Coffee has also been shown to reduce the risk of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, liver disease, colorectal cancer,
Alzheimer's and skin cancer, too. "Coffee is loaded with antioxidants," said Joe DeRupo, a spokesman for the National Coffee
Association. "Many are naturally occurring antioxidants found in the coffee bean, while others are created during the roasting
process. ___29___"
While coffee consumption may appear to be healthful for many, others should proceed with caution. Pregnant women,
for example, should cautiously limit their intake of caffeinated coffee. "Current evidence suggests that consuming moderate
amounts of caffeine up to 200 mg per day, the amount in a 12-ounce cup of coffee, is not associated with increased risks for
miscarriage or preterm birth," said Dr. Joseph Wax, chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists'
Committee on Obstetric Practice. "___30___" Additionally, "there is insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion regarding
the effects of caffeine on fetal growth."
___31___ "Caffeine is an aggravator and accelerator of one's heart rate," said Dr. Vince Bufalino, a spokesman for the
American Heart Association and senior vice president and senior medical director of Cardiology-AMG, Advocate Health Care,
in Naperville, Illinois. "Those with atrial fibrillation or hypertension should limit their caffeine intake. One to two cups daily
is probably fine, but if you are sensitive, you should restrict all caffeine."
(A) If you have any heart conditions, you should also limit your coffee and caffeine consumption.
(B) It's these compounds that science links with positive effects in reducing the risk of several diseases.
(C) The reduction in risk was more significant once people reached the age of 45, suggesting that it may be even more beneficial
to consume coffee as we get older.
(D) However, data are contradictory regarding these pregnancy outcomes when women consume more than 200 mg per day
of caffeine.