Java junkies of the world, rejoice!

In yet another blow to the water-intoxicated (and likely brain-damaged) anti-caffeine crowd, a recent large-scale study reveals that regular daily coffee drinking can slash the risk of developing adult-onset (type 2) diabetes, a disease that has currently reached epidemic proportion as Americans become more obese with every passing year.

Now, if you've been a reader of mine for any length of time at all, you already know that a "cuppa Joe" can be powerful medicine for reducing the risk of both stroke and Parkinson's disease - and it also lessens muscle pain and soreness, even following strenuous exercise (take that, water-weenies!).

But this latest finding may be the biggest feather of all in coffee's cap. Reported in a recent issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, the results of a 12+year study of more than 125,000 people revealed that regular daily drinkers of real coffee (not decaffeinated) enjoyed a 30% (for women) to 50% (for men) reduction in diabetes risk.

These findings are even more impressive considering the data comprising the analysis was adjusted to compensate for other risk factors - like pre-existing obesity.

However, it might surprise you to learn that this isn't the first research to reveal this stunning correlation. A 17,000-
person Dutch study from several years ago came to almost the identical conclusion - that 7-cup-a-day coffee drinkers were half as likely as non-coffee-drinkers (or light coffee drinkers) to develop deadly type 2 diabetes.

The diabetes-preventative effects were much less (though at 25%, still significant) among those who drank decaffeinated coffee, and were nonexistent in tea drinkers. Though caffeine appears to be the primary source of benefits, the study's authors postulated that the potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants in all coffee - decaf or otherwise - might improve the body's response to insulin.

However it works, though - whether it's the caffeine, nutrients, or antioxidants that are responsible - it seems clear that regular coffee consumption is a major deterrent
to the development of diabetes. And that's great news, especially for those of us like me who've been die-hard (literally) java-holics for years. But I wonder how long
it'll be before we hear about it in the mainstream press…

The Annals of Internal Medicine isn't out on everyone's coffee table, you know.     

***********************************************
Philadelphia freedom (from soda-pop)

You know it's gotten bad out there in the mainstream when I'm more stunned by a piece of good news than bad.

Yet that's exactly the case as I sit down to write this Dose. Why? Because I'm so used to all levels of our government - Federal, state, and local - doing the exact
wrong thing for our health that I'm literally stupefied when they get something right. And they have, for once. In Philadelphia, considered the birthplace of American freedom (actually, our freedom was born on Lexington Green, in Massachusetts, but close enough, right?), they've banned the sale of soft drinks in public schools.

That's right - Philly-area youngsters (at least while in school) will no longer be able to buy those good-for-nothing, sugar-laden carbohydrate bombs that are a large part of the reason why they're all fat and getting fatter.

Instead, they'll have to settle for good 'ol milk, fruit juice (still sugary, but better than Dr. Pepper), and water.

Surprisingly, Philadelphia is actually the second major school district to adopt this eminently sensible and healthy policy. Who's the first? New York - which also banned vending machines with candy and sweets in its schools.

Dare I hope that this is the beginning of a trend that catches on nationwide? Are legislatures finally starting to see the correlation between sugary drinks (and snacks) and obesity, diabetes, dental cavities, behavioral issues, and more?

It wouldn't be a moment too soon.

Now if we could just get schools to stop troweling out the pizza, lasagna and other carb-packed, nutrition-less foods (and serving our kids healthy meats, eggs, nuts and fish instead), we'd really have something, wouldn't we? Someday, maybe.

Glad to be shocked and amazed,

 William Campbell Douglass II, MD