Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I enjoy drinking coffee and was often see links to studies on paleo blogs about how it does a multitude of great things. However, when I follow the links the studies all point to OBSERVATIONAL studies. I've been following Tom Naughton and am reading Bad Science right now and so know that these studies really don't tell me anything reliable here.

Interesting to see that studies against showing issues with paleo are scrutinised to the hilt whereas perhaps those supporting it: not so much.

I'd love to believe it's beneficial for us, but would like to see the data to back it up. Anyone know of any good clinical studies regarding this?

flag	asked Oct 5 2011 at 8:13 Beefboy 341●2●7

Eric S · Answer 1 · 2011-10-05 13:20:32Z UTC

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Here is a good review: http://primalmd.tumblr.com/post/6397186790/evidence-based-practice-coffee

answered Oct 5 2011 at 13:20

Eric S
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Thank you for this link Eric, I found it very helpful, but was disappointed that it indicated best to drink coffee black to get benefits. I like my coffee best as a cream delivery system. – Doris Oct 5 2011 at 13:53

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But if you look at the full explanation, it is pointing out the problems with "additives" like artificial sweeteners: primalmd.tumblr.com/post/6397186790/… Guessing that most of us here are more on the "pastured heavy whipping cream" or "additive-free coconut milk" spectrum... – stephthegeek Nov 22 2011 at 22:43

Matt · Answer 2 · 2011-10-05 17:35:46Z UTC

The Wikipedia page on the health effects of coffee is a good place to start as it has quite a number of links to research studies.

The number of clinical studies on coffee are rather few in number. This is mainly due to the fact that most of the potential risks and benefits of coffee consumption only appear over the course of many years. Clinical studies are usually short in duration due to their costs.

This is currently my favorite coffee related study:

Impact of coffee consumption on the gut microbiota: a human volunteer study.*

The impact of a moderate consumption of an instant coffee on the general composition of the human intestinal bacterial population was assessed in this study. Sixteen (16) healthy adult volunteers consumed a daily dose of 3 cups of coffee during 3 weeks

Our results show that the consumption of the coffee preparation resulting from water co-extraction of green and roasted coffee beans produce an increase in the metabolic activity and/or numbers of the Bifidobacterium spp. population, a bacterial group of reputed beneficial effects, without major impact on the dominant microbiota.

So drink coffee to feed your "friendly bacteria" :)

*The study was funded by Nestle who produce a lot of instant coffee.

score 1 · Answer 3 · 2011-10-05 10:08:00Z UTC

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Oh, there are bunch of them.

http://goo.gl/Rx3XY

edited Oct 5 2011 at 10:08

answered Oct 5 2011 at 10:02

majkinetor

FED at LiveCaveman.com · Answer 4 · 2011-10-05 13:39:59Z UTC

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Here's a study linking iron malabsorption to coffee. I would assume that it is due to the phytic acid content and would also apply to other minerals.

http://www.ajcn.org/content/37/3/416.abstract?ijkey=f63b84e86ae3b7e451190f577cb7de8cdf66b4d0&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

answered Oct 5 2011 at 13:39

FED at LiveCaveman.com
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	That is correct, BUT, you don't have to drink coffee after meal. – majkinetor Oct 5 2011 at 13:56
	FED: then again, high iron levels could be an issue for some paleos. Kresser's latest podcast is about this, though I haven't finished it yet. Like John Durant, Kresser thinks that donating blood is a good idea for some people bc it allows us to flush accumulated iron. – Eric S Oct 5 2011 at 16:53
	The question was "Anyone know of any good clinical studies". I am neither defending or advocating the consumption of coffee. – FED at LiveCaveman.com Oct 5 2011 at 17:42
	Totally totally - sry if I sounded combative - just adding to the pile of thoughts and info :) – Eric S Oct 5 2011 at 18:06
	High iron levels are good for females, premenopausal. – majkinetor Oct 5 2011 at 18:20

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pbo · Answer 5 · 2011-10-05 15:48:28Z UTC

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Here's one study showing that coffee-derived mannooligosaccharides enhances fat loss

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21938072

answered Oct 5 2011 at 15:48

pbo
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Senneth · Answer 6 · 2011-10-05 17:19:36Z UTC

You could check out this Ray Peat article in caffeine/coffee, Ray sites a ton of sources at the end of his document: http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/caffeine.shtml

He likes the fact that it lowers absorption of Iron. (See his article on the dangers of Iron).

Anonymous Chump · Answer 7 · 2011-11-22 22:18:41Z UTC

From ABC News:

"The research, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, examined data from the Nurses' Health Study, one of the largest and longest-running investigations of factors that influence women's health. Out of the more than 67,000 women enrolled in the study, researchers found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee per day were linked to a 25 percent reduced risk of endometrial cancer. Women who drank two to three cups per day reduced that risk by 7 percent."

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/coffee-cut-endometrial-cancer-risk/story?id=15002253

Observational, to be sure, but dammit I like coffee and I like to find anything that justifies drinking tons of it.

No more. · Answer 8 · 2011-11-22 23:17:25Z UTC

Remember to look at what type of coffee they are using. Coffee isn't coffee isn't coffee. There's a difference in coffee quality that likely will correlate to a difference in health outcomes. Perhaps, good quality artisan, fresh roasted coffee will be better for you or perhaps, it will be worse. Just another variable to consider.

Does anyone know of CLINICAL studies that show benefits or issues with drinking coffee?

8 Answers