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Is It Good or Bad for Your Health? The Verdict on Coffee

It may improve mental focus, even aid disease prevention--but a lot depends on how much you drink and when (8 Photos)

Madelyn Fernstrom PhD CNS on Aug 20, 2010 at 2:47PM

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Is It Good or Bad for Your Health? The Verdict on Coffee

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Helpful or Harmful?

The health benefits of coffee have been well-documented by now: Its antioxidants (found in the coffee beans) and caffeine have been linked with improvements in mental focus, organ function, even disease prevention. But its not without its unpleasant side effects either, from jittery hands to an upset stomach. So do the potential benefits outweigh the downsides of drinking coffee? And, if so, how can you get the most from your morning joe without overdoing it? Our nutrition expert Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., CNS, analyzed the latest research to come up with some answers.

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