Trying to Stay Healthy? Try drinking coffee

For those people who truly love coffee, as I do, the idea that coffee could actually be good for you is a welcome relief. Among the many benefits attributed to coffee include, possible reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes type II, cirrhosis of the liver, and gout.

There are several different species of coffee. The most common, Coffea canephora, commonly referred to as “Robusta,” is the form we most often see in common brands available at your local supermarket. This type of coffee is often high in caffeine and fairly inexpensive to produce. A more prized form of coffee is the C. arabica. Originally found in the highlands of Ethiopia, and the Sudan, this is the form most often used to make espresso. C. arabica is lower in caffeine and considered more flavorful and more expensive. Because we are fairly serious about coffee in our house—we only buy the C. arabica variety. And while it is thought that unfiltered coffee contains ingredients, called diterpenes, thought to slightly elevate LDL cholesterol, we use a French Press and never filter our coffee with a paper filter. This is because, in addition to removing diterpenes, paper filters also remove beneficial antioxidants thought to have numerous health benefits.

Studies have shown that people who consume a moderate amount of coffee everyday, around 3-5 cups a day, are at decreased risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease type II diabetes and prostate cancer.

A few cups of coffee a day can also be helpful in alleviating mild depression and can act as a “pick me up,” when you are having trouble starting your day.

Coffee is also high in antioxidents. These are substances that help repair cell damage. In fact, coffee has more anti-oxidants in it per cup that just about any drink on the market.

The greatest health risk associated with drinking coffee appears to be acid reflux. A condition that may be alleviated by choosing coffee that has a lower acidity level.

If you are a naturally nervous person and easily stressed, you may try switching to decaffeinated coffee. However, decaffeinated coffee does not hold that same health benefits.

So if you are someone who loves coffee as much as I do—enjoy your 2-4 cups a day there are many health benefits you can enjoy without giving up one of the worlds favorite beverages.