I have heard the calcium thing too, but being that caffeine has recently even been shown to help in a myriad of other ways, enjoying some isn't going to harm you at all, especially if you consume calcium in your diet or supplements, and consume this apart from coffee/caffeine indulgence.
Found the headline on CNN
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Primatrition/tb/1619
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29-Coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet-not because it is especially high in antioxidants, but because Americans drink so much of it.
In addition to a morning jolt, coffee gives the average American almost 1,300 mg daily of antioxidants in the form of polyphenols, substances found in plants that may be more important than vitamins C and E when it comes to preventing disease, said Joe Vinson, Ph.D., of the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pa.
Coffee far outstrips the second and third dietary sources of polyphenols in the United States: black tea (294 mg) and bananas (76 mg), Dr. Vinson reported at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society here on Sunday.
Dr. Vinson and colleagues analyzed the polyphenol content of more than 100 different foods and beverages, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, and oils. In addition to absolute polyphenol content, however, the researchers also considered the amount of each food the average American consumed daily. Data on U.S. per-capita consumption of these foods was obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The remaining items in the top ten dietary sources of polyphenols included dry beans (72 mg/day), corn (48 mg/day), red wine (44 mg/day), beer (42 mg/day), apples (39 mg/day), tomatoes (32 mg/day), and potatoes (28 mg/day).
Does this mean people should drink more coffee instead of eating their fruits and vegetables?
No, Dr. Vinson said. "Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fiber," he said.
Fruits such as dates, cranberries, and red grapes have some of the highest concentrations of antioxidants per serving sized, he noted. However, these foods are consumed less frequently by Americans than coffee.
Although some studies have linked coffee to potential health benefits, such as protection against liver and colon cancer, other studies have tied it to high blood pressure and elevated heart rates, Dr. Vinson said. Therefore, he recommends moderation when it comes to coffee drinking.
"One or two cups a day appears to be beneficial," he concluded.
~SC~