Coffee consumption is extremely high in North American cultures. Until recently it's often received a negative reputation as a dehydrator, a contributor to hyperactive behavior, and as a cause of heart palpitations and manic bouts of nerves. While excessive coffee consumption can lead to a jittery feeling, leading to erratic moods and bowel disruptions, and coffee consumed prior to bedtime can result in insomnia, there are also many benefits related to regular coffee drinking.
The Best Way to Prepare and Imbibe Coffee
Coffee is healthiest for one when drunk black. Adding creams and sugars, or consuming fancy coffee beverages on a daily basis, is not only more expensive, but it contributes to weight gain, high cholesterol and other health problems. A cup of black coffee has few calories and is nearly equivalent to a glass of water in its ability to re-hydrate.
Select organic, bird and farmer friendly beans. Grind the beans at home every morning. Use filtered water. Drink the coffee within two hours of brewing it and make a fresh pot if drinking it all day.
How Coffee Boosts One's Moods
Coffee contains a much higher percentage of caffeine than tea or hot chocolate, about 85 mg. It is the caffeine that stores anti-oxidants, pain killers and muscle stimulant properties. Caffeine has about 120 milligrams of pain relief in every cup. Thus, coffee reduces the likelihood of headaches. It also stimulates the muscles, increasing their ability to work at tasks longer and more successfully. Fatigue is lessened. Mental acuity rises.
Most importantly, in terms of mood, studies have found that depression is reduced through the regular consumption of caffeine. People who drink at least two mugs daily are more positive and high-functioning than non-coffee drinkers.
How Coffee Prevents Certain Diseases and Conditions
The risk of diabetes is greatly reduced among coffee drinkers. This is likely due to the high level of anti-oxidants in coffee beans. These anti-oxidants, among them magnesium, improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The more cups a day one drinks the better when it comes to avoiding this disease.
Parkinson's disease and colon cancer have also been shown to be prevented by considerable coffee consumption. Along with disease prevention, some kinds of conditions can be reduced with caffeine intake. Asthma sufferers received relief from breathing problems by drinking coffee. Also, the trigonelline in coffee has been proven to have anti-bacterial properties that greatly reduce the likelihood of developing cavities.
N.B. Not everyone should drink coffee. Pregnant women and those who have heart conditions or osteoporosis must avoid the beverage. Irritable bowel syndrome can also be exacerbated by caffeine. Talk to a doctor to clear concerns prior to consuming large quantities of coffee.
Catherine Owen - Catherine Owen, MA 2001, has published ten award winning books of poetry/prose. Her writing is lyrical, well-researched and fully ...
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