According to an American report in 2004, if you
are looking for something that could lower your risk of contracting
diabetes, Parkinson's disease and colon cancer, plus something that
could lift your mood and treat headaches, and lower your risk of
having tooth cavities – you need look no further than your coffee
pot!*
Coffee, the much maligned and well loved beverage, is making
headlines for possibly cutting the risk of a number of diseases,
and the real good news seems to be that the more you drink, the
better.
After analysing data on 126,000 people in America over an 18
year period, Harvard researchers have calculated that drinking one
to three cups of fresh coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by
single digits. But amazingly it appears that having six cups or
more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30%!
Though the scientists give the customary "more research is
needed" before they recommend you do overdose on Cappuccino, their
findings are very similar to those of a less-publicized Dutch
study, and perhaps more importantly, it's the latest in a series of
hundreds of studies suggesting that coffee may be something of a
health food -- especially in higher amounts.
In recent decades, some 19,000 studies have been done examining
coffee's impact on health, and for the most part, their results are
very encouraging.
"Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful
than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist
at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies (which
conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from
around the world). "For most people, very little bad comes from
drinking it, and a lot of good."
At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a
regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's,
with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other
research shows that, compared to not drinking coffee at all, at
least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of
contracting colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and
nearly half the risk of having gallstones.
Coffee even offsets some of the damage caused by other vices,
some research indicates. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers
have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly
consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says
DePaulis.
There is also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma -
and even control the onset of attacks when medication is
unavailable. It can also stop a headache, boost your mood, and even
prevent teeth cavities.
Is it the caffeine? Is it the stack of antioxidants in coffee
beans, some of which become especially potent during the roasting
process? Or is it other mysterious properties that produce these
health giving effects?
Actually, the answer is ‘yes’ to all.
Some of coffee's reported benefits are a direct result of its
higher caffeine content: An eight ounce cup of drip-brewed coffee
contains about 85 mg -- about three and a half times more than the
same serving of tea or cola or one ounce of chocolate.
"The evidence is very strong that regular coffee consumption
reduces risk of Parkinson's disease and for that, it's directly
related to caffeine," says DePaulis, "in fact, Parkinson's
drugs are now being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine
based on this evidence."
Caffeine can also help in treating asthma and headaches. Though
not widely publicized, a single dose of ‘over the counter’ pain
reliever contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine – about the same
as in a large mug of Espresso.
Boost to Athleticism
It's also caffeine that aids athletic endurance and performance,
reports physiologist and longtime coffee researcher Terry Graham,
PhD, of the University of Guelph in Canada. Such an aid in fact
that, until recently, caffeine in coffee or other forms was deemed
a "controlled" substance by the Olympic Games Committee, meaning
that it could be consumed only in small, designated amounts by
competing athletes.
"What caffeine seems to do is stimulate the brain and nervous
system to do things differently", Dr Graham says, "that may include
telling your body to ignore fatigue and encourage extra units of
muscle for intense athletic performance. Caffeine may even have a
direct effect on muscles themselves, causing them to produce a
stronger contraction. But what's amazing about it is that unlike
some performance-enhancing manipulation some athletes do that are
specific for strength or sprinting or endurance, studies show that
caffeine positively enhances all of these things."
“Whilst as little as one cup a day can offer some health
benefit, the real impact comes from at least two or more”, says
Dr.Graham.
It should be remembered, however, that the harder you exercise,
the more benefit you may get from coffee. "Unfortunately, where you
see the enhancing effects from caffeine is in hard-working
athletes, who are able to work longer and somewhat harder," says
Graham, who has studied the effects of caffeine and coffee for
nearly two decades. "If you are a recreational athlete who is
working out to reduce weight or just to feel better, you're not
pushing yourself hard enough to get an athletic benefit from coffee
(or any other caffeine products)."
And what about young people with growing minds and bodies?
Coffee, as you probably know, makes you more alert and can assist
concentration. But claims that it improves a child's academic
performance can be exaggerated. Coffee-drinking youngsters may
perform better in school tests because they're more awake, but most
laboratory studies suggest that coffee doesn't really improve
mental performance.
But it may help childrens' minds in another way. According to Dr
DePaulis "There was recently a study in Brazil which found that
children who drink coffee with milk each day are less likely to
have depression than other children. In fact, no studies show that
coffee in reasonable amounts is in any way harmful to
children."
On the flip side, it's clear that coffee isn't for everyone. Its
legendary ‘hit’ - if taken in excess (more than whatever your
individual body can tolerate) - can increase nervousness, produce
hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Whilst too much coffee
may also raise cholesterol levels in some people and even
contribute to artery clogging, most recent studies show no
significant adverse effects on healthy people. Pregnant women,
heart patients, and those at risk for osteoporosis may still be
advised to limit or avoid coffee.
But you can get other benefits from coffee that have nothing to
do with caffeine. "Coffee is loaded with antioxidants, including a
group of compounds called quinines that, when administered to lab
rats, increases their insulin sensitivity" says Dr Graham. “This
increased sensitivity improves the body's response to insulin”.
This may explain why, in a new Harvard study, those people
drinking decaffeinated coffee also showed a reduced diabetes risk,
though it was only half as much as those drinking caffeinated
coffee.
"We don't know exactly why coffee is beneficial for diabetes,"
says another researcher - Dr. Frank Hu - "it is possible that both
caffeine and other compounds play important roles. Coffee has large
amounts of antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid and tocopherols,
plus minerals such as magnesium. All these components have been
shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism."
Meanwhile, Italian researchers credit another compound called
trigonelline, (which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste), for
having both antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties which may
help prevent dental cavities from forming.
In conclusion, therefore, it would appear that it is much better
for your health to drink freshly brewed coffee than not at
all.
(* This article is not meant as medical advice - please contact
your own health advisor for their opinions.)
Written by Fenton Wayne - (Fenton Wayne is an independent advisor
in the coffee and vending trade where he has over 25 years
experience. This article has been submitted to and distributed
by www.submityourarticle.com)