Coffee, Is It or Isn’t it Good for You

 

There has been plenty of debate about this -coffee is thought to be good for you and there are those who think that it is bad for you. We all know that too much of anything can be bad for you no matter how good it is. So when it comes to coffee, is it or isn’t it good for you? Well, for now the answer is YES, coffee is good for you!! And it can even increase your chances of living a long life – now this is fantastic news for coffee drinkers the world over!

According to a study published by JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), coffee can help improve longevity.

Researchers studied over half a million people in the United Kingdom and determined that coffee was indeed good for your health and not as bad as originally thought. There was a varying range in the number of cups drank per day for the individuals that were involved in the studies. Some drank as much as, 8 or more cups of coffee per day and others drank, as little as, a cup or less.

The research conducted concluded that those who drank two to three cups per day had a 12% chance of lowering the risk of death compared to those who didn’t drink any coffee (Erikka Loft field, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute). And a big plus is that it did not matter whether the coffee was decaffeinated or caffeinated, brewed or instant – either way the benefit was still there – increased longevity.

Antioxidants Present in Coffee

Coffee is rich in antioxidants and there are various antioxidants present in coffee. These antioxidants can help with losing weight preventing diabetes and some forms of cancer. Benefits of eating foods that are high in antioxidants is that these antioxidants help get rid of free radicals in the body.

For those who do not know, free radicals are responsible for creating diseases and causing damages to various parts of the body. The antioxidants present in beverages such as coffee help the body rid itself of free radicals by flushing it out of the bloodstream naturally.

Though there are negative thoughts and beliefs based on past studies conducted in relation to coffee and its impact on health, the benefits that the high levels of antioxidants found in coffee provide may prove it worth it.

Cafestol, is one of those antioxidants found in coffee. It moderates the acid in the intestine and helps in preventing inflammation in the brain.

Trigonelline is another antioxidant found in coffee, it degrades when the coffee is roasted into vitamin B3 otherwise known as niacin or nicotinic acid. This antioxidant helps prevent dental cavities and has proven to be at antibacterial compound.

Chlorogenic acid is abundant in roasted coffee as well as green coffee, it is a compound that is both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and it’s highly beneficial to the body and helps to maintain it in a healthy state.

 

 

Antioxidants in the form of phenols also found in coffee are highly beneficial in neutralizing free radicals and removing the negative impacts caused by oxidative stress.

These are just a few of the antioxidants present in coffee and their various benefits. With so many antioxidant benefits, coffee is definitely not something to shy away from, but to use in moderation.

 

 

Still Wondering, Is that Cup of Java Really Worth It?

There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee to help wake you up in the morning. For some, coffee is even a reason to get up in the morning and go to work. Whatever your reason; drinking coffee in moderation can prove highly beneficial. And if you want your morning cup of coffee to be even more so beneficial, be sure to buy organic coffee beans and grind them up yourself right before you make that cup. This provides you with all the natural and beneficial oils  that the coffee beans will release  once grounded. Also, grinding your own coffee beans provides you the satisfaction of knowing what is going into your cup. That is because pre-ground and instant coffee can sometimes contain filler ingredients that you may not want in your cup of coffee. Therefore, diminishing the quality, as well as, benefits that you get from your coffee.

When used appropriately, coffee can be very good for your system, it not only acts as a laxative, but it can also act as an energizer for your mind and body (albeit temporarily).

There are great benefits to drinking coffee. The biggest one being that it is an excellent source of antioxidants which aids your body in fending off disease.

The study published showed that non-coffee drinkers had shorter life spans in comparison to those who drank one and even up to eight cups of coffee a day.

Other Studies have shown that drinking coffee is great for improving moods and also reduces the risks for various diseases such as colon cancer and type 2 diabetes.

 

As with everything, moderation is the key. So with that in mind, take heed when it comes to excessive indulgence in regards to coffee drinking.  Worst case scenario, over-indulging in coffee can send someone to the hospital. So keep in mind that you are ingesting a stimulant due to the caffeine present in your coffee (unless you are drinking decaffeinated coffee which has very small amounts of caffeine). And do take heed to warnings signs from your body in response to too much caffeine.  Such signals can be a crazy array of symptoms like headaches, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, and the jitters.

I think when it comes to this you have to use your own personal judgment and if coffee is not good for your body and causes any health issues, then by all means, stay away from it. However, if you have no problems with coffee, then most certainly continue drinking it, but do so in moderation.

For all sinus sufferers out there, be sure to pace yourself when it comes to coffee as this can aggravate sinuses. However, if you are not suffering from sinusitis or any sinus issues, then there is no need to worry about enjoying that morning cup of java. After all, there is just something undeniably comforting about having a hot cup of coffee in the morning, especially for those who are always on the go.

Dealing with the Naysayers

So, there is no longer any need to shy away from your daily coffee fix, but I’m sure you won’t be hard-pressed to find those who beg to differ. Since a cup of coffee a day has been shown to increase your longevity, coffee lovers can now make a strong argument against those who may voice their disdain for coffee drinking. As long as you’re enjoying a cup of coffee with as little sugar as possible and little to no creamer, coffee can be highly beneficial and is quite okay to drink on a regular basis.

 

Summing It Up

This study has help to shed some light on the benefits of drinking coffee, but let’s be realistic, other factors come into play, like lifestyle choices in food, exercise, etc. Not to mention, external factors such as stress and other environmental factors. So if you enjoy that morning cup of brew go ahead and drink up! But do remember to do so responsibly that means no packing on the creamer or the sugar and drink in moderation!!!