by Bob Holt

Created on: December 16, 2008

It seems like the debate about whether or not coffee is healthy for you has been going on forever, and it's time that I offered my own views on the situation. But I find that I am unable to form opinions, or even syllables for that matter, until after my third cup of coffee.

That's because everyone knows that a quick fix of coffee can keep us alert, sharpen our concentration, and improve our job performance. But we've also been told that caffeine is a drug. The proper way to use it is to learn how it affects our cognitive reasoning, and not allow ourselves to become too anxious, nervous, or wired. At that point we will find that too much caffeine can keep us alert, sharpen our concentration, improve our job performance, and cause us to repeat ourselves.

Most of the older population learned all about the drug experience from our experiences during the 1970s. We learned that it was really a blast, aside from the missing years we have from about 1974-1977.

But we grew out of that phase because it was unhealthy. We were maturing, and we had no time for addictions. We traded in our drugs for Folgers' Crystals. We were not baseball fans, but hung posters of Joe DiMaggio up in our bedrooms. As we got older we considered naming our first born son "Mr. Coffee". And now scientists are telling us that coffee is the cause of everything from heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer to eczema, seborrhea, and the heartbreak of psoriasis.

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to listen to that. Not that I have any prescription drug type need for coffee, but I've learned over the years that it provides drinkers with some of life's basic nutrients which everyone needs to start their day. Like a pulse and a personality. Pretty soon you'll have to ask your doctor whether Mocha Cappuccino is right for you.

Besides, today's working class has to deal with certain inconveniences which are foreign to modern researchers. Like shift work. Many times while working the midnight shift you will find that coffee is your only friend. At least when I used to do midnight work I had the common courtesy to wear a sign warning my co-workers: Do Not Irritate: Heavily Caffeinated.

Actually, the newer Mocha Cappuccino Frappucino Latte with steamed milk and whipped cream hold the caffeine type drinks are the ones which are bad for you. They are unhealthy because the guy behind you in line, usually me, wants a steaming twenty ounce cup of high octane, unleaded, fresh house blend mud, preferably extra strong.

That

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