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Posted on 05/15/2009 7:23:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Most people when asked about coffee will say ‘don’t drink too much, it’s not good for you’, ‘don’t drink it at night, it will keep you awake’. That might be true for a small minority, but for the majority of us there are many positive reasons why drinking a cup of coffee could well be doing us good.
Coffee is one of the drinks available to keep us alert and to keep the brain firing on all cylinders. There are other drinks that can provide caffeine, the compound responsible, but none offer the other health benefits of coffee.
In recent times there have been many scientific papers that have linked the consumption with reductions in chronic illness. A study in Japan indicated that two cups of coffee a day resulted in a 40% decrease in the chance of getting cirrhosis of the liver.
Research in Finland suggests that middle-aged adults who regularly drink a cup of coffee may have a lower risk of developing dementia later in life. There has even been a study that has shown that having a cup of coffee a day will reduce the chances of committing suicide by 13% per cup.
A healthy diet with good nutritional balance is well recognised as important in reducing the risk of many diseases. Our mind automatically turns to fruit and vegetables, never coffee. Yet, coffee contains chlorogenic acids and these have been shown to reduce the harmful effect of cholesterol. Research has also revealed coffee has beneficial effects in reducing some cancers, types of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.
Yet, like all good things, there is a limit. For most people, 400mg of caffeine is about the daily maximum and that equates to about four to five cups of coffee.
And that is not all. Coffee is a major international commodity with over five million tonnes produced annually across 50 plus countries. It makes a major contribution to the economy of many of those countries.
It’s time we all looked at coffee in a new light, time to offer coffee as a health drink.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/05/11/Research-suggests-coffee-may-be-beneficial/UPI-96091242097009/
Research suggests coffee may be beneficial
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 11 (UPI) -- Drinking coffee may be good for your health, U.S. researchers say.
Researchers say a cup of java might protect against diabetes, liver cancer, cirrhosis and Parkinson's disease, The Boston Globe reported Monday.
"Coffee was seen as very unhealthy," said Rob van Dam, a coffee researcher and epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Now we have a more balanced view. We're not telling people to drink it for health. But it is a good beverage choice."
Terry Graham, chair of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph in Canada noted that coffee and caffeine are not the same thing.
"Coffee is a complex beverage with hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive ingredients," he said. "A cup of coffee is 2 percent caffeine, 98 percent other stuff."
The newspaper said 20 studies worldwide show that coffee, both regular and decaf, lowers the risk for Type 2 diabetes by as much as 50 percent. Researchers say that is probably because chlorogenic acid, one of the many ingredients in coffee, slows uptake of sugar from the intestines.
As for heart disease and stroke, a study published in March in the journal Circulation looked at data on more than 83,000 women over age 24. The research showed that those who drank two to three cups of coffee a day had a 19 percent lower risk of stroke than those who drank almost no coffee.
A Finish study said the same about men drinking coffee.
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For me, it’s not the coffee that’s the problem. It’s all the cream, sugar and flavorings that I must add to it!
On the downside coffee is associated with migraines and the Dr suggested my wife stop the 4 cups a day.
I’ve cut back my caffeinated coffee intake significantly. I’m down to about two cups a day now, which feels pretty normal. Still have a few cups of decaf, though.
I love my coffee, even if my acid reflux doesn’t.
Can’t drink a full cup. Double heart beats that last all day.
My office is a very ugly place to work today, the coffee machine is broken.
From the article....400mg of caffeine is about the daily maximum and that equates to about four to five cups of coffee
I was off coffee for several months. I stocked up on 33 oz containers of Maxwell House Columbian Supreme before I quit. It would go on sale for less than $4 and I’d buy several and put them in the bunker.
I am back on coffee now and I was SHOCKED that the price for that coffee is now $12.99 a container.
What happened while I wasn’t looking????
Thanks. Since dropping weight and kicking tobacco, the only vice I have left is alcohol. Have been concentrating on keeping my liver healthy lately, though. I don’t want to have done all this healthy living just to end up having my liver go out before I at least reach the average human lifespan.
Coffee, like chocolate, comes from a bean.
Eat your vegetables!
Thought you might find this an interesting read ... ping.
That’s why I keep a bag of beans, a grinder, and a 1-cup drip maker in my desk drawer. Doesn’t get used much, but is envied when the company coffee maker is broken.
I worked for one employer who decided to charge us for coffee. I quit. I told them that was one reason. They offered me a 50% raise, i said screw it, if you are that cheap, why would I want to stay.
I do not monitor the coffee consumption, we have individual pods and a big selection. And yeah, we have nasty winters here in CT.
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