8 benefits of coffee you didn't know about

1. 8 benefits of
coffee you didn’t
know about
If you’ve been wondering what all that coffee is doing to
you, cheer up. A recent review of data completed at Gill
Heart Institute in Kentucky focused on the cardiovascular,
genetic, antioxidant and caffeine effects of coffee and found
that drinking the brew reduces the risk of mortality right
across the board. They also documented that coffee:
 Reduces risk of stroke
 Does not increase risk of coronary heart disease
 Does not increase risk of congestive heart failure and
may be preventative
 Does not increase risk of sudden cardiac death

2. 8 benefits of
coffee you didn’t
know about
 Decreases risk of type 2 diabetes
 Does not increase risk of hypertension
 Does not increase risk of metabolic syndrome
 Arrhythmias with coffee are not a significant factor
The study goes on to note that coffee contains a myriad of
other components besides caffeine, especially antioxidant
polyphenols. These may be altered or removed by coffee
preparation methods such a paper filtration or putting milk
into the coffee. Additionally, there was no noted
cardiovascular advantage or disadvantage to drinking
decaffeinated coffee.
“The bottom line on coffee for those who enjoy the brew, is
that it is a wonderful beverage with rare associated CV
[cardiovascular] disadvantage and with much to
recommend it from an overall CV standpoint”, concluded
the study author.
It’s not just fruits and vegetables that
make the world go round
Other scientists have reported that the average cup of coffee
has more antioxidants than an average serving of blueberries
or an orange. And the much touted green tea can’t hold a

3. 8 benefits of
coffee you didn’t
know about
candle to coffee, with a cup of it containing only about 25%
of the antioxidants as found in a cup of coffee.
Antioxidants are the anti-aging polyphenols that counter
oxidation in the body. The high amounts of antioxidants
found in coffee may prevent or delay the diseases associated
with growing older.
The dominant antioxidant polyphenol in coffee is
chlorogenic acid (CGA). Scientists have demonstrated that
CGA exerts many biological properties that include
antibacterial, protection against cancer, and regulation of
glucose and lipid metabolism.
It looks like the combo of caffeine and CGA is a powerful
one for weight loss. Another recent study concluded that this
combination suppresses fat accumulation and body weight
gain by regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of
liver lipid metabolism-related enzymes. These affects are
stronger than those exerted by CGA and caffeine
individually.
Regular coffee consumption may reduce the risk of liver
cancer. Two studies have found that as consumption of

4. 8 benefits of
coffee you didn’t
know about
coffee increases, the risk of liver cancer decreases. This
association is seen in the healthy as well in those with
previous liver disease. The decrease was large, and the
findings were consistent across both studies. Amazingly, a
two cup per day increase in the amount of coffee consumed
was associated with a 43% reduction in risk of developing
liver cancer.
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As for cataracts, researchers in Sweden followed 30,607
women for a period of 7.7 years to see how total antioxidant
capacity affected their development of cataracts. They
found that women with the highest antioxidant rating had the
lowest incidence of age-related cataracts.
Coffee has a long-term impact on cognition. Researchers in
Finlandinvestigated the association between coffee and tea
drinking at midlife and the outcome of Alzheimer’s disease
years later. The 1409 participants were followed for 21 years
as part of a longitudinal study. Those who had been coffee
drinkers at midlife showed a significantly lower incidence of
Alzheimer’s compared to those who did not drink coffee or
drank only small amounts. An jaw dropping 65% decrease
was noted in participants who drank 3 to 5 cups of coffee

5. 8 benefits of
coffee you didn’t
know about
each day. No association was found between cognitive
decline and tea drinking.
Another study found that caffeine all by itself may protect
against development of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers
credited caffeine’s antioxidants as the protective force,
through their ability to reduce inflammation.
Coffee and caffeine are known to affect the limbic system, a
complex system of nerves and networks in the brain,
involving several areas near the cortex concerned with
instinct and mood. It’s what powers emotions like fear or
pleasure, and drives like hunger or dominance. But data on
the influence of coffee and its constituents on
neurotransmitter release has been limited.
Researchers investigated dopamine release and mobilization
in cells after stimulation with coffee. Dopamine is a
hormone as well as a neurotransmitter, and it plays
important roles in the human brain that include motivation
and reward behavior, and motor control. The researchers
concluded that each of the coffee constituents tested
stimulated dopamine release, underscoring the multifaceted
nature of coffee.

6. 8 benefits of
coffee you didn’t
know about
So if you’re having a cup of coffee right now, relax and
enjoy it knowing you are contributing to so may aspects of
your health.
This article was written by Barbara Minton and first appeared on Natural Society