Good news for students who drink a cup or two of coffee everyday: A new study conducted at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania shows coffee has antioxidants that are important for the drinker's good health.
The study also showed coffee is the number one source of antioxidants for Americans.
Ronda Bokram, a nutritionist at Olin Health Center, said antioxidants are beneficial in a diet because they fight off free radicals, which can damage cells and DNA, and make people more likely to be prone to different diseases.
"You want to attack the free radicals," Bokram said. "(Antioxidants) are like a line of defense, it is important to have them in your diet."
Because the antioxidants are found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, Bokram stressed the importance of limiting caffeine intake because it is an addictive substance and can also be dehydrating.
Bokram also said people depend mostly on fruits and vegetables for antioxidants along with other vitamins, adding that just because coffee has antioxidants in it, people should keep a balanced diet.
"By doing just one thing you are going to trade off and miss another thing," Bokram said. "You miss out on Vitamin A, Vitamin C, fiber, (carbs) and things that add a more complete picture to your health."
Dennis Martell, health coordinator for Olin Health Center, said although it is good that coffee has antioxidants, a consumer has to think about the negative consequences of drinking too much.
"You have to have moderation, like anything in life," Martell said. "Don't say OK I'm going to go drink pot after pot."
Martell said it's good for consumers to be "well aware of what they are buying, reading and consuming" and not to simply look at headlines and make conclusions.
"It is an interesting study and that is all it is," Martell said. "It just says that coffee is a good source of antioxidants, nothing else."
Paul Hobson, store manager of Espresso Royale Caffe, 527 E. Grand River Ave., said he drinks three to four cups of coffee every day, but said he thinks people will drink coffee regardless of whether it is healthy or not.
"It's good news that it is good for me because I drink so much and so many other people do too," Hobson said.
But regardless of the findings about coffee, Bokram warns it is not a good idea to replace food with coffee.
"We can eat a lot of foods to meet our needs, but there is not one food that can fulfill them all," Bokram said. "You have to look at the complete picture of health, not just a vacuum."
