Back to blog

Good to the Last Drop

17 September 2018

By: June Owens

It’s time to rise and grind … lunches packed, pets fed, kids to school, errands run, or off to the workplace … but FIRST coffee! If you know me, you know the coffee pot is my initial stop when my feet hit the floor no matter what the agenda of the day has in store. It’s the java jolt I need to kickstart each day and I’ve ALWAYS known it truly is good for me (and those around me ?).

There have been numerous studies over the years, nearing 20,000, peering into the cup of joe and its health impact on those of us who wake up on the coffee side of the bed each morning. What was considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be possibly carcinogenic 25 years ago has been under research for decades. As I sit here sipping my third cup of the morning, I’m excited to share that not only did the WHO reverse that decision and remove coffee from the list, an announcement was made that coffee actually has many health benefits. And they are not alone. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee did a thorough review in 2015 and determined that “moderate coffee consumption (3-5 cups per day) can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern”. The World Cancer Research Fund International added that coffee consumption is actually linked with a lower risk of several types of cancer.

Beans, beans, glorious coffee beans …what is it about them that has us all abuzz? First, they are full of antioxidants. These protect cells from damage and fight inflammation that can be an underlying cause of arthritis, some cardiovascular diseases, many types of cancer, and other chronic health conditions. Green tea and cocoa, well known to be top choices for getting needed antioxidants, now take a step back in line as researchers have identified approximately 1000 antioxidants in unprocessed coffee beans and learned that hundreds more develop during the roasting process. Did you know…

  • Magnesium is also naturally found in coffee and combined with the antioxidants, has an effect on blood sugar levels that actually lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, this benefit will certainly not be the same if adding cream and sugar.

  • Trigonelline not only provides the aroma of coffee, but aids in the prevention of dental cavities through its antibacterial qualities. There’s another reason to smile.

And, what about that caffeine? If you put it off, it’s actually considered procaffeinating. And since some of the antioxidants mentioned above are removed during the decaffeination process, there’s good medical reason, like the following, to drink the regular version.

  • It is known to ease head pain. This is why caffeine is found in many leading headache medications.

  • Norepinephrine (adrenaline) is released into the bloodstream when caffeine is consumed, giving the body an energy boost and helping fight fatigue. Metabolism is also increased if ingested before exercise, providing even more energy as you head to the gym.

Solid research continues to show other benefits to this cup of brew. Though research continues and there are some variations, numerous studies from around the world concur that there’s something unique to coffee that indeed provides many health benefits.

  • The brain and nervous system are stimulated when drinking coffee, thus improving cognitive performance. Dr. Arendash, a researcher at South Florida University, published an article (http://health.usf.edu/nocms/publicaffairs/now/pdfs/JAD111781.pdf) indicating that 3-5 cups of coffee per day beginning by mid-life decreases the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia by up to 65%. This may be in part because the Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF) greatly decreases in patients with these diseases and caffeine combined with another coffee component helps increase this.

  • Reduced risks of breast, endometrial, prostate, pancreatic, colon, and liver cancers plus leukemia are evident. Just 2 servings per day, according to the American Association of Cancer Research, decreases colon cancer risks by 26% and that jumps to near 50% with 2.5 servings per day (2016 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention).

"Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful. For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good,” says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, a research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies. So, it turns out coffee may indeed be the best medicine, especially when combined with nutritional food choices, proper exercise, and an overall healthy lifestyle. Today may be your day to simply believe in something. For me, I believe it’s time to brew another cup!