Coffee - The healthy Drink
Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." The fact is that coffee is probably the greatest source of antioxidants in the global diet. And while having lots of it isn't recommended for everyone, for some of us, it may just be the superfood of the century. Here are nine reasons to start the day with this healing drink.
1 - It may lower your risk of death
Coffee appears to lengthen the "when" for individuals with certain chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, according to a large 2012 study. In fact, the study found that the more coffee (three or more cups a day), the lower the risk of death regardless of whether participants drank caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. Findings were similar to another large study published in 2008.
2 - It helps make your reproductive systems happy
Guys, if you're looking for a drink to lower your risk of prostate cancer, and ladies lower your risk of endometrial cancer, then keep that coffee habit going! A 2011 study found that men consuming at least six or more cups a day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 20 percent! Another study published in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day had a 25 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer.
3 - It can help lower risk developing Type 2 diabetes
A 2012 study found that a compound in coffee actually helped to block a substance in the body called human islet amyloid polypeptide that may play a role in the development of diabetes. Further studies have demonstrated that caffeinated coffee consumption is linked to decreased diabetes risk as well.
4 - It helps protect your brain
Coffee drinkers are more likely to resist development of dementia and Alzheimer's later in life according to a 2009 study. Another study done on rats found that just the smell of coffee helped to reduce stress that was associated with loss of sleep. So, if you're smiling next time you roll out of bed and walk toward the coffee pot, there may be a reason why!
5 - It could help you recover after colon surgery
If you've ever had surgery, you know one big sign of recovery is the return of bowel function. One study found that coffee consumption helped to speed this recovery sign when compared to water drinkers.
6 - It's great for your skin
Drinking coffee may help you to ward off the most diagnosed form of skin cancer! A study in the journal Cancer Research that looked specifically at the caffeine in coffee demonstrated that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
7 - It may help to reduce your risk of oral cancer
Although studies on coffee consumption and decreased risk of cancer are limited, a recent large study found that individuals who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 50 percent lower risk of death from oral cancers in a 25-year time frame.
8 - It may help strengthen muscles and your DNA
A study in the journal Cell Metabolism found that caffeine actually had a similar effect to our DNA molecules in our muscles as exercise (now, this does not mean you can stop exercising). The study looked specifically at DNA changes of muscles in sedentary individuals and found that positive effects from coffee were similar to effects derived from exercise. The most interesting factor in the study was the fact that these positive changes were seen rather quickly.
9. Coffee may help fight depression
Start your day with a smile: A joint study from the National Institutes of Health and the AARP discovered that folks who quaffed four or more cups of java a day were 10 percent less likely to be depressed than someone who didn't drink coffee at all. Oddly, the same mental-health benefits didn't extend to other caffeinated beverages — particularly cola, which was linked to a higher risk of depression (perhaps because of the high sugar content). Therefore, researchers suggest coffee's "mood-lifting effect might be traced to its antioxidants,
Risk groups:
individuals that are pregnant or going through IVF treatments should avoid consumption of coffee. Additionally, individuals struggling with insomnia or depression should also limit coffee intake. Last but not least, keep the coffee cup out of your children's hands and let them experience the wonders of coffee when they get older.
Note: Above 1-8 quoted from an article by Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., L.D. in the Huffington post July 13 3013.
