diet, aren't really that it's hard for me to stay on personally, if it were just me, I would do fine on it I think. The problem is that we are very strapped for cash, and I don't have alot of support on this end with the whole idea of controlling it with diet. My doc said the test showed negative for celiac disease (which from what I've read, I'm sure it did), so it's hard to get any other support for anything otherwise, and we just really don't have the money for me to buy other things to cook with, since I'm not the only one eating here :( I hope that made sense. I've read so many threads and I really do think it would help out changing diet, but gluten is in so MUCH stuff, and so much of the stuff we use to eat and cook with here at home. My husband just can't see that it would help out.

So I'll do the best I can and can only do so much. I know that you all are on to something though. The last three tries with Entecort I've done ok while on it, and as soon as I'm off it, the D is right back to where it was, only this last time, it was much much worse.

If the doc does put me back on prednisone, will my gut ever heal? Pepto made my D WAY WAY worse. Doc said this is very unusual for that to happen, but if it's going to happen, it will be me it happens to, lol.

Thanks again for all of your responses and help, I really do appreciate it :)

[tex]

Prednisone will reduce the inflammation, (that's why it helps to stop the symptoms), but unfortunately, it will not allow your gut to heal, because it does not prevent the inflammation from being generated - it can only try to suppress it, after it is generated. That's why you relapse, every time that the Entocort or Predisone treatment is ended. To stop the inflammation from being generated in the first place, diet changes are necessary. IOW, as long as you are eating gluten, inflammation will continue to be generated, on a daily basis. Once the damage is significant, it usually takes a long time, (a year or two), for the gut to heal, after the treatment is started. The symptoms usually end long before the gut completely heals, though.

We certainly understand the financial issues - many of us face the same problem. This disease not only eats money, (in diagnosis and treatment), but it keeps us from working, and in many cases, it keeps us practically chained to the bathroom. You are not the only member who has had an adverse reaction to Pepto-Bismol. A fair number of us cannot tolerate it.

Tex

[Mars]

Oh MY!!! I would be LOST without my coffee - I drink it all day long - might be my kidney problems Oh well, I would just be miserable and unbearable without it!

Hugs,
Mars

[JMulkey]

I am lost without my coffee :) I might try it again though to see if I can tolerate it.

I am curious as to Social Security Disability. I'm already on disability from the lupus and fibro, but I have read where it is an automatic pass now on MC. Am I misreading that? My review is going on right now and I can't imagine what would happen if they said I coudln't draw disability any more. I can't work. And I have no insurance, and I can't imagine already having had cancer and all this other stuff that I would be able to even find insurance that I could afford. And then of course, I worry if I lost my disability, and I got cancer again, how in the world would we pay for it?

Anybody that could tell me more about the SSD and MC, I would be very grateful.