An article reviewing the health benefits and risks of coffee by Melinda Beck in yesterday's Wall Street Journal includes a number of studies that have yielded conflicting results on the effects of coffee. Coffee consumption of varying levels has been correlated with significant differences in the likelihood of being diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's and cancers of various kinds, as well as other health conditions such as cholesterol level, hypertension and pregnancy. In some cases, coffee consumption is associated with increased health benefits, in others, it is associated with increased health risks.
The well-balanced article enumerates a number of confounding factors in assessing the health impacts of a cup of coffee: the general challenges of self-reported data, the range of cup sizes (6 to 32 ounces), differences in caffeine levels (75 to 300 milligrams), and the variety of "extras" such as sugar, flavored syrup and whipped cream. It also notes a number of potential hidden factors such as employment, access to health care, exercise and nutrition (several of which have interdependencies). However, having recently written about conversation and community at Starbucks and other coffeehouses, I think that an important hidden health factor omitted from the article is the community context in which coffee is sometimes consumed.
Coffeehouses and other third places have traditionally provided physical spaces where "unrelated people relate". While people are likely to consume coffee in such places, they may also be more likely to engage in conversations with a more diverse array of people with whom they share weak social ties. Although I didn't highlight health effects in my review of Consequential Strangers, the book references a number of studies that demonstrate the health benefits of the diverse social relationships that can be created and maintained in such community-oriented places, such as fewer colds, less depression and anxiety, longer lives, better mental and physical health, and greater likelihood of surviving heart attacks and cancer.
I'm reminded of a 2000 survey by the National Institutes of Health reviewing studies on the health risks and benefits of alcohol consumption, which also included some conflicting results. Aside from people with pre-existing health conditions that are negatively impacted by alcohol, moderate consumption habits – 1 to 2 drinks (with an equivalent of 15 grams of pure alcohol) per day – were more strongly correlated with better health outcomes than either heavy consumption or abstention.
The studies investigating the health effects of alcohol consumption are impacted by some of the same confounding factors as those investigating the health effects of coffee consumption, e.g., reliance on self-reported data and an incomplete accounting of potential hidden factors. Given that pubs, taverns and neighborhood bars are included in the array of prototypical third places – where the health benefits of diverse social relationships would also apply – I suspect that the context of alcohol consumption represents an important, and largely hidden, factor in its health effects.
It would be interesting to conduct studies that would explicitly take into account the community aspects of coffee and/or alcohol consumption, and the resulting variation in health effects. For example, are "grab and go" coffee drinkers more or less likely to enjoy the health benefits associated with coffee than "stay and sip" drinkers? Are pub regulars – with the Cheers cast as extreme exemplars – more or less likely to enjoy the health benefits associated with alcohol than people drinking at home alone? I don't imagine that many people have started – or will start – drinking coffee or alcohol primarily for the reported health benefits, but with the growing health consciousness in American society, demonstrating the health benefits of frequenting third places could affect where people drink coffee and/or alcohol.
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8 responses to “Coffee, Community and Health”
This post and many others talk about the real way of drinking coffee in “former Yugoslavia”:
http://www.tamaramahoney.com/bih.html
… I was taught that to properly drink Bosnian coffee you must be with people, you must be relaxed, and you mustn’t rush. It was explained to me that to be truly alone, a Bosnian would describe his or her misery and heartache by saying “there is no one with whom I can drink coffee.”
Mirjana: thanks for sharing the inspiring Lesson in Drinking Bosnian Coffee and enjoying Bosnian Food! I took a deep breath and relaxed just reading about the ceremony surrounding the practice of preparing, pouring and savoring the coffee. I was also impressed with the pervasiveness of big, comfy chairs, conducive to conversation:
“There is not an uncomfortable chair in the entire country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Every chair padded with cushions, big, sit-back-and-really-relax-for-a-while chairs are in every single cafe, whether it it is in the middle of the city or off the side of a mountain road in a village of 39 people.”
I think the importance is in the sharing of the beverage, not in where the sharing happens. Sharing a beverage in the morning or after work at the house should be at least equally beneficial, as you are likely sharing it with the most important people in your life.
Eric: good point. I was conflating “community” with “community-oriented place”, and I agree it’s the presence of other people that is more important than the place. I believe that spending time – and sharing beverages – with the most important people one’s life is likely correlated with better health outcomes.
One of the surprising things I learned in the Consequential Strangers book I recently reviewed was the studies highlighting the health benefits of a wide diversity of relationships, including those with people who may not appear to be the most important members of our social circles.
For example, the book authors cite a study on “Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold” (J Am. Med Assoc 1997;24:1940-4), in which Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues showed that “people who interacted with [others representing] only one to three different types of relationships in a two-week period had more than four times the risk of developing a cold than those who interacted with [people representing] six or more types” [emphasis theirs].
One of the most provocative books I’ve ever read on marriage – Passionate Marriage, by David Schnarch – claims that one of the common marital problems is that partners tend to rely too much on each other for some needs that are – or would be – better met by other people in their lives. And a controversial 2006 study on “Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks” reported that our average number of confidants has shrunk over the past 20 years, and the proportion of our core discussion networks made up of family members has dramatically increased.
All that said, I still agree with you about the important benefits of spending quality time with loved ones over a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine) at home. But there appear to be additional benefits to broadening the scope of those with whom we share these activities, at home, at work or in third places.
Joe, you are so right. David Schnarch has a great image of a healthy marriage/relationship: You’re not both in the same boat. You’re two people in separate boats who have decided to go down the same river! I thought of him a lot when I was writing Consequential Strangers. Although only some relationship experts (like Schnarch) dare to say this, consequential strangers (as long as they don’t morph into extramarital affairs!) are good for a relationship, because each partner brings in new information, ideas, and suggestions that they’ve gotten from their respective CS.
Melinda: I’m not surprised that Schnarch’s views influenced the Consequential Strangers book. One of the things I notice, having been married for almost 20 years, and having two teenage children, is that the establishment of deep friendships seems to occur less frequently. Most friendships that have developed recently revolve around people with one or more kids who are the same age as our kids. The establishment – and maintenance – of consequential acquaintance relationships seems to be more age appropriate, or life stage appropriate, for me at this point. Perhaps that’s another reason I was so drawn to your book.
Ohhh i thought coffee is not too much bad for health.Great article to aware us from the risks of drinking more coffee.I also love to have coffee for 2 or 3 times a day.Thanks for sharing such a helpful information with us.
Coffee is very popular in all parts of the world. It is the drink to complete one’s day especially if its health benefits will be considered. However, it will also be important to be aware of its effects when one fails to take it in moderation.