Coffee Has benefits

No, really, who doesn’t enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning? Or in the afternoon for that matter. Or anytime!
Okay, maybe some of you don’t like coffee all that much. Maybe even more of you that don’t really enjoy coffee, drink it anyway because of the known health benefits. Probably most of you don’t know the wonderful health benefits of drinking coffee however.
Legend has it that goats discovered the key element in coffee – caffeine.
First we should discuss the widely known effect of caffeine, the reason most people drink coffee in the first place:
Caffeine is a stimulant to the nervous system, making it the obvious reason some doctors tell some of their patients to stay away from the natural drug found in coffee and tea plants. For this reason, perhaps you will drink decaffeinated beverages. The essential compound in the health effects of coffee is not in the caffeine anyway… although there are several health benefits to this compound.
According to caffeineinformer.com there are several health benefits to caffeine –
1. Japanese researchers have found that caffeine increases memory. The site also states that a newer study out of Johns Hopkins University showed that a 200mg caffeine pill helped boost memory consolidation.
2. Other research suggests that caffeine can stimulate hair growth on balding men and women.
Here’s an important one to mention –
3. Caffeine may prevent skin cancer. A Rutgers University study states that caffeine prevented skin cancer in hairless mice! According to another study found at the caffeine informer – caffeinated coffee drinkers have less risk of developing melanoma.
So there’s three reasons to drink caffeinated coffee.
But what if you can’t drink caffeine. It may make you jittery. Or perhaps your doctor recommends you don’t consume caffeine for other reasons. Read on, we’re not done here.
To make a side note. It’s important to consume coffee in such a fashion that it actually does benefit your health. It may be a good idea to follow these guidelines provided by Dr. Mercola at mercola.com – He says

• Choose Organic – Coffee beans crops are one of the most heavily sprayed with pesticides. This means you should only select coffee beans that are certified organic. He further states that whenever possible, you should purchase sustainable ‘shade grown’ coffee to help prevent the continued destruction of our tropical rain forests and the birds that inhabit them. There are apparently many who say shade grown coffee tastes better as well.
• He says to go with Whole Beans – Look for whole bean coffee that smells and tastes FRESH, not stale.
• Drink it black – here’s the trick, no additives. Dr. Mercola says you’ll ruin any of the benefits of coffee by adding sugar or cream flavorings. This will spike your insulin levels, which contributes to insulin resistance.
• Use Non Bleached Coffee Filters – A hint – the bright white coffee filters are chlorine bleached. This will leach from the filter during the brewing process.
• It is recommended to be cautious of the Coffee Mug you’re using. This may sound silly but you should be using glass and ceramic mugs in lieu of plastic cups or styrofoam.

Other research shows that dark roast coffee may be superior to lighter roasts. It is stated that “it is often the case that foods with the darkest pigments also offer the most robust [health] benefits”
4. Reportedly, a study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that dark roast coffee “restored blood levels of the antioxidants vitamin E and glutathione more effectively than light roast coffee. The dark roast also led to a significant body weight reduction in pre-obese volunteers [of the study].”
Take note that vitamin E is an essential vitamin for skin and hair health. Glutathione is a biological compound which prevents cellular damage throughout your body.
We haven’t even touched the surface here yet people…
It has been found that drinking coffee every day can reduce the risk of stroke. Remember to hold the additives!
5. According to coffeeandhealth.org, research shows that “moderate coffee consumption may reduce the risk of stroke.”
The study was conducted with over twenty six thousand Finnish Male Smokers and reported that “the relative risk of developing a non-hemorrhagic stroke was significantly reduced by 12% with the consumption of 4-5 cups of coffee per day.”

This is astounding!

Accordingly, this same study was extended to women with over thirty four thousand women. On this side of the study “coffee consumption (2-5 cups per day) was associated with a significant 22-25% risk reduction of total stroke, cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage …”

The benefits discussed thus far should be enough evidence for you to aquire a taste for this special treat.
Here’s some more good news:
6. According to researchers at the University of Scranton – coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the US.
The report states that Joe Vinson, Ph.D., lead author of the study stated that “Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close.”
This bodes true for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees.
Another study reports that coffee may protect against type 2 diabetes –
7. One Dr. Simin Liu, an author on this particular study stated that “an Inverse association” exists between coffee consumption and risk for type 2 diabetes.
Beyond this study, Harvard School of Public Health Researchers gathered data from three separate studies that included over seven thousand participants WITH type 2 diabetes. “The researchers found that the participants who increased their coffee intake by more than one cup a day (on average) over a four year period, had an 11 % lower type 2 diabetes risk over the subsequent four years, compared with people who did not change their intake.”
Let’s get real here – what are the other benefits of drinking coffee… something that applies to all of us –
8. Coffee may be good for the heart. –
This is a contradiction to what you’ve previously learned about heart health and coffee consumption.
A paper that was published in the Journal Circulation Heart Failure focuses on a study by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. This research indicates a shift in the debate over whether coffee is good for your heart or not. It’s more of a “how much” debate at this point rather than a “yes” or “no” question.
According to this study, participants that drank four European cups (or two 8-ounce American servings) per day had an 11% lower risk of heart failure… this was based on a curve.

Here’s a double whammy –
9. Coffee may lower the risk of liver cancer and/or liver disease(s) –
Coffee consumption lowers the risk of liver cancer by approximately 40% according to Italian researchers. The study is stated to claim that if you drink three cups a day, the risks are reduced by more than 50%.
10. These studies conducted also found that regular coffee consumption could be linked to a reduced risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This is a rare autoimmune disease of the bile ducts in the liver.
11. It is further stated that “in addition, coffee consumption can lower the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver for alcohol drinkers by 22%.” This study was conducted Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, California. The study goes on to suggest that “drinking two or more cups of coffee every day can reduce the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%.
To narrow down the last five here is a comprehensive list of the other benefits of drinking a few cups of coffee each day:
12. Coffee can help you burn fat –
This is related to the caffeine in your beverage so don’t buy the decaffeinated stuff. It is said that several studies show that caffeine can boost the metabolic rate by three to eleven percent. This correlates with other studies that show that caffeine can specifically increase fat burning by up to 10 percent in obese individuals and 29% in lean people.

• We cannot forget the essential nutrients found in coffee… Do your research, these vitamins and compounds pack a healthy punch – one single cup of coffee contains:
• Riboflavin – A source of Vitamin B 12
• Pantothenic Acid – Here’s your Vitamin B%
• Manganese and Potassium
• Magnesium and Niacin

We still have a few more.
13. Coffee may help fight depression
A Harvard Study published in 2011 stated that women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee per day had a twenty percent lowered risk of becoming depressed.
In another study with over two hundred thousand participants, it was found that those who drank 3 or more cups per day were 53% less likely to commit suicide.
Drink up!
14. According to another report, coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, which is a leading cause of dementia worldwide. It is stated that several studies show a 65% lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease among coffee drinkers.
15. Parkinson’s disease is defined as a progressive disease of the nervous system, however studies are revealing a reduction in risk for this disease in coffee drinkers ranging from 32-60%. This is again, relative to a caffeinated drink.
 Because coffee prevents against so much disease, it is obviously likely that you may live longer. Accordingly, there are several observational studies showing that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of death.
 Expert Author : April Renee (Consumer Health Digest)