Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages but is it really as bad as people would say it is. Actually, coffee has several health benefits. Read this article to learn more.
Is Coffee Acidic?
Acidity is identified by the effect that the consumed food has on urine pH. Coffee is classified as an acidic drink and comes in at around 5.0 to 5.1 on the pH scale which is less acidic than drinks such as beer and fruit juice, and similar to carbonated water. Note that darker roasted coffee are less acidic both in their actual acid content and in their flavour profile.
Coffee and Antioxidants
It is noteworthy that coffee is a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that help slow or prevent oxidative damage to the body. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee appears to contain similar amounts of antioxidants. Coffee contains chlorogenic acids and melanoids which help trap free radicals and are excellent antioxidants. It also contains the chemical compounds such as phenols, volatile aroma compounds, and oxazoles, which are efficiently being absorbed by the body.
It is not that coffee has a higher source of antioxidants, it’s just that coffee drinkers more coffee than any other source of antioxidants. According to a study made in 2005, coffee is the primary source of antioxidants where most Americans get their antioxidants. Coffee is more efficient than fruits and vegetables in the prevention of DNA oxidation, the source of various serious illnesses such as cancer.
Benefits of Coffee
Recent research has revealed that drinking coffee can be highly beneficial. Aside from it being an excellent source of antioxidants, there is evidence that coffee helps in reducing the risk fro several serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, and liver cirrhosis.
Coffee & Diabetes
A study from Harvard University has revealed that the habitual consumption of coffee may lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The study which monitored around 100,000 people for over 18 months showed that men who consumed more than six cups of coffee a day lowered their chances of acquiring Type 2 diabetes by more than 50% in comparison to non-drinkers. The exact reason for this is not yet known but the antioxidants in the coffee played a major role in controlling the cell damage that can help in developing type 2 diabetes. The chlorogenic acid has shown to reduce glucose concentrations. It also revealed that caffeine has no effect since decaffeinated coffee is also doing the same thing.
Coffee & Cardiovascular Disease
Several studies have revealed that consuming coffee has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that drinking one to three cups of coffee a day can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 24 percent in comparison to non-drinkers. However, as the quantity of coffee consumed increases, the benefits being received from it also decreases.
A study by the American Heart Association revealed that women who regularly drink coffee reduces the risk of developing stroke. In fact, there was a reduction of 20% risk in women who drink more than four cups of coffee per day. However, the study has also revealed that regular coffee drinkers tend to smoke more than those who drink less coffee.
People with high blood pressure or at risk for heart disease are suggested to drink only up to three cups of coffee per day.
Coffee & Parkinson's Disease
A study from the University of Porto in Portugal have shown that drinking coffee can help protect yourself against colon and liver cancer and Parkinson’s disease. The researchers have found out that drinking two to three cups of coffee per day can help reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by up to 25%.
Side Effects of Coffee
The side effects of consuming coffee include stomach pains and make you to feel jittery. Some studies have associated coffee with higher blood pressure and heart rates. It may also contain some potentially carcinogenic substances.
As with all foods, the key is to drink coffee in moderation.
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