Coffee

Coffee has been a popular start to many people’s day for many years. Though coffee is often looked on negatively due to the caffeine in it there are actually many health benefits to coffee.

Antioxidants are contained in coffee and many people are unaware. Coffee contains these health boosting antioxidants no matter if you are drinking straight coffee or a varied drink such as a cappuccino. Coffee is actually good for you like many things as long as you drink it in moderation.

Often people may avoid drinking coffee due to its effects on the body from the amount of caffeine contained. Caffeine however is not the only ingredient and unfortunately many overshadow the other ingredients in coffee, which are beneficial. The antioxidants in coffee have been proven to boost your immune system and help to ward off illness. Antioxidants are also proven to decrease the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Antioxidants also reduce the risks of developing liver cirrhosis leading to liver cancer. This is good news to many especially when so many medicines increase the risk of liver problems. Drinking coffee is not a replacement for regular checkups and screening from your family doctor. Drinking coffee is however a helpful tool to reduce the likelihood of developing these issues.

Coffee has also been proven to increase alertness and concentration in adults. This is especially good news since many people drink coffee specifically for the reason of staying alert or concentration. It is a common sight to see many people starting their day with a hot cup of coffee.

Although there is many benefits to drinking coffee drinking too much coffee has been related to insomnia, and ulcers. This is mainly due to large excess amounts of coffee. It is recommended that you consume between two and three cups of coffee per day in order to reap the benefits of coffee without causing adverse side effects.

A few other diseases that coffee has been shown to reduce are colon cancer, Alzheimer’s, Type II diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. This is been scientifically proven in various government based studies along with many private health studies.

Due to all the benefits of drinking coffee it is no wonder that coffee has increased greatly in sales in recent years. People are drinking coffee more and more due to the availability and the benefits. As more people realize some of the natural health benefits of coffee it will surely increase in sales once again.

The additional medicinal benefits of coffee are yet to be found. Other countries have recognized the use of coffee as a medicine in the past; with sufficient research it is possible that coffee may prove to be beneficial as an additional source of help for some diseases.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as gourmet flavored coffee [http://www.coffeeandjavashop.com] at [http://www.coffeeandjavashop.com]

Author: Gregg Hall
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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One of the nation’s leading authorities on nutrition said most people would not have expected him to write this, but this is what he wrote in one of his books, “Coffee is a remarkably safe beverage. Its dubious health history, which stretches back hundreds of years, is more image than substance.”

The author of that statement explains that researchers produced many studies of coffee drinkers who came to a bad end. But in retrospect, these studies proved to be defective. The bad end was caused by the subjects’ smoking, not by their coffee drinking. Now experts agree that coffee is a safe and even healthy beverage. This may be good news that ranks with the recent revelation that dark chocolate (the darker, the better) is loaded with healthful antioxidants and – in small amounts – to avoid a calorie problem – is even upgraded to a heath food.

The above quote is from Dr. Walter C. Willett of the Harvard Medical School who co-developed an excellent book on nutrition with the Harvard School of Public Health entitled Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating (2001). Of course, this doesn’t mean you can consume any amount of coffee (and the caffeine it contains) without some adverse effects.

Dr. Willett writes, “Drinking too much coffee can give you the shakes, make you irritable, and keep you from sleeping. It’s also addictive. Regular caffeine consumers tend to get nasty headaches if they miss their morning cup(s). Drinking espresso, French press, or other coffee that doesn’t drip through a paper filter can increase your cholesterol a few points. And people who drink a lot of coffee may be more at risk for developing osteoporosis or breaking a bone. In moderation, though, coffee is low on the totem pole of health risks and even has a number of benefits.” They include lower chance of developing kidney stones and gallstones. In addition, in a major study, it was found that coffee drinkers had a 50 percent lower risk of suicide than non-coffee drinkers.

He notes one unresolved health issue for coffee drinkers: “One lingering concern about coffee is its potential for increasing bone loss and risk of fracture. Increased risks with four or more cups per day have been seen in several studies, but the final answer is not in. Given the body of research on coffee, it’s safe to say that there aren’t any major health hazards lurking in the murky depths of you cup. In short, when drunk in moderation, coffee is no threat to your health.”

Other authoritative experts on diet and health have taken this same view. For example, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Complete Food and Nutrition Guide (2nd Ed.- 2002) gives coffee a clean bill of health: “No scientific evidence has been found to link caffeine intake to any health risks, including cancer (pancreatic, breast, or other types), fibrocystic breast disease (benign fibrous lumps), cardiovascular disease, blood cholesterol levels, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, infertility, birth defects, or osteoporosis.”

The ADA does have a few special cautions:

“If you are pregnant or nursing … it’s wise to go easy on caffeine.”

If you have a medical problem, you might want advice from your doctor on caffeine consumption. For example, in the case of stomach problems, “both caffeinated beverages and their decaffeinated counterparts” can be chancy for some, as both stimulate the flow of stomach acids, which can irritate the stomach lining.

If you are older, you should be aware that caffeine sensitivity sometimes increases with age. You should also be cautioned against letting coffee (or tea or soft drinks) take the place of more nutritious foods or beverages. What might be excessive caffeine varies from individual to individual and may depend on many factors.

The latest material I’ve seen on coffee contains an even more ringing endorsement of the drink. Bottom Line Health (June 2007) carries a column by an expert on food-based chemical compounds, Dr. Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton, with the headline, “The Amazing Healing Power of Coffee: Fight heart disease, diabetes, memory loss and more…with coffee.” Some of these benefits have been demonstrated by epidemiological studies, but further clinical studies will be necessary to confirm the first results. Here are some of those study findings:

-A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (May 2006) found that women who drink one to three cups of coffee daily are 24 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

-Another study in the same publication noted above (February 2007) found that older adults (age 65 and older) who had four or more servings of caffeine daily had less than half the risk of these who consumed smaller amounts.

-A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (June 26, 2006) found that postmenopausal women, who drank four to five cups of coffee (especially decaffeinated), were 16 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

-A study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (August 2006) found that non-coffee drinkers had four times the mental decline of coffee drinkers.

-A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (June 12, 2006) found that coffee might reduce the risk for cirrhosis of the liver, especially in alcoholics.

These latest findings are in addition to some of the benefits of coffee and caffeine documented by earlier studies or experience:

-Caffeine can help you stay alert and prevent fatigue.

-Caffeine may enhance mental performance by “increasing alertness and the ability to concentrate.” Readers Digest, Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal (2004).

-Many athletes claim that one or two caffeine drinks an hour before a competitive event improves performance, especially in endurance sports.

-The Reader’s Digest book claims caffeine “may abort an asthma attack by relaxing constricted blood vessels.”

-Caffeine can also boost the pain-relieving effects of some analgesics, and that’s why it is in many over-the-counter pain relievers. Caffeine may have some anti-cancer effects.

The book Nutrition for Dummies (2004) by Carol Ann Rinzler summarizes the case for coffee this way, “In moderation, coffee definitely qualifies for anybody’s list of superfoods.”

The caffeine in coffee, tea, chocolate and certain soft drinks (mainly colas) may have similar effects, but each of the four types of caffeine-containing foods has different effects on the body.

Boris Erlikh
Gloria Jean’s Coffees
http://www.gloriajeans.com

Author: Boris Erlikh
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If I can give up coffee, anyone can, including you! I was totally addicted. I LOVED coffee and the caffeine rush! I drank coffee all day, everyday. I depended on it for motivation, creativity, and problem solving.

Without coffee, I became depressed, lethargic, and anxious. I would go into a panic if I couldn’t get some coffee before an important event like giving a speech, taking an exam, or leading a meeting.

It took countless attempts before I figured out how to give up coffee. Between each try, I learned a little bit more about how to quit coffee. Eventually the information and experience accumulated into a formula that proved successful. Armed with this formula I found it rather easy to give up coffee. Here’s how I did it.

Caffeine Addiction Knowledge

The first step is to learn about what you are dealing with in terms of caffeine’s addictive properties and the likely withdrawal symptoms.

Caffeine is a drug. The human body actually becomes physically addicted to it. That’s why you feel good when you get your first cup of coffee in the morning and it’s why you feel bad when you try to give it up. The pleasure that you feel when you drink your first cup comes from satisfying the caffeine cravings produced by your body’s initial withdrawal symptoms. This happens because your body wasn’t getting its periodic fix of caffeine for 6-8 hours while you slept.

The pleasures you feel are not the fulfillment of those comforting storylines that you see in coffee commercials and print ads. The pleasure is your body’s relief response to getting the caffeine that it needs to function normally!

Withdrawal symptoms from caffeine include anxiety, nausea, lethargy, muscle tension, headache, constipation, and inability to think clearly. The inability to think clearly is also one of the disadvantages to drinking too much coffee.

There is a host of emotional addictions to the caffeine high as well. Some of them include the belief that with the caffeine stimulation you will perform better and have more confidence. The rush certainly provides that illusion, but the rush is brief and when it’s gone you get the opposite effect.

In order to give up coffee successfully, it’s important to understand what your body and emotions will go through for a few days during withdrawal. The intensity of the withdrawal depends on many factors including your daily intake amount, how long you’ve been drinking coffee, and your age.

As with most drugs, physical withdrawal lasts about 3-7 days. Symptoms are the most intense at the beginning and then they taper off significantly. Psychological withdrawal lasts about 30-90 days. Symptoms are the most intense during the first 21 days and then they are sporadic and progressively easier to handle in the weeks and months that follow. These durations vary depending on the individual.

If you understand ahead of time how you’re going to feel for a few days after you give up coffee, you can prepare yourself emotionally and arrange your schedule if need be. This does not mean that you should focus on the withdrawal symptoms, however. In fact, you should focus on anything else but the subject of coffee. Selecting issues and activities to concentrate on during this period is a crucial part of preparation.

Disadvantages and Advantages to Giving Up Coffee

If you consider just the withdrawal symptoms, it would be hard to see any advantages to drinking coffee. I know that there are proponents who talk about the so-called benefits of coffee. I wonder who’s distributing this information… the coffee companies?

Although coffee is not anywhere near as bad for you as cigarettes, I find it interesting how the brainwashing methods are similar. After you’ve seen or listened to thousands of coffee commercials over dozens of years you can understand how you associate the good life and pleasure with drinking coffee. These are that same tactics cigarette companies used during the early to mid 20th century to get millions of people to use their product.

Coffee and cigarettes are two of the greatest products ever conceived. Why? Because they are both highly additive! Your eventual physical need (withdrawal symptoms) forces you to buy their product on a continual basis. How much different is that from a person on the street corner who sells crack cocaine or methamphetamine? Is this discussion making you angry? I hope so. Use it as one of your motivations to give up coffee, and cigarettes too!

I was motivated to give up coffee because of the physical and emotional seesaw I experienced throughout the day and the difficulty I had sleeping at night. The reason that it’s difficult to sleep at night — assuming the you don’t drink coffee too late in the evening — is that your body is in the beginning stages of withdrawal.

I grew tired of relying on a drug for my motivation, enthusiasm, and energy. Coffee’s promise of providing energy is a crock! You’ll find out when you quit that it actually takes it away!

I also wanted to give up coffee in order to improve my appearance. Coffee stained my teeth and made my face look drawn and tired.

My number one reason for giving up coffee was my determination not to be controlled through addiction or brainwashing to use a drug that did me no good.

Come up with you own list of reasons for giving up coffee. This doesn’t have to be a complicated task. Just jot down the most powerful reasons for you to give up coffee. Keep this list handy, as you may need to refer to it during the first few days after quitting.

Gradual Reduction, Then Replace with Green or Herbal Tea

You can give up coffee cold turkey, but why put yourself through that unless you need an unpleasant experience to refer to later to bolster your resolve.

To ease yourself off caffeine, I would recommend that you do it in these two steps.

1. Gradually reduce the amount of coffee you drink based on a predetermined schedule. Let’s say you normally drink 5 cups of coffee a day. Over a one week period, cut out one cup per day so that by the sixth day you’re at zero.
2. On your first day without coffee, which would be the sixth if you follow step 1, replace the habit and preparation ritual with green or non-caffeinated herbal tea. Green tea has the lowest amount of caffeine of most teas, but don’t expect any similar coffee rush – it will be very mild.

Your best choice is non-caffeinated herbal tea. But if you need a little transitional assistance, as I did, drink green tea for few days and then non-caffeinated herbal tea for a few days after that.

Sneak Away From the Addiction and Habit

During the first couple of weeks, and especially during the first few days, you may get messages from your physical and psychological body that screams, “I want some caffeine!” What it wants is the rush! It wants the pleasure of satisfying the cravings! Your mind may come up with some amazing excuses, justifications, and reasons for giving in. The key is to recognize them for what they are — caffeine cravings – and ignore them.

The way I dealt with this was to postpone consideration of whether I was going to give in or even give up coffee forever. The idea of forever was a difficult concept to get my head around at that point. I would tell myself, “I’ll think about that later on or tomorrow. I have other issues to deal with right now.”

Looking back on how I played this game with myself several months later, I defined it as sneaking away from the addiction and habit. Trying to deal with it intellectually when you are in the middle of physical and psychological withdrawal is a game that you can easily lose. If you consider how your brain is in an upheaval and misfiring during withdrawal, you can understand why you cannot trust it for a few days. All it knows is that it needs and wants caffeine to function normally and it will tell you anything to get it. When a person quits smoking cigarettes, they go through the same thing but it is much more intense. I know what it’s like, I quit smoking as well.

The stronger the reasons you identify for giving up coffee, the lesser the impact that the physical and psychological withdrawal will have on you, if any. My reasons as discussed above, were a diverse mix fuel by some strong feelings of being fed up and angry.

I was tired of being controlled by caffeine. I was tired of the negative impact caffeine was having on my body and emotions. I was tired of the stains coffee was putting on my teeth. And I was tired of being a victim of the brainwashing by the coffee companies.

I do not believe that coffee companies are evil enterprises selling a product that maims and kills like the cigarette companies do. But I can not see any benefits to putting their product into my body. Knowing how much better I feel physically and emotionally without it is certainly solid evidence to me. When you give up coffee, I think you’ll feel the same.

Brad Paul
http://www.guruhabits.com/

Copyright Brad Paul

To see the original article with graphics and links, click: http://www.guruhabits.com/give-up-coffee.html. Brad Paul is the founder of Guru Habits.com, which provides FREE self improvement and lifestyle enhancement resources. Brad left home at 15, lived in a boy’s home, graduated college with honors, headed a marketing group responsible for $400 million in annual sales, wrote 3 books, and now works on projects that improve people’s lives.

Author: Brad Paul
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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