Coffee
Coffee lovers around the world who reach for their favorite morning brew probably aren’t thinking about its health benefits or risks. And yet this beverage has been subject to a long history of debate. In 1991 coffee was included in a list of possible carcinogens by the World Health Organization. By 2016 it was exonerated, as research found that the beverage was not associated with an increased risk of cancer; on the contrary, there was a decreased risk of certain cancers among those who drink coffee regularly once smoking history was properly accounted for. Additional accumulating research suggests that when consumed in moderation, coffee can be considered a healthy beverage.
Read on to explore the complexities of coffee.
COMPOSITION OF COFFEE
Coffee contains a number of useful nutrients, including riboflavin (vitamin B-2), niacin (vitamin B-3), magnesium, potassium, and various phenolic compounds, or antioxidants. Some experts suggest that these and other ingredients in coffee can benefit the human body in various ways.
Types
Coffee beans are the seeds of a fruit called a coffee cherry. Coffee cherries grow on coffee trees from a genus of plants called ‘Coffea’. There are a wide variety of species of coffee plants, ranging from shrubs to trees.
There are two main types of coffee species, Arabica, and Robusta.
1. Arabica originates from Ethiopia and produces a mild, flavorful tasting coffee. It is the most popular type worldwide. However, it is expensive to grow because the Arabica plant is sensitive to the environment, requiring shade, humidity, and steady temperatures.
2. The Robusta coffee plant is more economical to grow because it is resistant to disease and survives in a wider range of temperatures
COFFEE & HEALTH
Coffee is an intricate mixture of more than a thousand chemicals. The cup of coffee you order from a coffee shop is likely different from the coffee you brew at home. What defines a cup is the type of coffee bean used, how it is roasted, the amount of grind, and how it is brewed. Human response to coffee or caffeine can also vary substantially across individuals.
When you all think of coffee, We usually think of its ability to provide an energy boost. However, according to some research, it can also offer some other important health benefits.
1. Lowers the risks of Heart diseases
People who drank moderate amounts of coffee each day had an 11% lower risk of heart failure than those who did not. One meta-analysis found that caffeine consumption may have at least a small benefit for cardiovascular health, including blood pressure.
2. Prevents Parkinson’s disease
Various studies have shown that caffeine, which is present in coffee and many other beverages, may help protect against Parkinson’s disease. One team concluded that men who drink over four cups of coffee per day might have a fivefold lower risk of Parkinson’s than those who do not. In addition, the caffeine in coffee may help control movement in people with Parkinson’s.
3. Lowers the risk of liver cancer
Italian researchers found that coffee consumption lowers the risk of liver cancer by around 40%. Some of the results suggest that people who drink three cups per day might have a 50% lower risk.
4. Prevention against Type-2 diabetes
Coffee may help protect against type 2 diabetes. Caffeine in coffee prevents the risks of type-2 diabetes.
Benefits of Coffee
Coffee has been both praised and mocked for centuries. It has been blamed to cause impotence and madness, other times a cure for laziness or “gift from heaven”. Heavy stuff. But what are the actual, scientifically proven pros and cons of coffee we know today?
People often say, “There’s nothing quite like that first cup of coffee in the A.M. A few sips of the aromatic magic stuff later and you’re suddenly awake and motivated to tackle your day head on”
1. Coffee boosts your physical performance.
Caffeine in coffee increases adrenaline levels in your blood. Adrenaline is your body’s “fight or flight” hormone which helps you prepare for physical exertion.
2. Coffee may help you lose weight.
Coffee contains magnesium and potassium, which help the human body use insulin, regulating blood sugar levels and reducing your craving for sugary treats and snacks.
3. Coffee helps you burn fat.
Caffeine helps fat cells to break down body fat and use it as fuel for training.
4. Coffee helps you focus and stay alert.
Moderate coffee intake, 1–6 cups a day, helps you focus and improves your mental alertness.
5. Coffee protects you from brain disorders.
There’s evidence that coffee causes activity in the part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s.
Bad Effects of Coffee
We all know that everything in the world has advantages along with disadvantages, so do coffee.
Bad quality coffee can have a lot of impurities in it, which can cause sickness, headache, or a general bad feeling. This can happen if your coffee is made from beans that have been over-ripped or otherwise ruined.
It should be avoided in pregnancy. If you drink coffee when pregnant, caffeine will also reach the fetus, and your baby is highly sensitive to caffeine.
Coffee can cause insomnia and restlessness.
DID YOU KNOW?
While water is always the best choice for quenching your thirst, coffee can count towards your daily fluid goals. Although caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, it is offset by the total amount of fluid from the coffee.
The End
