Coffee Health - The Benefits of Coffee

Coffee Health....Millions of people drink coffee every day. But is coffee healthy? It seems too good to be true.

Every day we're bombarded with the risks of drinking coffee and consuming too much caffeine, not the benefits of coffee. Now a study has come from Harvard that is putting a positive health spin on coffee, rather than those negative claims we've been hearing for years.

Diabetes
Harvard's study analyzed data on 126,000 people... some of whom were followed up for more than 18 years. The study shows that drinking one to three cups of coffee on a daily basis reduces the risk of diabetes type 2 by a small percentage. If you drink four to six cups per day, a man's risk drops by 54%, while a woman's risk drops by 30%, compared to people who don't drink any coffee. A Dutch study has shown similar findings.

The benefits of coffee don't stop there. The truth is coffee is full of antioxidants. In fact, for most people in the US, it may be the largest source of antioxidants in their diet.

Among the antioxidants in coffee is a compound called quinine. Quinine increases the body's sensitivity to insulin. Along with other antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and tocopherols and minerals like magnesium (all of which are also found in coffee), quinine helps metabolize glucose as well.

Because the benefits of coffee for fighting diabetes does not rely on caffeine, even those who drink decaffeinated coffee are getting some benefits... although it is only half of what those drinking fully caffeinated coffee are getting.

Parkinson's Disease
Coffee health extends to Parkinson's Disease. There have also been at least six studies that have shown that those who drink coffee regularly are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's Disease than non-coffee drinkers. Studies have shown that caffeine helps Parkinson's, and new treatments are being developed based on caffeine.

How can drinking coffee do this? Caffeine increases the production of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine helps us feel good and get motivated. Parkinson's Disease causes the cells that make dopamine to stop production.

Studies are showing that it is possible that coffee may be protecting these cells, thus lowering the incidence of Parkinson's. Studies have also shown that this protection extends in far greater amounts to men than to women, and researchers suggest that estrogen may interfere with the protection that coffee offers. Studies with postmenopausal women who are not taking estrogen supplements are showing a similar amount of protection that men are getting, while women who are taking supplements are showing no benefit against Parkinson's.

Dental Health
Coffee health extends to dental health. An Italian study identified a compound called trigonelline that gives coffee that famous bitter taste and aroma. Trigonelline antibacterial and anti-adhesive qualities are now being shown to help prevent cavities like tea. These qualities slow down the growth of plaque and its ability to stick to teeth.

Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
Coffee health extends to Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. In some people, drinking coffee can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether this is because coffee rids the blood of excess lipids or if it is because coffee is a stimulant. It is being considered that it may be due to the antioxidant content of coffee that is reducing inflammation in the body... like cardiovascular disease.

When you drink coffee daily, studies from the United States, Japan and Europe suggest the risk of cirrhosis of the liver drops by 80%. Coffee controls liver enzyme activity. A high level of activity shows that there has been deterioration in the functioning of liver cells and needs more help to perform its job.

It is also suggested that coffee can lower the risk of liver cancer, as well as oral, esophageal and pharyngeal cancers. Other studies have shown that two cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25%. It is thought that these anti-inflammatory qualities may be contributing to the cancer-fighting qualities of coffee. Recent studies confirming this have been published in The Archives of Internal Medicine.

Other Benefits
The risk of gallstones drops by 50% compared to non-coffee drinkers. Gall bladder disease was not checked in those who drank decaffeinated coffee.

Still other research has shown more benefits. Coffee may offset the problems caused by other bad habits, like smoking. Those who smoke and drink a lot of coffee have less heart disease and less liver problems than those who smoke and don't drink coffee. Some also believe that coffee can change moods, control asthma and can cure headaches.

Coffee has been used to control asthma in Scotland since 1859. Italian studies have confirmed its benefits, and report that asthma sufferers who drink three cups a day reduced their attacks by 28%.

It has been known for sometime that caffeine helps headaches... many over the counter remedies like Excedrin contain large doses of caffeine. Some research has shown that taking these over the counter headache remedies with coffee will increase their effectiveness on migraines and other headaches.

Coffee health even extends to nutrition. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that a typical serving of coffee contained more antioxidants than a typical serving of grape juice, raspberries, blueberries, or oranges.

Cautions
While the benefits of coffee work great for some people, other people are very sensitive to caffeine and must use caution. Some people may experience a rapid heartbeat, trembling hands, increased blood pressure or nervousness after consuming large amounts of coffee. Some may also experience higher cholesterol levels.

So, it would seem that coffee is healthy after all. The benefits of coffee are being discovered every day. Long may coffee health reign!