The last 25 years has seen the growth of a cottage industry in the study of the health effects of drinking coffee. And no wonder - over 400 million cups a day are consumed throughout the world. But for decades health workers warned that the habit might be unsafe. Recent studies show the opposite is more likely to be the case.
One believed culprit in coffee ? caffeine - considered an unhealthy stimulus because it causes a raise in heart rate and blood pressure. Now it is understood that there is really no dramatic affect and any affect it does have is very brief.
Continued research has discovered that not only is moderate coffee consumption not a health risk, there are some benefits.
Large amounts of coffee are believed to have a healthy affect on your colon, possibly lowering your risk of cancer. But this benefit requires that you drink over 4 cups daily which could be a bit excessive.
But other benefits accrue even at moderate levels of coffee drinking.
Recent medical studies have produced much information on the benefits of antioxidants, and these are found in great quantity in coffee. In fact there are more antioxidants found in coffee than in tomatoes and cranberries. Antioxidants are beneficial because they cleanse the blood of harmful cells that can deplete the bloods oxygen and make a person more susceptible to certain types of cancer and heart disease.
Parkinson's disease is one of the most debilitating and heartrending diseases around. Certain studies indicate the possibility that in addition to contributing to awareness of mind coffee also helps lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's sufferers.
American and Scandinavian studies both suggest that decaf and regular coffee help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. Good news for the Scandinavians who have the highest per capita consumption in the world.
The caffeine in coffee also assists the digestive process by producing more acid in the stomach. This results in a decreased possibility of gall and kidney stones and makes for better digestion overall.
Theophylline, a bronchodilator is of great benefit to those who suffer from asthma. This property of coffee helps open the air passages and easier breathing.
However, as with anything with the positive affects come the negatives.
Though mammalian sperm swim faster, longer and farther in fluids laced with coffee some studies link heavy coffee drinking with reduced fertility.
Increased coffee consumption has been associated with higher blood levels of homocysteine, recently shown to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Other studies show an increase in LDL-cholesterol (the 'harmful' kind). To what degree these factors actually contribute to heart attacks is a matter of debate.
One believed culprit in coffee ? caffeine - considered an unhealthy stimulus because it causes a raise in heart rate and blood pressure. Now it is understood that there is really no dramatic affect and any affect it does have is very brief.
Continued research has discovered that not only is moderate coffee consumption not a health risk, there are some benefits.
Large amounts of coffee are believed to have a healthy affect on your colon, possibly lowering your risk of cancer. But this benefit requires that you drink over 4 cups daily which could be a bit excessive.
But other benefits accrue even at moderate levels of coffee drinking.
Recent medical studies have produced much information on the benefits of antioxidants, and these are found in great quantity in coffee. In fact there are more antioxidants found in coffee than in tomatoes and cranberries. Antioxidants are beneficial because they cleanse the blood of harmful cells that can deplete the bloods oxygen and make a person more susceptible to certain types of cancer and heart disease.
Parkinson's disease is one of the most debilitating and heartrending diseases around. Certain studies indicate the possibility that in addition to contributing to awareness of mind coffee also helps lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's sufferers.
American and Scandinavian studies both suggest that decaf and regular coffee help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. Good news for the Scandinavians who have the highest per capita consumption in the world.
The caffeine in coffee also assists the digestive process by producing more acid in the stomach. This results in a decreased possibility of gall and kidney stones and makes for better digestion overall.
Theophylline, a bronchodilator is of great benefit to those who suffer from asthma. This property of coffee helps open the air passages and easier breathing.
However, as with anything with the positive affects come the negatives.
Though mammalian sperm swim faster, longer and farther in fluids laced with coffee some studies link heavy coffee drinking with reduced fertility.
Increased coffee consumption has been associated with higher blood levels of homocysteine, recently shown to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Other studies show an increase in LDL-cholesterol (the 'harmful' kind). To what degree these factors actually contribute to heart attacks is a matter of debate.
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Would you like to drink your morning java out of a personalized coffee cup? Or perhaps you're looking for one as a gift? Learn all about them on the Coffee Poet website at http://www.coffeepoet.com
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