Free Republic

As a nutritionist, I enjoy coffee for more than its aroma and morning lift. Recent research highlights that coffee, when taken strategically, can slow biological aging, protect the heart, reduce diabetes risk, and even support gut health. Here’s the crucial factor: Benefits largely depend on how you drink it and the type you choose. More Than a Pick-Me-Up Most people reach for coffee as a way to ease into the day, however, science now confirms that coffee’s reach extends far beyond boosting alertness. Regular coffee drinkers—by applying particular restraints—can lower the risk of disease. A recent National Health study on...

"Next time, I'm going to kill them," she said. "Don't come back. Don't come back to my house." A Los Angeles mother — on the road and speaking on the phone with her mother, who suddenly started screaming in fear — raced home and rammed a car being used by burglars, video of dramatic confrontation showed. The woman had just gone out to grab coffee at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday and was on the phone with her mother when two masked burglars appeared outside the back sliding door of their house in Sherman Oaks, the family said. "My mom is...

A decade-long study of older women found that tea drinkers had slightly stronger bones, while moderate coffee drinking caused no harm. Heavy coffee intake—over five cups a day—was linked to lower bone density, especially in women who consumed more alcohol. Tea’s benefits may stem from catechins that support bone formation. The researchers say small daily habits could make a meaningful difference over time. Share: FULL STORY Tea May Strengthen Bones in Older Women Tea showed a gentle positive effect on bone strength, while excessive coffee appeared to weaken it. Moderate coffee is fine, but a daily cup of tea may...

Coffee is beloved for its caffeine kick and flavor, but it also helps reduce risks from chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease thanks to high levels of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds. However, along with its nutty flavor and comforting aroma, researchers have found traces of potentially cancer-causing roasting byproducts, mycotoxins from mold, cholesterol-raising compounds, and even pesticide residues that can linger from farm to mug.The good news is that the choices you make, from the type of coffee you buy to how you store, prepare, and drink it, can reduce these and other unwanted compounds...

Drinking a maximum of 3–4 cups of coffee a day may slow the "biological" aging of people with severe mental illness, by lengthening their telomeres—indicators of cellular aging—and giving them the equivalent of 5 extra biological years, compared with non-coffee drinkers, finds research. But no such effects were observed beyond this quota. Telomeres sit at the end of chromosomes and perform a role similar to the plastic tips on the end of shoelaces. Telomeres are sensitive to environmental factors, including, possibly, diet. They included 436 adult participants from the Norwegian Thematically Organized Psychosis (TOP) study, recruited between 2007 and 2018:...

With Nick Bosa’s on-field career on pause as he recovers from an ACL tear, the defensive lineman has found a new calling as of late: coffee influencer. Since Nov. 8, the 49ers star has posted videos on TikTok of his journey in learning how to make the best possible (read: most expensive) homemade espresso drinks. Each post follows a similar aesthetic-heavy style, showing each step of the process, from spraying the beans to reducing static electricity to tasting the espresso and, of course, attempting to create the perfect heart shape with the milk. The account is named @bosabearbrew and has...

New research suggests that drinking coffee may actually help protect against atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too quickly and irregularly, sometimes leading to stroke or heart failure. For years, doctors have advised people with AFib and other heart issues to stay away from caffeine, fearing it could worsen symptoms. But a new study from UC San Francisco and the University of Adelaide has found the opposite: participants who drank one cup of caffeinated coffee a day had a 39% lower risk of developing AFib. Why Coffee May Help the Heart"Coffee increases...

VIDEOS AT LINK........... The world's most expensive coffee comes from the rear end of a small mammal from South Asia known as an Asian common palm civet. To better understand what makes the brew so special, researchers from Central University of Kerala in India led a study into the chemistry behind the prized blend, confirming what many coffee connoisseurs suspected. In the wild, this small mammal (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) will eat coffee cherries of its own accord and poop out the undigested beans. Over a century ago, some daring – or perhaps even desperate – person discovered that these could be...

SAO PAULO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Brazilian deforestation linked to coffee crops hit 737,000 hectares (1.8 million acres) between 2002 and 2023, according to a report on Wednesday that warned negative environmental impacts from forest loss could affect the country's coffee industry. Direct deforestation - where land was cleared to grow coffee - led to some 312,803 hectares being torn down over the period, Coffee Watch said in its report, adding that the rest came from additional forest loss on coffee farms.

Is caffeine good or bad for your heart?There’s no doubt that caffeine can raise your blood pressure and heart rate.But consuming moderate amounts of caffeine daily also has been linked to supple arteries and reduced risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation.Now there’s more good heart health news for those of us who love our coffee, tea and cocoa…Caffeine and your blood vesselsVascular disease, damage of blood vessels and their resulting consequences — heart attack and stroke — are among the leading causes of death in the general population. These risks are even higher in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases...

Coffee prices have risen 20% since last year because of inflation and amid tariff disruptions to traditional supply lines, exemplifying a broader rise in grocery prices across the board. Key FactsCoffee prices have risen more than 20% since August last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Last month, prices for coffee futures reached a record high in the Intercontinental Exchange in New York after Brazil’s crop agency, Conab, cut its 2025 arabica production forecast by 4.9% to 35.2 million bags.In July, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 50% on Brazil and 20% on Vietnam, the two countries that together...

Dr Vatsya highlights the health benefits of black coffee, stating that it helps dissolve liver fat and improves overall health. Black coffee contains health benefits that can help dissolve liver fat. (Pexels) ================================================================ Coffee is an essential part of many people's daily morning routine. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), caffeine, chlorogenic acid (CGA), trigonelline, diterpenes, and melanoids are compounds in coffee known for their health benefits. However, it matters how you take your coffee to reap all its benefits. A cuppa with loads of added sweeteners or sugars and milk isn't the best choice. It is black...

Changes are brewing — and they could be a sign of a decline in living standards. Maxwell House recently announced it will be changing its name for the first time in 133 years, rebranding to “Maxwell Apartment.” While the coffee blend will remain the same with the same “taste, aroma, quality and ingredients,” the rebrand is in name only to represent the reality of today’s consumers. Nearly a third of Americans are now renting smaller places, rather than purchasing full-size homes — and the coffee giant wants to reflect that stat with its temporary rebrand. “Two-thirds of American adults drink...

Hundreds of Starbucks baristas across the country have been left without jobs, following the coffeehouse’s recently announced decision to close 1% of its stores — roughly 400, in total — in North America this month. The move to shutter these locations, according to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, is part of a larger $1 billion restructuring plan. The coffee chain will also be laying off 900 corporate employees as a result. “Each year, we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations. This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners...

United flight 1996 from Chicago O’Hare to San Juan was delayed three hours when the captain spilled coffee in the cockpit. The Airbus A321neo was already taxiing out when this happened, and had to return to the gate. That delayed the return flight from San Juan back to Chicago O’Hare by nearly three hours as well. Spilling much more than a little bit in the cockpit would certainly have cancelled the flight. Not only does the spill need to be cleaned, but whatever was spilled on needs to be inspected as well. Coffee is especially bad because it’s hot, acidic,...

For years if not decades, coffee lovers everywhere have been confused.While growing research has linked our favorite morning drink to numerous health benefits from reduced inflammation to lower risk of serious diseases, like cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, doctors have still warned against its high levels of caffeine.Why?Well, the theory has long been that the caffeine that gives your brain a jolt to get you started each morning might also give your heart a jolt that could cause rhythm problems, such as atrial fibrillation (AFib).So what’s a coffee lover to do?Well, rather than giving up your cup of joe, sit...

New research indicates that caffeine consumption is associated with subsequent increases in positive affect, and this association is strongest within the first 2.5 hours after awakening (i.e., in the morning).Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that is used by approximately 80% of the world’s population and consumed in a wide variety of forms, including beverages like coffee, tea, soda (e.g., coke), and energy drinks, but also in food items such as chocolate,” said Bielefeld University researcher Justin Hachenberger and his colleagues. “Positive expectations related to caffeine consumption include reduced tiredness and fatigue, enhanced cognitive and physical performance, and a...

Americans are not a healthy bunch, neither physically nor mentally. And we we getting sicker. We have an unnaturally high level of mental illness…We are addicted to medicines…We are killing ourselves in record numbers. Yet Americans often miss the strength of Europe because they rarely stray beyond its touristy city centres. Big city Europe is in the process of being smoothed into a generic, boring singular entity. This soulless Americanisation has accelerated dramatically over the last few decades, driven by globalisation, tourism and secular capitalism. The result is McEurope — a chain of big cities where chunks of each are...

Same drink, different year — and, hopefully, different result. That's Mark Thomas Lynn's approach to the relaunch of Afterdream, a cannabis drink, this year. His company — the premium spirits and beverage company AMASS Brands Group — originally released its THC-infused formulation in 2021, but they pulled it off the market after about nine months due to legal hurdles around where and how they could sell the drink. "Even though people were going crazy over the product, we were like, 'Oh my God, this is just too byzantine,'" he says. "The regulations, basically, hadn't caught up." After re-releasing Afterdream in...

As a macchiato devotee for many years, I have a few ideas on what a true version of the drink should be. It's one of those espresso drinks that's often misunderstood, even amongst Starbucks baristas. Depending on location, there's about a 50/50 chance of having to very politely request a re-do. The first thing to realize is that an authentic Italian macchiato consists of merely 2 espresso shots "marked" with a dash of frothy milk -- thus the name "macchiato," which means "marked" or "stained" in Italian. There's no caramel in the equation… But Starbucks has its own interpretations of...