The average amount of sugar added per cup of sugary coffee in the study was a little over a teaspoon, far less than is usually added to many sugary drinks in coffee chains across the country. A tall Starbucks macchiato candy, for example, contains 25 grams of sugar, about five times more sugar than a cup of sugary coffee from the studio.
“All bets are off when it comes to combining it with a latte, a Frappuccino, whatever super beaten mocha,” said Dr. Eric Goldberg, an associate professor of clinical medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. . These drinks tend to be high in calories and fat, he said, potentially denying or at least eliminating any benefit from the coffee itself.
This new study is the latest in a robust line of research showing the potential health benefits of coffee, he said. Previous research has linked coffee consumption to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver and prostate cancers, and other health problems.
Scientists don’t know exactly what makes coffee so beneficial, Dr. Goldberg said, but the answer may lie in its antioxidant properties, which can prevent or slow down cell damage. Coffee beans contain large amounts of antioxidants, said Beth Czerwony, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Human Nutrition Center in Ohio, which can help break free free radicals that cause damage to cells. Over time, the accumulation of free radicals can increase inflammation in the body, which can lead to plaque formation related to heart disease, he said, so dietitians recommend consuming foods and beverages rich in antioxidants.
There is also the possibility that coffee drinkers tend to make healthier decisions in general. They could opt for a cold infusion or a cup of dripping coffee instead of a less healthy source of caffeine, such as an energy drink or soft drink, Dr. Goldberg added. “If you’re spicy Mountain Dew or Coca-Cola or Red Bull or all those other drinks, they have tons more sugar, all artificial stuff, compared to coffee, which is usually unprocessed food.”