Those who are familiar with my coffee drinking habits would not be surprised to see some country such as Brazil declare me "Man of the Year." I have never attempted to justify my indulgence, because I felt, and still feel, no need to. However, I will not pretend that I absorb it because I learned of some nutritional value which it possessed. I started drinking it; I liked it; and now I am hooked � not to the extent that I would have "withdrawal pains" without it, but I would certainly be uncomfortable for a while.

Searching for something else this morning, I ran across a short article, yellowed and brittle from age, which I had clipped from The Investor�s Business Daily. Although I neglected to preserve the date, it is, I reiterate, yellowed and brittle. The headline read, "COFFEE EACH DAY CAN KEEP GALLSTONES AWAY" and the subhead adds, "Study Says Java Drinkers Cut Risk For Developing Disease."

The writer, identified as Cynthia Drake, opens with the statement, "The millions of people who start the day with a cup of coffee may get more than just a morning pick-me-up. They also may get a boost to their long-term health." She refers to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, done by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, which indicated that "...men who drink coffee regularly may be at a lower risk of forming gallstones." I think it can be safely said that I drink coffee "regularly." In fact, as Minister Farrakhan has pointed out, I am not exactly an example of a "regular" or "normal" coffee drinker. The study was of some 46,000 men, ages 40 to 75, who drank two to three cups a day and had a 40 percent lower risk of developing gallstone disease than men who drank no coffee. Those who drank four cups a day had a 45 percent lower risk.

Various reasons are given as to the possible reason for this positive action of coffee, but, admittedly, they are just guesses. Although gallstones are more common in women, no explanation was given for only doing the experiment with men. Strange among the findings was the fact that "Tea, decaffeinated coffee and low-calorie forms of caffeinated soft drinks didn�t lower patients� risk. Researchers speculate that�s due to the low amount of caffeine in those drinks."

So, it appears that caffeine, the former villain, now becomes the hero!

Robert Nelson, president of the National Coffee Association, exulted, "Decades of research and centuries of human consumption have confirmed the safety of coffee. For the 113 million Americans who drink coffee every day, that�s outstanding news."

However, the article closes with a warning, to wit: "Some researchers believe drinking coffee can heighten the risk of stroke in men with high blood pressure."

Moderation is the key!