We love our coffee and it has become an integral part of our lives. What is better than a cup of warm coffee to start the day? Its rich aroma and taste are very provocative to the sensory faculties. As per World Resources Institutes approximation, the typical American drinks 3330 ounces of coffee per year. That is approximately 416 cups of 8 ounce coffee annually! A number of scientific studies have been performed to discover the beneficial and harmful effects of coffee. Some studies relate the consumption of this drink to a variety of diseases. On the other hand other researches also showed the coffee is far healthier than we perceive it to be. Whether coffee is detrimental or best for a person's health is a hotly debated topic.
Let us begin with the purported benefits of this popular drink. Researches have indicated that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. Frequencies of certain cancers are also relatively lower among coffee drinkers in contrast to non-drinkers. Coffee contains high quantities of antioxidants, nutrients, and minerals. This drink's strong antioxidant ability may be the cause of reducing the likelihood of developing liver cirrhosis, breast, colon, and prostate cancer up o 50%. These antioxidants prevent cell and tissue damage that are brought about by oxygen-free radicals. The minerals magnesium and chromium for example are vital in the in the proper use of the blood sugar controlling hormone, insulin. Because insulin is responsible in the effective regulation of the blood, inefficient production or utilization of this hormone in the body contributes to diabetes. Another compound found in coffee that helps prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes is chlorogenic acid.
Caffeine is responsible for the diminished risk of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. Researchers are still doing experiments to determine the exact role of and biochemical pathways taken by caffeine in preventing the said diseases. International studies indicated that regular coffee drinkers had 65% lower chance of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease than non-drinkers and occasional drinkers.
Sleeping disturbance, osteoporosis, addiction, increased risk of heart diseases, dehydration, and heartburn are coffee consumption's common harmful effects. Most of these conditions can be attributed to the excessive intake of the addictive compound found in it, caffeine. Caffeine is a powerful diuretic, increases heartbeat, constricts blood vessels, and overstimulates the central nervous system. It also stimulates the manufacture of the stress hormone, cortisol. Elevated amounts of cortisol lead to insomnia and tension. Coffee is also closely associated to magnesium and calcium loss leading to osteoporosis. It is also a highly acidic drink which degrades the intestinal lining to some extent. An excessive amount of acid relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter causing heartburn. Moreover, studies have shown that caffeine has detrimental effects on fetuses. Drinking 8 or more cups of coffee weekly adds to the possibility of miscarriage among pregnant women to up to 59%.
The researches concerning the beneficial and harmful effects of coffee are somewhat equivocal. One study may claim one thing while the other contests it. It is all up to you to weigh in on the facts. But one thing is for sure, you must follow the law of balance and moderation: take everything in moderation as too much of anything is does more harm than good. And how moderate is moderate? They say consuming 2 cups of 8 ounce coffee per day is moderate enough.
Let us begin with the purported benefits of this popular drink. Researches have indicated that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. Frequencies of certain cancers are also relatively lower among coffee drinkers in contrast to non-drinkers. Coffee contains high quantities of antioxidants, nutrients, and minerals. This drink's strong antioxidant ability may be the cause of reducing the likelihood of developing liver cirrhosis, breast, colon, and prostate cancer up o 50%. These antioxidants prevent cell and tissue damage that are brought about by oxygen-free radicals. The minerals magnesium and chromium for example are vital in the in the proper use of the blood sugar controlling hormone, insulin. Because insulin is responsible in the effective regulation of the blood, inefficient production or utilization of this hormone in the body contributes to diabetes. Another compound found in coffee that helps prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes is chlorogenic acid.
Caffeine is responsible for the diminished risk of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. Researchers are still doing experiments to determine the exact role of and biochemical pathways taken by caffeine in preventing the said diseases. International studies indicated that regular coffee drinkers had 65% lower chance of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease than non-drinkers and occasional drinkers.
Sleeping disturbance, osteoporosis, addiction, increased risk of heart diseases, dehydration, and heartburn are coffee consumption's common harmful effects. Most of these conditions can be attributed to the excessive intake of the addictive compound found in it, caffeine. Caffeine is a powerful diuretic, increases heartbeat, constricts blood vessels, and overstimulates the central nervous system. It also stimulates the manufacture of the stress hormone, cortisol. Elevated amounts of cortisol lead to insomnia and tension. Coffee is also closely associated to magnesium and calcium loss leading to osteoporosis. It is also a highly acidic drink which degrades the intestinal lining to some extent. An excessive amount of acid relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter causing heartburn. Moreover, studies have shown that caffeine has detrimental effects on fetuses. Drinking 8 or more cups of coffee weekly adds to the possibility of miscarriage among pregnant women to up to 59%.
The researches concerning the beneficial and harmful effects of coffee are somewhat equivocal. One study may claim one thing while the other contests it. It is all up to you to weigh in on the facts. But one thing is for sure, you must follow the law of balance and moderation: take everything in moderation as too much of anything is does more harm than good. And how moderate is moderate? They say consuming 2 cups of 8 ounce coffee per day is moderate enough.
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If you are a coffee drinker, then you must know the beneficial and harmful effects of coffee. You need to weigh in on the facts and take it in moderation as too much of anything can be harmful.