Public Spark

I love drinking coffee. My parents are avid coffee drinkers, so I grew up with the aroma of coffee. It was not until high school when I took a sip of an ice blended mocha from Coffee Bean. SO good!

Recently I came across Mike Pederson’s blog and wanted to read more about whether coffee is good for you. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but here is a summary of the benefits of coffee:

• Lowers risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

  Team for Journal of Neuroinflammation says the vital barrier between the brain and main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement. The “blood brain barrier” is a filter which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals carried around in the rest of the bloodstream. High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, believed to compromise the protective nature of the blood brain barrier.

• Lowers risk of Type 2 diabetes

  The reason of exactly why is not known, but there are explanations. Coffee contains antioxidants that help control the cell damage that can contribute to the development of the disease. It is also a source of chlorogenic acid, which has been shown in animal experiments to reduce glucose concentrations. In a report that combined statistical data from many studies, researchers found that people who drank four to six cups of coffee a day had a 28 percent reduced risk compared with people who drank two or fewer. Those who drank more than six had a 35 percent risk reduction.

• Antioxidants in coffee has anti-inflammatory properties

  The findings, which appeared in May in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that antioxidants in coffee may dampen inflammation, reducing the risk of disorders related to it, like cardiovascular disease. These same anti-inflammatory properties may explain why coffee appears to decrease the risk of alcohol-related cirrhosis and liver cancer by at least 80%.

• Lowers risk of Parkinson’s disease

  Coffee seems to protect men, but not women, against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes.

Of course coffee may not be for everyone. Also with excessive drinking, research has shown negative effects. As with any health regimen or prevention, it is important to consult with physicians and nutritionists.

References:

• Harvard Health Publications

• BBC News

• New York Times

• Web MD