Coffee Guide

If you have ever seen "My big fat greek wedding", then you know swear that the father character, Windex is the solution for every disease. Coffee, one could swear is the elixir of life. So much so that the scent of coffee tickles a lot of sleep in the morning. Making an alarm clock, coffee table that is the way to get out of bed.

Coffee is an integral part of our way of life so that not a day goes by without usTribute to the local bar or at worst, the coffee machine in the office. But this exaltation (uh, addiction) coffee is not so bad. the occasional coffee-stained teeth, the coffee continues to validate the health benefits of coffee addicts' love this stuff. Without doubt, the love and expensive coffee in addition to millions of people around the world, but it's time to put aside their emotions and empirical facts about coffee and its effect on Body, if not more to give out coffee lovers more reason to drink it.

Scientific connections to coffee the following effects:

It's stimulating caffeine in coffee makes it a popular stimulant. Not only communicate with the nervous system, but regulates bowel function, blood pressure, and the size of the airway. In total, this leads to a feeling of supervision after drinking> Coffee, but it could also affect sleep and cause anxiety and nervousness.

Potentially of heartburn, a common complaint from non-coffee drinkers is that from time to time heartburn. It is the truth, that like all kinds of coffee, decaffeinated coffee sometimes leads to the production of stomach acid.

diuretic properties: Caffeine causes the kidneys to help the body produce urine, excess fluid from the rinse. In some cases,effective as a diuretic, may even mild dehydration.

The improvement of brain functions: recent studies have shown that heavy coffee drinkers who consume that day to 5-6 cups per cup are less likely to contract Alzheimer's than those drinking 2-3.

Alternatively, some doctors say the health problems of regular caffeine causes serious, including stomach problems, gall bladder disease and even some forms of cancer. L 'The research is not conclusive enough to say that caffeine is dangerous for heart patients and pregnant women. All in all, the search for coffee to be done, what is the negative impact. A study of the association of coffee and pancreatic cancer study was discredited as flawed. So, clearly, there is still much to do research.

In addition to its stimulating effect is known for coffee with the following therapeuticFeatures:

Stimulating Breath: people who have recently undergone a surgical treatment to help stimulate breathing with caffeine. This technique is sometimes also used for premature babies. The researchers also showed that caffeine increased respiratory asthma patients with modest help. For this reason, avoid caffeine consumption before the test breath to breathe temporarily not abnormal form of a patienthave.

Treatment of headache: a common ingredient in-the-counter pain reliever is over paracetamol, aspirin and caffeine. This may be due to a lot of headaches are related to caffeine withdrawal.

Preventing disease: the researchers conclude that moderate consumption of coffee may reduce the risk of depression, diabetes, prostate cancer, Alzheimer's, kidney stones, and even. Needless to say, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, includingphysical activity and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are important factors.

In summary, while the health risks of coffee are not minor, huge benefits can not be ignored.

Coffee is a beverage like no other. For many it is a morning ritual and a social movement, sharing thoughts and ideas on several cups of steaming coffee. And 'well-known among his many fans due to obsession, with hundreds of web sites to discuss the merits of different blends and beans. But what effect, if applicable, the effect of coffee on health?

There is good news these days for coffee lovers. Several recent studies havedemonstrate that the health benefits of coffee are certainly true, and this has caused a rise in popularity of coffee. Although there were negative and stomach coffee health benefits, as reported in heartburn, these positive health benefits history of coffee, many are so good.

Some recently discovered health benefits coffee include a decreased risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and lower rates of gallstones. InFurthermore, coffee has also been shown to improve both memory and mood, and improving athletic performance. Even coffee drinkers are less statistically cases of cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, dementia, and some types of cancer.

One possible advantage that the coffee has created a lot of interest lately is the ever increasing number of studies showing that coffee drinkers diabetes have a significantly reduced probability of type-2. Diabetes is becomingimportant factor in cases of death worldwide, researchers are very interested in the coffee can offer services Sun Studies have shown that both the benefits and decaffeinated coffee containing caffeine seem to have the same thing when it comes to reducing the risk diabetes. Scientists have speculated that some of the benefits of fats can be roasted coffee as a result of quinides that arise when the coffee beans. There was some evidence that, sinceThese fats help control blood sugar. Together with quinides, coffee also contains magnesium and chromium, both in aid blood sugar control.

Moreover, coffee has been extremely rich in antioxidants to prevent cell damage and inflammation. Freshly brewed coffee contains more antioxidants than instant coffee, and for some people, coffee is its largest source of antioxidants. While the coffee mustvegetables and never be considered as a substitute for more nutritious foods such as fruit antioxidant, studies show that coffee is an essential part of a healthy diet.

pregnant women nor doctors limit their intake of coffee, cup, equally if not more than a day and encourage breastfeeding mothers without for most of us can safely drink 2-5 cups a day. This allows us not only to enjoy the scent and taste of coffee, butto reap some of the health benefits this drink has to offer.

One of the stories about the origin of coffee says that a fruit monaco Schaefer said that the devil who has discovered the coffee cherries, coffee. The monk came to prohibit the pastor touch the bushes again. Considering the health benefits that are now in many cafes, the researchers identified, please give us more of that forbidden fruit.

The millions of people around the world who buy and consume > Coffee do it for various reasons. Some need the caffeine jolt, others do it for the taste, especially in the gourmet coffee, and for some it is a habit and a ritual. Yet in its centuries of history and tradition, it is only in recent years that the benefits to human health beginning to recognize, coffee 's.

Moderate consumption is the key, and this means that about fifty-two cups of coffee a day. The benefits that are recognized> Coffee helps to:
Increased surveillance and combat fatigue;
To reduce the risk of colorectal cancer;
To reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease and
reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

But a recent article on the WebMD website tells us that a Harvard study concluded that with six or more cups of java preferred reduced the risk of diabetes by 54% in men and 30% for women. But the researchers suggest that the results should be taken with a grain of salt. The effect ofCaffeine is different from person to person mainly because it is absorbed by the local system.

Another researcher from Vanderbilt University says the same website that their studies have shown that reducing the risk of Parkinson's disease, directly related to higher caffeine. The researchers also added that the Parkinson's drugs are in development, a derivative of caffeine content based on the results of their studies.

And then there's the factthat coffee contains antioxidants. Antioxidants are naturally present in fruits and vegetables and to fight free radicals in the body. normal body functions produce these free radicals, which in turn cause cellular damage to cancer risk. And 'demonstrated that, in terms of drinks, coffee contains antioxidants figure is higher than four times more than tea. One of the antioxidants in coffee is chlorogenic acid which contributes to insulinSensitivity and glucose metabolism, in order to combat diabetes.

It 'obvious at this point that the health benefits are many of your favorite cup of java. But she uses is not necessarily automatic. They should ask themselves whether their body can tolerate six cups of coffee a day, through the proposed study as mentioned.

In high doses, caffeine can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and palpitations. Pregnant women and heart patients are alsoadvised to stay away from coffee. For most healthy people, studies have shown no adverse effects. The bottom line is that it's always good to do things in moderation.

For some time to continue discussions on the health benefits of coffee. There are a number of studies, ulcers Found That indulge in certain amounts of coffee leads to high blood pressure, heart disease and even.

On the other hand, is almost as demonstrated by many studies on the health benefits of coffee. Let us look more closely to performance.

Recent medical findings have shown that regular consumption of> Coffee reduces the risk of Parkinson's, diabetes and even reduce the risk for colon cancer.

It seems that the high caffeine content of coffee responsible for this. been the development of Parkinson's disease for one, found indirectly related to caffeine intake. The more you take in caffeine, the lower the risk of developing the disease. The same goes with type 2 diabetes.

As studies are conducted, whereby the moreOn the way to make their final studies, no doubt. It was discovered that two cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk per cent of developing colon cancer from 25

Even a fall of 80% in the risk of liver cirrhosis was based on observations in people who drink at least two cups of coffee a day.

The antioxidants in coffee seems diseases are responsible for the reduction of opportunities for the development of this type.It seems that antioxidants to control cell growth of these diseases.

Antioxidants are also excellent sources of chlorogenic acid, which reduces shown to be capable of glucose concentrations in the body.

But the most important factor in all these studies are a lot of coffee consumption. They have range of benefits from a cup or two a day found one.

However, some of the benefits disappear when the individual drinks more than two cupsCoffee a day. The more you drink, the less benefit you get.

In addition to antioxidant content, 's coffee caffeine also has some big effects on our body. Recent research at Bristol University found that caffeine affects our perception and mood.

According to the study, caffeine from coffee can increase alertness and performance thus increasing productivity in the face of all his work.

However, drinking coffee,some effects, not so good. Caffeine is a mild addictive stimulant, coffee can also consider an increase in heart and high blood pressure. But, as always, moderation is key.

green coffee beans have supplied a new player in the antioxidant arena. An extract of green coffee bean extract was found to have antioxidant effects stronger than established antioxidants like green tea and grape seed oil.

The active ingredient in coffee that is responsible for its health services number is a substance called chlorogenic acid. It neutralizes free radicals, and the problem of hydroxyl radicals, both can lead to cellDegeneration if left unchecked. Chlorogenic acid helps regulate metabolism. Compared to green tea and grape seed extract, green coffee bean extract is twice as effective in absorbing oxygen free radicals.

One of the advantages of the use of green coffee bean extract is that the negative effects of coffee are avoided. The chlorogenic acid is the effect of increasing glucose metabolism absorbed by the body. It contains caffeic acid, whichboost to energy levels like regular coffee. But unlike boiled coffee, green coffee bean extract contains no cafestol, which is a diterpene. Along with its diterpene relative kahweol, cafestol increases concentrations of "bad" cholesterol, LDL, a level that will last a lifetime risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 20% diterpenes This also seems to increase the level of liver enzymes can be measured . If these are elevated it is aIndicator of pressure on the liver. However, the study found that there was a temporary effect, and that liver enzyme levels were significantly lower in patients with liver damage measured.

Note on the health effects of coffee diterpenes found how to adjust, it was found that by simply drinking filter coffee, none of these effects on cholesterol levels or liver has occurred. The coffee filter removed the offending diterpenes. And from these levelsDiterpenes in instant coffee are low.

Other benefits of green coffee bean extract, include an increase in effectiveness of analgesics, particularly drugs for migraine, to reduce the risk of diabetes and to support the body burns a higher percentage of lipids (fats) compared to carbohydrates, that may help with muscle fatigue for athletes and bodybuilders.

Interestingly, other studies about caffeine and liver disease, have arguedpossible to support liver health, in fact, for some people. Those who were due to a high risk of developing liver disease drinking alcohol were found to be much less damage if they drank more than two cups of coffee or tea liver day. This was a population-based study, a clinical study not has, and is not exhaustive on the subject. But they offer some promising information. Those drinking more than two or more cups daily were half as likely to develop liver disease comparedwhere drinking water is less than one cup per day. Researchers do not know what caused this protective effect.

One criticism of coffee in relation to health is that you pull calcium from bones. But this effect was being exaggerated, at least in children. And adults who consume a diet with adequate calcium consumption is the concentration of coffee protected against the small amount of calcium that is lost due.

So the old principle that a caffeine foundchild's growth is a myth. There were diets based on the fact that studies of a bone density of elderly people with low caffeine has been associated with the flow, as they were, and studies have been conducted on the elderly, both lots of coffee drinking that were low in calcium . Recent studies in the United States, followed 80 children over 6 years and found no difference in bone density of patients with a high level of caffeine in their diet than those young people who had little caffeine. Other studies have found that the amountcalcium loss from bones is small and can be balanced by adequate calcium in your diet.

References: Australian Magazine healthy food, in January.
Before [HTTP: / /] www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=643516&m=1FSND06&idP=2&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub
According sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arch/11_30_96/food.htm

What exactly is caffeine? It is a colorless, somewhat bitter substance that is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and cola. It is also in many over- the-counter medicines and in many diet/weight loss supplements. It is a stimulant and it is considered a psychoactive drug. It is the most widely consumed drug in this country. Drugmakers are required by law to list the amount of caffeine in their product, however, food and beverage companies do not have to. The caffeine that is taken out of coffee beans to produce decaffeinated coffee is then sold to drug companies and soft drink manufacturers.

It can be a welcome waker-upper in the morning taken in that morning cup of coffee. It also helps give some a boost to stay awake late in the day. However, the boost isn’t necessarily instant as it takes about an hour for the effects of caffeine to make it’s way through the bloodstream and into the system. It has benefits and it has side effects. It helps keep us alert. It stimulates the central nervous system. Some say it improves physical and mental performance. It has diuretic activity. Some studies list is as a mood elevator, and a pain reliever. Because of the increased alertness levels of those who consume caffeine, there has been improved performance in activities such as test-taking, driving, flying and problem solving.

There are side effects of caffeine though. Those are insomnia, nervousness, increased tension and anxiety-panic attacks, just from drinking the amount of 300 mg. The amount that causes these side effects vary from individual to individual, however, children seem to have a lower tolerance of it because of their lower body weight. The Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women to avoid it altogether. The FDA does list it as a safe food additive, even though pregnant women should avoid it. For those that take it regularly every day, going without it a day can cause withdrawal symptoms such as, headaches, irritability, a lack of energy and of course, sleepiness. These withdrawal symptoms are short lived though.

The following is a chart and the amount of caffeine in products you use and consume daily.

6 ounce cup of coffee – 64mg to 150mg

5 ounce cup of tea- 40mg

12 ounce can of cola- 40mg

hot cocoa – 1 cup 4mg

6 ounce chocolate bar 25mg

2 Excedrin tablets 130mg

Besides weight loss products and stay awake products and energy drinks, caffeine is being tested for pesticide use and it has been laced in women’s panty hose for it’s constrictive effects that are supposed to shrink thighs. Love it or hate it, caffeine is and always has been a big part of American culture and probably is here to stay.

Nick A. James offers informative tips and information on nutrition, health and working from home. Get the Exclusive Free Report! -6 Steps to Simplify Your Life, Improve Your Health & Give You Dynamic Energy! His many years of Internet Marketing expertise puts him in unique position to help others starting a home business.

For free advice, health blog, and cutting edge info contact him at: http://www.health-goji-juice.com

Most studies you will read about today tell how coffee can be harmful to you. But did you know that no other American liquid drink contains more healthy antioxidants than coffee? And did you also know that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of developing of the common type-2 diabetes? And did you also know that coffee drinkers may be far less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and colon cancer?

These findings are all based on studies performed at such prestigious universities as Harvard and Vanderbilt. Other studies have been done in Japan, Canada, Holland, and other countries. Many schools participate in research of all foods, to discover antioxidants and how certain foods may help combat disease. Tea is one food used to a large degree, so it necessarily follows that coffee can also be studied as well. In fact, close to 20,000 studies have been done world-wide for the last several years, on finding the benefits of coffee.

As you can guess, the most closely scrutinized ingredient of coffee is caffeine. Caffeine is used in many over-the-counter medicines today, to help with headaches, asthma, and other ailments. But it has been discovered that caffeine can also help with Parkinson?s disease, for example. Moreover, caffeine derivatives are being tested as drugs to possibly help control Parkinson?s.

Coffee is extremely rich with caffeine, possibly four more times than that of other beverages such as cola or tea. But coffee itself is also laden with antioxidants, according to studies done at Harvard. These studies have also shown that decaf coffee demonstrated a reduced risk to diabetes among normal adults, even a lower risk than tea offers. And coffee with caffeine showed an even higher reduction of risk, compared to decaf. Studies done at the University of Scranton have also shown that coffee contains more antioxidants than the average fruit or vegetable.

Another study was done in Japan that demonstrated that daily coffee drinkers showed a reduced risk of developing liver cancer, by as much as 50%, over those people who never drank coffee. This and most of the other studies showed that drinking three to four cups a day was more effective against these diseases, than drinking one or two cups a day.

So does that mean you can drink five or six cups of coffee and eliminate fruits and vegetables from your diet and therefore become immune to all disease? Of course not. Fruits and veggies overall contain many more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients than coffee, and so should not be neglected from any diet. Also they contain fiber, which is essential for good nutrition. Eat your fruits and veggies.

Also, coffee has the caveat that it can raise your cholesterol, make you nervous, make you tremble, raise your heart rate, clog your arteries, and other problems. And research is still going on to discover the benefits of antioxidants, and with coffee in general.

But for sure, if you drink coffee and it doesn?t affect your life any, then feel free to continue and enjoy your habit. In the long run, it may prove more beneficial than you think.

Jim Konerko is the publisher of http://www.coffee-craze.net where he provides interesting advice, tips, and information about coffee.

Many sober, law abiding people who would never dream of knowingly taking a mind- altering drug, actually consume one every day. Chances are that you?re doing it too! What is this drug? ? Caffeine!

Caffeine is so pervasive in our culture and in many other cultures that we often forget it is literally a drug that affects our brain. Caffeine is present in coffee, tea, many cola drinks and over the counter medications.

The real question is?is caffeine a bad drug, or is it ?okay?? Is caffeine even better than ?okay?, does it do good things for us?

The verdict on caffeine, particularly when taken in the form of coffee, seems to be mixed. There are nutritional advisers who claim that coffee makes us age faster, wears out our adrenal glands, and causes all sorts of untold damage to our cells. Other researchers claim that coffee, especially if it?s freshly roasted and ground, is full of antioxidants, and therefore good for us. Most doctors say that drinking one or two cups of coffee a day is probably not harmful. And of course there are others who say we ought to avoid caffeine altogether.

Many of us feel that we cannot really get going in the morning until we have had our first cup of coffee. We often continue to use it throughout the day whenever our energy appears to be flagging and our brain seems to need additional help to think more clearly.

Does caffeine really enhance mental performance, or is that just a myth? Yes, caffeine does give a temporary boost to brain cells. But the amount required to improve mental performance is not very high. Even half a cup of coffee will be enough to give your brain a boost that lasts several hours.

Oddly enough, more caffeine is not necessarily better. In one test done when high-level executives were given the equivalent of fourteen cups of coffee in a day, they made their decisions faster, but the decisions were not of very good quality.

Not every person reacts to caffeine in the same way. Some people experience greater mental clarity, alertness and productivy after a cup of coffee. Others become jittery, anxious, or depressed. Although caffeine will keep most of us awake if taken at night, it does not have this effect in everyone.

In some older people, coffee or tea can improve memory and alertness enough to partly offset the effects of aging.

It is true that caffeine is mildly addicting for most people. Some people can quit using caffeine with absolutely no withdrawal symptoms, while others will feel headaches, fatigue, and experience cravings for caffeine for weeks.

Caffeine works by blocking one of the neurotransmitters–adenosine?which normally tells brain cells to calm down. Brain cells that have been affected by caffeine will remain excited and on high alert for several hours.

The most noticeable negative effect of caffeine is that it can interfere with sleep. In most people, drinking coffee, tea or cola in the late afternoon or in the evening will cause insomnia. The quantity and quality of sleep will be greatly reduced, setting in motion a vicious cycle, where the person affected will feel so tired all the next day that he drinks a lot more coffee in order to try feel awake.

If this is happening to you, cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume each day. You may experience fewer withdrawal symptoms if you cut down gradually. You may wish to substitute green tea for some of your cups of coffee. Green tea has some caffeine, but not as much as coffee.

Better yet, consider substituting exercise for some of those cups of coffee. If you can?t leave your workplace, at least get up from your chair periodically. Do a few stretches, walk around a bit, and jump up and down a few times. Take some deep breaths. A little exercise break can revitalize your brain without giving you the caffeine jitters.

Remember that your brain won?t really benefit from more than one or two cups of coffee in a day.

This article is taken from the new book by Royane Real title How You Can Be Smarter – Use Your Brain to Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative You can get the paperback version or download it at http://www.lulu.com/real

Last week at the American College of Cardiology?s annual meeting, researchers presented the results of a Greek study which found that men who drank more than one cup of coffee a day had 30% higher levels of an inflammatory chemical called CRP in their blood. For women, the news was even worse: a 38% increase in CRP.

Now that’s a pretty serious finding. Elevated levels of CRP have been shown to increase your risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, depression, and many other conditions.

As someone who researches the effects of foods on inflammation, the study caught my attention. I should also disclose that I am also a coffee lover. In fact, I recently wrote an article on the health benefits of coffee. (If you interested, that article can be found here.)

But here’s the scoop on the Greek study: It turns out that coffee drinkers also 1)are more likely to smoke; 2)exercise less; and 3)eat fewer vegetables than their non-coffee drinking counterparts.

Let’s review. All three of these factors (smoking, sedentary lifestyle, low intake of vegetables) are known to increase inflammation. There is no solid evidence that drinking coffee increases inflammation. And yet the headlines all read: Drinking Coffee Increases Inflammation.

Whether or not you enjoy java, inflammation is something to be concerned about, as it has now been linked to virtually all of today’s most common illnesses. But I don?t think I?m going change my coffee consumption based on this study.

The best way to reduce inflammation? Don’t smoke, exercise, and eat your vegetables!

copyright, 2006, Monica Reinagel

Monica Reinagel is the creator of the IF Rating System, a scientific method of determine the inflammatory effects of foods. She is the author of The Inflammation Free Diet Plan: The Scientific Way to Lose Weight, Banish Pain, Prevent Disease and Slow Aging. (2006, McGraw-Hill).

The debate has raged for many years, and it will probably continue for years… is coffee good or bad for your health? While the jury may be out, here are some findings that indicate coffee is not all bad.

Coffee, as we all know, is high in caffeine, and caffeine is suspected of increasing blood pressure and heart rate. The medical fraternity have long suspected that coffee drinking might therefore contribute to higher rates of heart disease. However a recent study by researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health found no significant increase in the risk of heart disease or stroke among men who drank up to four cups of coffee a day ? a finding supported by the Kaiser Permanente health care organization in California.

The same outcome was found in women where data collected from more than 85,000 women over a 10-year period produced no evidence for any positive association between coffee consumption and risk of heart disease for women consuming six or more cups of coffee a day. That?s a lot of coffee!

This is not to say that there aren’t physical effects to coffee drinking. Caffeine does excite brain cells, and this in turn improves concentration and reaction time and reduces fatigue. In fact, caffeine can increase the speed of rapid information processing by 10%. A study in 1993 clearly demonstrated that caffeinated coffee had a beneficial effect on alertness and improved performance in a variety of tasks. Caffeine also has a beneficial effect on asthma by reducing the severity of attacks. Two studies found that three or more cups of coffee a day reduced the prevalence of asthma and this is further supported by improved ventilatory function in exercise-induced broncho-constriction – although this required over five cups of coffee a day!

Interestingly, it has been found that increased activity, alertness and efficiency are associated with a decline in levels of depression and anxiety. Two independent studies noted a significant inverse association between coffee drinking and the risk of suicide. Further research into the possibility that coffee drinking may decrease depression is certainly needed.

Although, caffeine is often singled out as the chemical in coffee that has the most impact on our health, coffee has a complex chemical composition. One beneficial characteristic of coffee is that it contains compounds with antioxidant properties. Polyphenolic compounds known as flavonoids are common in plants and are known to have disease suppression benefits. What is most interesting is that the roasting process increases antioxidant activity in the beans. Although the beneficial role of food antioxidants is a relatively new research area, this is likely to become more important in years to come.

Yet too much caffeine can lead to irritability and restlessness along with an increase in urination. Talking of this, kidney stones are extremely painful and in a study of some 45,000 men with no history of kidney stones it was found that increased consumption of regular and decaffeinated coffee, tea, beer and wine were linked with a decreased risk of stone formation. The same effect was found in a study involving 81,000 women where caffeinated coffee and wine were found to be significantly more effective than water in helping women avoid kidney stones.

Coffee also has several metabolic effects that could reduce the risk of gallstone formation. According to a study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), drinking coffee is associated with a 40 percent lower risk of gallstone disease in men. Men who drank four or more cups of regular coffee per day had a 45 percent lower risk profile.

The link between coffee and cancer is probably more weighted in favour of coffee. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with some 131,000 Americans being diagnosed with cancers of the rectum and colon on an annual basis. Now there is some convincing evidence for a protective effect of coffee against the development of colon cancers. A recent review of over 15 studies on coffee consumption and colorectal cancer from 1960 to 1990 found the risk of colorectal cancer to be 24% lower among those who drink four or more cups of coffee per day, than among those who rarely or never drink coffee. Researchers in Sweden also found that ?coffee consumption appears to be protective against colon cancer, and tea against rectal tumors. The most likely explanation for lower risk of colorectal cancer among heavy coffee consumers is the enhanced colonic activity induced by coffee, and the inhibition effect on the cancer-causing effects of various micro-organisms by anti-mutagenic components in coffee and caffeine.

Coffee is also commonly used to ?lift? hangovers and to get going ?the morning after?. However it might be more useful to drink it before having the party?as in the past decade, research in the United States, Japan and Italy has shown that the consumption of coffee has a strong protective effect against cirrhosis of the liver. Drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day was associated with an 80% reduction in risk for cirrhosis of the liver, compared with those who don’t drink coffee at all.

On the subject of losing brain cells, Parkinson ?s disease, a progressive nervous disease occurring generally after age 50, destroys brain cells that produce dopamine and is characterized by muscular tremor, slowing of movement, weakness and facial paralysis. Research into the relationship between caffeine consumption from a variety of sources and the risk of developing Parkinson?s disease, has shown that moderate consumption of caffeine reduces the risk of Parkinson?s disease in men and women.

In fact, men who drank four to five cups per day of caffeinated coffee cut the risk of developing Parkinson?s disease nearly in half compared to men in the study who consumed little or no caffeine daily. Women who consumed between one and three cups of caffeinated coffee per day also cut their risk nearly in half of developing Parkinson?s disease when compared to women who drank less than a cup of coffee per day – but this apparent benefit was lost at higher levels of intake.

Finally, while some people believe that coffee can induce acid reflux, recent research has found that coffee consumption has no effect whatever at inducing heartburn in healthy people. Even for those individuals with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, coffee consumption was found to have only a minimal effect.

Is coffee all that bad? Probably not…in moderation. Indeed, many studies identifying beneficial effects also noted the loss of these effects at high consumption rates. So, enjoy your three to four cups of coffee a day…on average you?ll be just fine!

Steve Giddings is Managing Director of Frontier Beverage Corporation (Pty) Ltd. This article and other coffee related information can be found at http://www.frontiercoffee.co.za