Pickelsimer

Wilson Pickelsimer

Janie Hamrick 4/18/15 2:26 PM

Formatted: Left: 1", Right: 1"

Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
March 30, 2015
Coffee: The Forbidden Fruit
So there I was, knee deep in Urban Grind, a coffee shop in Atlanta, Georgia, savoring the
delicious aroma from a black forest latte. Lounging across a couch having a conversation with
two complete strangers about kayaking in Nepal. When one brought up the name of their
kayaking instructor, my ears perked up. I heard the name again and I said, I know that guy!
They asked how and I told them he was an old high school classmate. Thanks to one cup of
coffee, I met two people in one caf who went kayaking with my long time friend from Nepal.
These occurrences tend to happen often in coffee culture. Coffee attracts people from all around
the world and unites them to talk about what is on their minds and to enjoy one of the most
delicious and beneficial drinks for your body. Coffee is a liquid bridge that unites people from all
walks and provides their bodies with beneficial ingredients. In your introduction, it might be
beneficial to list the opposing views you are going to elaborate on; for example, Although many
say that coffee.... and then go on to state your contradiction to these claims, all very briefly.
Everyone grows up hearing the old mothers tale that coffee stunts your growth. People
have been brainwashed from day one with facts about how coffee is bad for the body. It seems
every generation wants the next separated further and further from the drink. These reservations
toward it may likely be based on personal experiences, because there is enough information
available through various recourses to believe otherwise. Coffee, some preparations more

Janie Hamrick 4/18/15 2:33 PM

Deleted: must have
Janie Hamrick 4/18/15 2:33 PM
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beneficial than others, can prove very helpful to the body and society. Consider combining some
of your shorter paragraphs together to make one flowing paragraph of a little longer length
Coffee is societys super drink. It is used in many households to fuel the population and
get them going in the morning and is used to keep the college students awake at night while they

Janie Hamrick 4/18/15 2:35 PM

Deleted: just about every

are writing their papers. Obviously, it is most commonly loved for its awakening affect. But,
those who drink it also benefit from the many antioxidants that linger in its bold taste. Coffee is
one of the most beneficial drinks in existence for the body and benefits society through its health
boosters, the conversation it provokes, and its industry that is in constant demand. I feel like this
statement is a thesis and should be in your intro.
In the argument of whether coffee is better or worse for the body, there are two main
sides. There is one side that believes that coffee is harmful to the body and whom do not support
its involvement in the everyday life. On the other side, there are the people that believe that
coffee is beneficial to your body and encourage the use of it for everyday life. But, they can only
encourage this to so many people because there are still people out there that do not like coffee
for its taste or that have not tried it before. For those people, reading this essay should convert
them.
Consider introducing the source before you quote themAbout eighty-three percent
of all Americans drink an average of 3 cups of coffee per day. And once you consider tea
and the various other drinks that contain caffeine, about ninety percent of the population
consumes a caffeinated beverage (Sagon). That is quite a large chunk of the population.
With that statistic in mind, how many people really know the affects that caffeine has on
the body? I feel like this paragraph stops right at the climax of what you were about to say,

Janie Hamrick 4/18/15 2:37 PM

Formatted: Normal

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instead of starting a new paragraph to finish your point, perhaps combine them to make it
flow.
Research has proven that coffee can reduce our risk of stroke, dementia, and Parkinsons
disease. It has also been proven that it increases our concentration levels and ability to
remember. Coffee has this ability because it is considered a seed. Seeds are known to contain
protective elements. Coffee contains (what does it contain?) that helps prevent these diseases
because of their seed categorization. But, since they also have caffeine, they provide all of the
benefits that caffeine provides as well. Caffeine is known the reduce ones risk of Alzheimers
disease, and people who consume it are four to eight times less likely to develop Parkinsons
disease (Sagon). Coffee contains antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in brain tissue, linking
it to being a possible preventer of Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease (Taylor). A 2009 study
done by the University of Florida proved that caffeine reduces the risk of developing
Alzheimers and dementia in your seventies by up to seventy percent. Harvards School of
Public Health conducted a study in 2013 finding that drinking coffee reduces ones risk of
suicide by forty-five percent. Consuming the caffeine in coffee tends to result in a rush and eases
ones mind. Coffee reduces ones risk of oral cancers by half. A US study in 2009 and a Swedish
study in 2011 found that women who drink more than a cup off coffee a day reduce their risk of
stroke by twenty to twenty-five percent. Sweden did a study in 2008 that had similar results for
men. The National Cancer Institute and AARP collaborated for a study consisting of four
hundred thousand men and women ages fifty to seventy-one, and followed them throughout ten
years. This resulted in finding that people who regularly drink coffee are at less risk of death than
the non-drinkers. They found they were less susceptible to heart disease, respiratory disease,
stroke, accidents, and diabetes. Research has shown that coffee can also help protect against

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uterine, colon, prostate, and liver cancers. A study proved that coffee could help prevent typetwo diabetes (Sagon). Perhaps you could break up all the facts from research in this paragraph so
the reader isnt overwhelmed with statistics
Coffee is one of the main fuels behind athletes. Some of the most popular ergogenic, or
performance-enhancing, aids among endurance athletes include caffeine, antioxidants, and
carbohydrates (Taylor). Caffeine has proved to increase respiratory efficiency and increase
endurance while reducing leg muscle pain during endurance (Taylor). In the cases of exercise
and all around alertness, the awakening effect of caffeine can be a large benefit. Caffeine is so
efficient that it is recognized as a performance-enhancing drug by the International Olympic
Committee (Weinberg). Research shows a relationship between high coffee consumption and
reduced weight gain (Taylor). Caffeine helps the body release stored fat and raises the metabolic
rate, resulted in possible weight loss (Weinberg). Drinking coffee puts you at a lower risk for
symptomatic gallstone disease, one of the most common digestive-related causes for
hospitalization (Taylor). Lots of facts which is great support for your point but a feels a little bit
like a list rather than a flowing essay
Coffee plays a major role in many cultures. Cafes have the ability to influence society in
great ways. A group of Vietnam and Afghanistan war veterans founded a coffee shop named
Coffee Strong. Coffee Strong is located just down the road from a military facility in Tacoma,
Washington. The shop offers soldiers, veterans, and members of military families a venue in
which to openly discuss politics, combat experiences, and the impact of war.who are you
quoting? Coffee strong also offers counseling for the many post-war struggles such as post
traumatic stress disorder. Coffee Strong was opened to raise awareness and support the veterans

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in need. Coffee Strong screen-prints t-shirts to assist financially and to raise awareness (Gilman).
Coffee is not only beneficial to the body, but to society as well. Coffee provides a reliable
foundation for a business and is in constant demand. Coffee provides a reason to gather and a
reason to socialize.
Although there are countless benefits to the bold beverage, there are a few significant
drawbacks. Caffeine is considered a drug, therefore can be highly addictive. Small doses are one
thing, but large doses can become problematic. Consumers begin to rely on it, and if the
consumers do not receive the amount they need, they may develop painful headaches and
drowsiness of the mind and body. Caffeine is a key cause of insomnia and increases anxiety.
Consumers rely on coffee to keep them awake during the day, drink too much of it, and cause
this cycle of insomnia to be endless. Although it helps prevent type-two diabetes, it raises blood
sugar levels and blood pressure. Coffee can negatively interact with certain medications such as
thyroid medications. A professor at Washington State University, Linda Massey, claims that
caffeine potentially leads to some spinal bone loss in postmenopausal women if they typically
drink more than three cups, or 300 mg of caffeine, a day, but don't get enough calcium in their
diet (Sagon). Coffee can definitely upset your stomach. Drinking coffee can sometimes worsen
acid reflux and heartburn, especially on an empty stomach. Coffee is not the drink for heartburn
because it is very acidic and irritates the gastrointestinal tract. As for acid reflux, it is not the best
drink either. The caffeine relaxes the sphincter muscle, which normally keeps stomach acid from
rising up the esophagus (Sagon).
Coffee also contains cholesterol. Cholesterol only appears in unfiltered coffee such as in
espresso and French press. Coffee brewed with a paper filter traps the cafestol, the element in

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coffee that is responsible for raising LDL cholesterol levels (Sagon). Low-density lipoprotein or
LDL is the unwanted form of cholesterol. Coffee that is boiled over a stovetop also contains
cafestol (Taylor). Therefore, the only preparation of coffee that can filter out cholesterol is
through the paper filter method.
Coffee is also considered a mild diuretic (Taylor). This could result in the obvious and
dehydration. Also, heavy caffeine intake can result in the urinary excretion of calcium, slightly
increasing ones risk of osteoporosis by decreased bone mineral density (Taylor). Coffees
relationship with bone loss can be counteracted with a daily dose of milk, restoring the calcium
lost by coffee (Weinberg). This can be done by simply consuming a glass of milk, or making a
latte or pouring milk into your coffee. The Finnish conducted a study and concluded that people
who drank four cups of coffee a day are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Caffeine is
also associated with chronic back pain (Weinberg).
Coffee is a beverage that contains antioxidants that help prevent against many diseases
such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. It fuels nations across the world and provides a reason for
gathering and socializing. Coffee is one of the most misunderstood drinks in existence. It all
boils down to knowing your limits. No matter what mothers tail you heard, coffee can be good
for you. But, it is up to you to find out the amount that is the most beneficial.

Wilson, I enjoyed this paper very much, my main advice would be to lengthen some of your
paragraphs as well as separate some of your facts with more personal experience or something to
make the paper flow a little better.

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Works Cited
Gilman, Lisa. Grounds for Resistance: Stories of War, Sacrifice, and Good Coffee. New
York, N.Y: Films Media Group, 2011. Web. 04 March. 2015.
Sagon, Candy. "Caffeine for Your Health Too Good to Be True?" AARP. AARP, 30
Oct. 2013. Web. 04 March. 2015.
Taylor, Sarah R, and Barbara Demmig-Adams. "To Sip or Not to Sip: the Potential
Health Risks and Benefits of Coffee Drinking." Nutrition & Food Science. 2007. Web. 04
March. 2015.
Weinberg, Linda. "Coffee Break Or Caffeine Fix? Pros And Cons Of Stimulating
Beverages. (Cover Story)." Environmental Nutrition 23.11. Academic
Search Premier. 2000. Web. 04 Mar. 2015.