Coffee and Calcium Loss

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., Harvard Medical School, for MSN Health & Fitness

Q: For years I have read that drinking coffee may lead to calcium loss in the bones and worsen osteoporosis. Is this true?

A: Osteoporosis is a condition marked by reduced bone strength and an increased risk of fracture. Aging and, in women, the loss of estrogen during menopause are major risk factors.

Other risk factors include:

• Female gender (although osteoporosis is also common among men over the age of 70)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Low intake of calcium and vitamin D
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Taking a glucocorticoid (steroid) medication
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Prior low-impact fracture
• Low body weight (especially if it leads to loss of menstrual periods)
• An overactive thyroid (or taking too much thyroid medication)

Coffee intake is not considered a significant risk factor for osteoporosis. But there has been concern about coffee’s impact on bone strength because coffee can impair absorption of calcium from the digestive tract. This probably matters most when coffee intake is high (e.g., four or more cups of coffee daily) and calcium intake is low.

While many high quality research studies have not found that coffee consumption increases the risk of osteoporosis, a few have suggested otherwise. When a potential risk factor has a modest impact in some studies and no effect in others, it’s probably because the studies used different methods. At any rate, it’s likely that the impact (if any) of coffee on bone strength is small.

It’s tough to study the effect of coffee consumption on the risk of osteoporosis because one must rely on self-reported consumption and because coffee intake alters other risk factors. For example, people who smoke cigarettes also tend to drink lots of coffee; one might conclude that coffee intake increased osteoporosis risk in a particular group of people when it was really the smoking. Also, big coffee drinkers may drink less milk than people who don’t like coffee. In fact, several studies found that the possible negative effects of coffee consumption on bone strength were mostly limited to people with low calcium intake and that the problem could be overcome by increased calcium intake.

The bottom line
There are much more important risk factors for osteoporosis than coffee intake. So, enjoy your coffee and do what you can to modify the other well-established risk factors listed above.

Do you have a health question you'd like to ask Harvard Medical School's experts? Send an e-mail to experts@microsoft.com. Please include Ask Harvard in the subject line.

Our experts respond to one question each week and the responses are posted on Mondays on MSN Health. We regret that we cannot provide a personalized response to every submission.

Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. is associate physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. He has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 20 years at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

How To Pick The Best Coffee Maker For Your Needs

By Alice Morgan

Nearly every coffee lover would like to have the best coffee maker in their own home and office. For the serious coffee lover, even the RV must have a perfect machine. But different machines fit different people and different locations. For those interested in aesthetics, nearly any finish, color, and style of a machine can be found.

More pragmatic variations exist in coffee machines. You can get automatic coffee machines, espresso, French presses, vacuum, drip, pods, and stove top types. Additionally, nearly all of these machines can specialize in producing hot or cold brewed coffee. Many of these machines also do the coffee grinding for you.

There are hundreds of companies that have their brands on at least one type of machine. Among the most common types of makers are Sunbeam, Senseo, Saeco, Breville, Delonghi, and Jura.
In addition to coming in a variety of colors, these machines can be made of a variety of materials. Plastic, stainless steal, and glass are the most common materials composing coffee machines. The main material to be aware of is shatterproof glass. You want your carafe to be shatterproof glass.

If you have a giant kitchen or a large office coffee room, you will want to get a commercial type that can make twenty or more cups of coffee at one time. Many of these commercial machines will also include some very nice extra features such as a thermostat, warming plate, filter, timer, and frothing system. As you might guess, a machine with most of these features can be quite expensive. The main thing to remember is that the price can be adjusted downward by doing without various features. Some have found the price reasonable enough to buy one of these models for the home.

Which brings us to the closing concept of shopping within your budget among your options. If the machine doesn't make the kind of coffee you drink the most, you probably don't want to spend much money on it. For example, if you mostly drink cappuccino, how often will you really use the machine instead of an instant cappuccino or going to the coffee shop for cappuccino? Save up and shop for a good cappuccino maker in this case as you'll be much happier with it. You should always shop around until you can find the best coffee maker that makes the perfect coffee for you within your budget.

Are you looking for the Best Coffee Maker? Are you confused with what to look for? Read this article to find out more about choosing a coffee maker that is best for you:
http://EzineArticles.com/?id=945210

Alice Morgan is a coffee lover and currently runs a website to provide more information on different coffee makers around the world at http://www.bestcoffeemakers.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Morgan

McDonald's bringing on the baristas

The fast-food giant is taking on Starbucks by opening coffee bars in its restaurants nationwide. Wall Street likes the idea. Here's why.
By Kim Peterson

Would you like a cappuccino with your Big Mac? That might sound a little strange now, but McDonald's (MCD, news, msgs) is hoping its new specialty coffee bars boost sales and cut into Starbucks' (SBUX, news, msgs) business.

The fast-food giant plans to bring baristas and espresso machines to nearly 14,000 locations in the U.S. this year. Customers will be able to order lattes, mochas, ice-blended coffees and other specialty drinks.

It's all part of a company strategy to turn McDonald's from a grab-and-go fast-food chain into an order-and-stay restaurant where customers can surf the Internet and linger over coffee.

Better interiors on the way The company has rolled out wireless Internet at many locations. It's tried to make restaurants homier with more-welcoming lighting and music. The interior color schemes no longer look like a Happy Meal box.

"We began to realize . . . we could definitely sell coffee in this environment," a McDonald's executive told The Wall Street Journal.

But will customers bite? Or sip, in this case? Some store franchisees say their customers don't know what a latte is. According to the Journal, the company hopes specialty coffee sales will help add $1 billion in annual sales, which are currently at $21.6 billion.

• Talk back: Will you buy coffee drinks at McDonald's and linger longer?

McDonald's risks turning off customers who appreciate the burger-and-fries philosophy the company was founded on nearly 70 years ago. But if successful, the strategy could bring in new consumers -- perhaps the kind who willingly shell out $4 for a cappuccino at Starbucks.
McDonald's shares climbed slightly today on the news to close at $58.03.

Yet even as McDonald's goes upscale, Starbucks has begun reaching out to the on-the-go customer. The company has outfitted many locations with drive-through windows and sells to-go meals for breakfast and lunch.

Starbucks has more than 14,000 stores and opens an average of six new locations every day. But the company isn't seeing the kind of customer traffic growth it did in the past, and its stock price has fallen from $35 a year ago to $18.38 today.

• Read posts about Starbucks on the Top Stocks blog

Starbucks is undergoing its own corporate self-examination right now. The company said today it's replacing Chief Executive Jim Donald with Chairman Howard Schultz. It also plans to slow the rate of store openings and will even close some stores that aren't doing well.

Is there enough business for both?
Starbucks investors didn't seem too worried about a new McDonald's strategy: Shares of the coffee chain edged up slightly today.

That raises a key question. If McDonald's finds success with its new coffee drinks, will Starbucks be affected? Do the two companies have enough customers in common?

Right now, there are huge differences. Despite all its renovation attempts, McDonald's is no Starbucks. It's hard to imagine savoring a cappuccino and a book while a 2-year-old's birthday party is taking place across the room.

And Starbucks isn't McDonald's. When you have 15 minutes to grab lunch before returning to the office, Starbucks doesn't usually come to mind.

Who knows -- McDonalds' plan to introduce lattes to the masses might even help Starbucks. So the two companies can probably coexist as coffee purveyors just fine, without beating each other up in competition.

But if Starbucks starts selling cheeseburgers, that will be another story.

Kim Peterson is a freelance journalist who contributes frequently to MSN Money's Top Stocks blog.

Automatic Espresso Machines - Save Time and Money on Coffee

By Richard Balsley

Automatic espresso machines are undoubtedly a product of modern technology. These machines automate every process needed to make a cup of pure espresso, be it pumping, grinding, dosing or tamping. A fully automated machine also includes an integrated grinder, which will add the perfect shot each time for your coffee. These machines may be of a high price tag, but the features and easy usability of these machines makes it worth the price.

The main difference between semi automatic machines and fully automatic machines is that the pump works automatically, pumping the perfect amount of water each time, which is not so in semi automatic machines. In semi automatic machines, the grinding, dosing and tamping has to be done manually too.

If you have a special taste or you like to brew your own cup, then manual machines should definitely suit you. You control every process in these. You grind the beans yourself, you pump the water yourself, etc. Unlike in semi automatic and automatic machines, you can make the exact type of coffee you desire. These are recommended for personal use if you have a unique taste.

Automatic Espresso Machines are most commonly used in a barista, as the quality of coffee would not waver with each cup and a large quantity of cups can be filled with lightening speed. Semi automatic, on the other hand can be used in a home, where many cups of coffee are usually made once or twice a day. Manual machines are for people who like to make their special cup themselves and are thus prepared to work for it. What you choose should depend on your needs and likes. But one thing is for sure; all these machines have ensured that you get your refreshing cup of coffee made easily, periodically and specially.

Read more about automatic espresso machines at http://www.espressomachineinfo.com/automatic-espresso-machine/automatic-espresso-machine.php

Flavored Coffee - A Delight On The Palate

By Kay Milam

Flavored coffees are such fun! Butterscotch Toffee, Carmel Kiss, Chocolate Raspberry Cream, Chocolate Turtle, Cinnamon Toddy, just to name a delicious few. The art of flavoring coffee began centuries ago with cinnamon, cardamom and pepper. Since that auspicious beginning, flavorings have come a long way. Flavorings now include, almond, mango, pumpkin, hazelnut, peanut butter, and many more to numerous to mention. Flavored gourmet coffee is a highly popular drink enjoyed by people around the world.

After roasting is when most flavors are added and most flavors are in a liquid form. Usually coffee is flavored by weight, with a pound of coffee being flavored with half an ounce of flavor. Coffee can be enhanced with almost any flavor imaginable.

With modern technology the flavors may now be added directly to the coffee bean instead of being added after the grinding process.

Today’s coffee consumers can choose from a wide variety of flavored coffee with names like "Snickerdoodle," "French Hazelnut," "Jamaican Almond Fudge," "Irish Creme," "French Vanilla Creme," and "Peanut Butter Cup”.

Coffee brewers usually use Arabica coffee beans in making their flavored coffees. These beans are usually milder and more flavorful than other beans and have low levels of acidity and bitterness. Arabica coffee beans are the finest of beans and were the first to be cultivated.

Coffee flavors require more flavoring compounds than most food flavorings. Dozens and dozens of different compounds are needed to achieve some subtle flavors. A really fine flavor will mask some of the bitterness or acidity but will not override the taste of the coffee itself.

Serve up a delicious flavored gourmet coffee with tea cakes, chocolate fudge cake, vanilla cake, applesauce cake, orange cake, coconut cream cake, molasses cake…well, you get the idea. Flavored coffees are good anytime with anything.

Kay Milam --
Coffee Shop Canyon - Great Taste In Coffee
http://www.coffeeshopcanyon.com