When it comes to life's necessities, many of us would say a good cup of
coffee ranks pretty darned high – right up there with
shelter, friends, and comfortable shoes. But
there's more to love about your morning java than its alluring aroma or
friendly
kick. Once maligned (too much caffeine! the
devil's brew!), coffee is now being praised as a kind of health food,
thanks to
its high level of disease-fighting
antioxidants and other nutrients. In fact, the coffee bean's roasting
process actually
intensifies some of these compounds, making
them more powerful. The bottom line? As long as you don't overdo it –
stick to
no more than two or three cups a day, and
watch the calories in those fancy lattes – there's no reason not to
indulge. Here
are some of the ways coffee can make you feel
better and even live longer – plus tasty ways to enjoy your joe.
What Coffee Can Do For You
1. Fight cancer.
Recent studies suggest regular coffee drinking can reduce the risk of
breast, liver, and colon cancer. In some cases, you
don't even have to drink coffee to gain the
benefits: Lotions containing caffeine from coffee and green tea have
been found
to prevent skin cancer.
2. Prevent diabetes.
An 11-year study of 28,000 women in Iowa found that regular coffee
drinkers had less risk of developing type 2 diabetes than
non-drinkers. Heavy coffee drinkers (6 or
more cups a day) are about half as likely to have diabetes as light
coffee drinkers
or those who don't drink coffee at all.
3. Help your heart.
In a huge study that followed nearly 42,000 postmenopausal women for 15
years, researchers found that regular coffee consumption
reduced the risk of heart disease. In another
study that tracked 129,000 men and women for 20 years, those who drank
several
cups of coffee a day were 34 percent less
likely to die from heart disease than non-coffee drinkers. Experts say
coffee's
antioxidants helps fight inflammation, a
major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
4. Protect against Parkinson's. Several studies show regular coffee drinkers are up to 80 percent less likely to develop the disease, compared to those who
abstain. The more you drink, the lower your risk, some of those studies say.
5. Boost your mood.
Feeling a little blue? A steaming cuppa joe could make you smile.
Caffeine stimulates the production of dopamine, a brain
chemical related to pleasure and motivation.
Just take care not to overdo it – too much caffeine can cause anxiety
and sleeplessness.
6. Zap a headache. While it's
true coffee can trigger headaches in some people, it can also be a
short-term cure for others. Researchers at
the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago found
that 200 milligrams of caffeine – about the amount in a cup of coffee –
provided
as much pain relief as 400 milligrams of
ibuprofen and worked faster than the medication.
7. Fight cavities. Your morning mocha just may improve your smile. Scientists say coffee made from roasted coffee beans contains antibacterial
properties, plus molecules that keep cavity-causing microorganisms from sticking to tooth enamel.
8. Keep you sharp. Caffeine revs up your metabolism, helping you stay focused and alert. Studies have also shown the stimulant improves short-term
memory and may help protect against Alzheimer's disease.
Of
course, there are people who have health conditions that may be
aggravated by caffeine or other substances in coffee. Coffee
can increase heart rate and blood pressure,
and, although the advice to avoid coffee during pregnancy is being
debated, most
health care professionals are still
recommending that pregnant women avoid or limit coffee consumption.
Consult a physician
or a dietitian if you have questions about
coffee intake and your health.
Source:
http://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-diet/health-benefits-coffee-10000001927541/
