Monday, February 19, 2007

Pour Me Another! The Health Benefits of Coffee


As a coffee advocate, I often find myself defending the benefits of this precious drink to coffee naysayers. My degree is in nutrition so I have a natural interest in perusing the latest articles and research concerning food and health--and although there is always conflicting ideas on almost every topic that can be written about, there is overwhelming evidence that in moderation, coffee offers numerous health benefits. According to findings in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, The American Medical Association and reports published from Harvard Medical School coffee is associated with the following benefits:


  • Lowers the risk for type 2 diabetes

  • Reduces the risk of developing gallstones

  • Reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's Disease

  • Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer

  • Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

  • Improves endurance and performance

  • Helps people stay more alert

  • Helps treat asthma and headaches

In another study, researchers found that a typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than typical servings of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries and oranges.


"Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. "For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good."


So there you have it folks, go ahead and pour yourself another! Cheers to good health!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Beans Beans the magical fruit, the more you eat 'em....