Much has been written lately about the positive health benefits of coffee, including some newly discovered positive effects showing that coffee can reduce neural disintegration. With all of this good press, it is easy to overlook that there are some downsides to drinking coffee.

Coffee has long been known to moderately increase the risk of osteoporosis in women by limiting the amount of calcium that is retained in the body. For women who do not normally take in the recommended daily amounts of calcium, doctors recommend adding a calcium supplement or decreasing coffee consumption.

The caffeine in coffee can increase blood pressure in those individuals who are prone to hypertension. While coffee is not a significant risk factor on its own, people with a history of high blood pressure should check with their physician regarding their coffee intake. Drinking decaffeinated coffee has not been shown to have any effect on blood pressure and is generally considered safe for everyone.

One of the most comments complaints about coffee is gastric distress, especially heartburn. Most coffees are very acidic and this can cause stomach problems and trigger heartburn in sensitive individuals.

Because caffeine is a diuretic, drinking coffee can contribute to dehydration if enough water is not taken in to counter the effects of the coffee.

For many of us, coffee is something we enjoy on a daily basis and most of us would not want to give it up. When making a decision whether or not coffee is bad for you, consider your individual health and lifestyle and how that will be affected by coffee.

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