As I was drinking my Starbucks coffee, I wondered to myself “Are there any benefits for me by drinking this cup of coffee?” This led me on a web search on google to find some interesting news about this jolting drink.
While searching the web, I came upon a website called WebMD. This site describes coffee like a wonderful new drug stating
“Want a drug that could lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and colon cancer? That could lift your mood and treat headaches? That could lower your risk of cavities?”
My thought. . .I need to drink more coffee.
Harvard researchers did an 18 year study on126,000 people and found that one to three cups of cafeinated coffee daily can reduce the risk of diabetes. They also found that men and women who drink six cups of coffee or more daily reduce their risk by 54% in men and 30% in women compared to non coffee drinkers. This news sounds good to avid coffee drinkers, but as with every new finding more research is needed. So lets not spend all our life savings on Starbucks.
Studies have even found that coffee can help damage caused by smoking and heavy drinking. It has been found that people who smoke and/or drink heavily and regularly drink large amounts of coffee have less heart disease and liver damage than people who do the same but do not regularly drink coffee.
There is also some amazing evidence that coffee can help in managing asthma and control asthma attacks when medication is unavailable. Coffee can also stop a headache (This one is true, I have experienced it myself), boost a person’s mood, and prevent cavaties (I drink a lot of coffee, but I still have to go to the dentist tomorrow to fix a cavity)
The TOP SECRET ingredient . . .
Drum roll please. . . . .
Caffeine
The higher caffeine content in coffee is to thank for some of coffe’s benefits.
"The evidence is very strong that regular coffee consumption reduces risk of Parkinson's disease and for that, it's directly related to caffeine," DePaulis tells WebMD. "In fact, Parkinson's drugs are now being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine based on this evidence."
Caffeine is the one who helps with asthma and headaches. The medicines used to treat asthma and headaches such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine.
Caffeine can also help in enhancing athletic endurance and performance.
“It's also caffeine -- and not coffee, per se -- that makes java a powerful aid in enhancing athletic endurance and performance, says physiologist and longtime coffee researcher Terry Graham, PhD, of the University of Guelph in Canada. So powerful, 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.”
Very interesting. . . .
Other benefits of coffee not having to do with Caffeine, the once controlled substance. . .
Coffee has a lot of antioxidants (like chocolate). One of these antioxidants is a group of compounds called quinines. These bad boys help increase insulin sensitivity which imporves the body’s response to insulin.
Also, a compound called trigonelline that gives coffee its wonderful aroma and bitter taste have antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties. These compounds help prevent dental cavities.
Caution!
Coffee is not for everyone. Its bolt of energy can leave people with increased nervousness, hand trembling, and rapid heartbeat. Coffee may also cause artery clogging and increased cholesterol levels.
On most helthy people, there are no significant adverse side effects.
Caution should be put on pregnant women, hearth patients, and people at risk of osteoporosis. For people under these conditions, coffee should be limited or avoided altogether.
Here is more in depth information on the benefits of coffee.
ABC news on coffee benefits
Super cool link on coffee benefits
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