COFFEE AND YOUR HEALTH
by Jardine Davies R. Torno, MD
Coffee continues to play an important role in our society today. The Turks first adopted it as a drink, adding spices such as cinnamon and anise to the brew but it was not until 1938 that freeze-dried coffee was invented to become the first drinkable instant coffee. Studies showed that coffee actually contained the highest number of antioxidants per serving. Green coffee beans contain about 1,000 antioxidants, and the brewing process adds 300 more. This is four times more than the antioxidant content of green tea. The brewing process creates its own set of helpful compound which are unique to coffee alone. Although the exact amount of antioxidants in the average cup of coffee still remains to be known. Here are some other reported health benefits associated with coffee:
* A study published in the European Journal of Neurology and the
Canadian Study of Health and Aging, found that those who drank more coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
* A number of studies have indicated that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. This condition develops when the dopamine levels in the brain falls thereby interrupting nerve signals from the brain to the muscles resulting to memory impairment accompanied by tremors and gait disturbances. Caffeine increases the expression of dopamine receptors in the brain.
* Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health concluded that both
men and women coffee drinkers tend to have less risk of developing gallstones.
* According to a new study from University of California which was published in the November issue of Diabetic Care, coffee reduces the risk of diabetes by over 60 percent. Another study at Vanderbilt University believes that a group of compounds present in coffee called Quinines increase the capacity of the liver to use glucose thus improving the blood sugar control in diabetics. It was also found that coffee contains large amount of chlorogenic acid, tocopherols and magnesium which have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
* Methylpiridinium, a powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee boosts blood enzymes that are widely believed to protect against colon cancer.
* Coffee also reduces the incidence of heart disease though the exact mechanism is still unknown.
* Another compound in coffee called trigolline which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste was shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties which helps prevent dental cavities from forming.
* A Brazilian study has determined that drinking a few cups of coffee a day will also increase male fertility. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm motility thus increasing the odds of pregnancy. Coffee is neither a miracle drink nor a cure for all diseases like the hype we get nowadays in drinking green teas and other health drinks in the market. Neither is it a villainous drink that can cause sickness to our body. In order to benefit from it, one should follow the simple but reliable rule that everything should be taken in moderation. A balanced and sensible diet with regular physical activity is still, by far, the best way to keep fit and healthy. So the next time you drink your favorite cup of coffee, share some of these wonderful facts to your loved ones while enjoying the moment.
(Dr. Jardine Davies Torno is a psychiatrist and host of health television show RxMen aired every Sunday at 11 a.m. in QTV-11. He also teaches cardio kickboxing.)
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