Coffee

Though I have never been a coffee drinker, I love the smell of it brewing in the morning. I guess it is because I have happy memories as a child and I knew the smell of coffee meant my mother was up and we were going to have one of her wonderful breakfasts or that we were at my grandmother’s house and we were going to have one of her wonderful breakfasts. My grandmother always had a pot of coffee on the stove for visitors – and a homemade apple pie – and there was always someone at the house visiting!

People have been enjoying the benefits of coffee for over fifteen hundred years. Originating from the Kaffa, Buno, and Ethiopia areas, the main center of production was the port city of Mocha, Yemen, where it was served to Italian merchants and then spread to Europe in the 1600′s. Little did the Turks know that they were serving what would become one of the most popular drinks in history. Coffee houses began ‘brewing’ all over North American in 1668 in towns such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans drink on the average of more than eight ounces of coffee a day.

The benefits of coffee are astounding. Coffee is extremely high in antioxidants (substances that slow down or prevent oxidative damage to our cells and bodies and act as free radical scavengers). In Harvard Health Publication, studies have shown coffee in moderation can reduce the risk of developing gall stones, colon cancer, liver damage, Parkinson’s disease, improve endurance performance in physical activities and cognitive function.

It is recommended that coffee be consumed in moderation since it is a stimulant. Too much coffee or anything for that matter, can do more harm than good, so limit consumption to no more than two cups a day. Over consumption of coffee can cause anxiety or panic attacks and in some cases increase the risk of heart disease in some people. If you find that you are jittery or nervous after drinking coffee, cut back.

The key to brewing a good cup of coffee is to grind good quality fresh beans yourself. As soon as the beans are ground, precious oils that make your coffee taste great are lost. Just imagine how great your coffee will taste from freshly ground beans. A coffee grinder is used for this purpose and a must if you really want a good cup of coffee. I am going to add a personal note here about coffee grinders. I have one and use mine to grind nuts and seeds to make a coating for food instead of breadcrumbs. I grind almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, mix them together with paprika, herbs, a little salt and pepper. This makes a grand coating for salmon cakes or chicken and fish. Then I pan sear, and serve with a mayonnaise, lemon, garlic, and horseradish sauce. Yum. 

I have also used mine to grind herbs if I want them really fine. If you wish to use a coffee grinder for other things, it is best to purchase two – one for coffee and one for grinding nuts, seeds and herbs. Purchase high quality beans, of course choosing the type of bean for a particular flavor is up to you. If your water is poor quality, use filtered or spring water to make your coffee taste even better.   Also consider organic coffee and experiment with different flavor beans to find your favorite. Our parents used to let us have a small amount of coffee when we were kids. They called it coffee milk and it consisted of coffee, pure cream – more cream than coffee and sugar. That was a real treat.

Safe Home Sue is a product specialist for Safe Home Products(R). Safe Home Products, Inc. is a growing e-commerce reseller of consumer products that improve safety, security, health and quality of life. Established in 1999 as a woman-owned business, Safe Home Products serves over 100,000 clients worldwide from its customer service and fulfillment headquarters in Iowa City, Iowa. Safe Home Products offers over 10,000 products including carbon monoxide and radon detectors, emergency preparedness equipment, environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, pet products, pest control solutions, and home medical equipment. They ship to all 50 states and U.S. territories and to most countries.

Author: Sue Wes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee and tea are quickly becoming one of the largest exports of many countries around the world as coffee and tea drinkers quickly spend over $20 billion annually for their daily cup of caffeine. Twenty billion is nothing to be scoffed at these days.

We often hear the dangers of drinking caffeine such as insomnia, headaches, and raised blood pressure (which is not good if you have hypertension). But are there any benefits to drinking coffee?

Here are some interesting facts about the average coffee drinker who drinks three to four cups of coffee each day:

• Regular coffee drinkers have about 1/3 less asthma symptoms than those of non-coffee drinkers according to a Harvard researcher who studied 20,000 people.

• A Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program study of 128,934 nurses found that coffee drinkers were significantly less likely to commit suicide than nondrinkers.

• Average coffee drinkers can have three or four cups of coffee every day without any health risk.

• One study found that coffee drinkers have poorer health habits than those who drank no coffee.

• Some heavy alcohol drinkers who also drink coffee regularly have less incidence of liver damage than expected.

• Another study found that people who drank three to four cups of coffee each day had an 80% lower risk of cirrhosis of the liver and a 25% less chance of contracting colon cancer when compared to drinking no coffee at all.

• Coffee can cause insomnia, and a common complaint among coffee drinkers is that the caffeine disturbs their sleep.

• Another study found that non coffee drinkers are five times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than coffee drinkers and those who drank three to four cups of coffer per day

These are some very interesting facts about the average coffee drinker who drinks three to four cups a day. They have a lower incidence of some problems such as colon cancer and Parkinson’s, while at the same time they have poorer health habits.

The poorer health habits probably stem from grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning as they head out the door rather than sitting and eating a healthy breakfast. Then for lunch, in the middle of a busy day, they might grab another cup of coffee.

Another characteristic is the coffee drinker who has to have something sweet with their coffee. Instead of having an apple or banana for an afternoon coffee break, they have a cup of coffee with a donut. That sounds delicious, but it is not healthy.

Another poor habit is the coffee drinker who drinks to stay awake after being up till late the night before. Getting very little sleep might not seem unhealthy, but it tears down your body’s defenses and leaves you in a weakened condition for an assortment of diseases.

Many coffee drinkers also neglect to drink an adequate amount of water each day. In between coffee cups be sure to get in your eight eight-ounce glasses of water that your body needs each day.

According to these studies, coffee drinkers apparently get some health benefits from coffee. They would get even more benefit if they coupled that with healthy habits such as exercising, eating right, drinking plenty of water, and getting a good sleep.

Carol Stack has written numerous articles and reviews about coffee and related items. She lives with her husband, three children, and various dogs and cats in the United States. Carol and her sister Barbara are constantly adding to their website dedicated to the enjoyment of coffee. Visit it at: http://www.coffeeloversportal.com

Author: Carol Stack
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee can actually be healthy for you! This is good news for all coffee lovers out there. Many people assume that caffeine is bad for you. Caffeine has been blamed for everything from high blood pressure to cancer. Many people still avoid caffeinated beverages because they worry about the health effects. However, current research reveals that not only is coffee safe but it even offers some health benefits.

Some of the most significant research recently relates to caffeine and diabetes. A study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that participants who regularly drank coffee significantly reduced the risk of onset of type 2 diabetes, compared to non-coffee drinking participants. Scientists are quick to caution against increasing your caffeine intake as a way to decrease your risk of diabetes as they aren’t sure why caffeine is beneficial to diabetes and have indicated that more research is needed. However, it does clearly show that coffee may be healthier than people have thought in the past.

In other promising research, at least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s, with three studies showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Also, research shows that coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease.

Contrary to popular opinions, coffee can also actually be beneficial to heart health. One study found women who drink two to three cups of coffee a day have a 25% lower risk of heart disease and an 18% lower risk of developing diseases other than cancer than non-coffee drinkers. And, some research indicates that coffee can offset some of the damage caused by other vices. People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don’t. These health benefits may be linked to the anti-inflammatory properties in coffee as well as its rich supply of antioxidants. On the flip side, however, caffeine is also linked to coronary vasospasms – the cause for 20% of all fatal heart attacks. Both decaf and regular coffee increase cholesterol and homocysteine, the biochemical that is linked to increased risk for heart attack.

More good news about coffee – it also can have beneficial effects that people can relate to on a daily basis. Caffeine can help with headaches as it is a mild analgesic, or painkiller, and it has the ability to increase the availability of other analgesics that it’s combined with. It also can cause blood vessels to constrict which assists with those types of headaches which are caused by the dilation of blood vessels.

Caffeine can improve mood and irritability in some folks. Studies have shown that people report increased well-being, happiness, energy, alertness and sociability after consuming caffeine in moderation. This may be the reason that women who drank coffee were less likely to commit suicide than those who drank none. Beware, however -consuming excessive amounts of caffeine can produce increased anxiety, nervousness, jitteriness, and upset stomach in some people.

Coffee can enhance athletic endurance and performance. Caffeine helps the body burn fat instead of carbohydrates, and it blunts the perception of pain. Both can boost endurance. In fact, caffeine works so well in boosting athletic performance; it used to be on the list of banned substances from the International Olympic Committee. Even though caffeine has now been removed from the list of prohibited substances, the controversy continues as experts differ in their opinions as to whether caffeine consumption on the day of performance can give an athlete an unfair advantage or not.

Why is coffee healthy? This is largely attributed to the antioxidants present in coffee. In fact, a recent study found that coffee is the No.1 source of antioxidants in the U.S., largely because Americans drink so much of it. Coffee has large amounts of antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid and tocopherols, and minerals such as magnesium which are beneficial in a variety of ways. For example, antioxidants help quell inflammation, which might explain coffee’s effect in inflammation-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Magnesium in coffee might help make cells more sensitive to insulin.

This is not to say that coffee is not completely innocent or that you should drink coffee to prevent disease. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient, is a mildly addictive stimulant. And coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat that should be considered. However, the studies clearly show that consuming coffee in moderation definitely can have beneficial effects on your health.

Conclusion: There is no health reason to avoid consuming caffeine or coffee. If you enjoy it, go ahead and drink it in moderation. However, if your goal is to prevent disease, it is too early in the research to say that coffee is a health drink.

Rachel Nielsen is a coffee lover and a coffee fanatic. See her website The Java Press for a more complete coffee resource guide.

Author: Rachel Nielsen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The healthcare community has done its fair share of investigating the effects of drinking coffee, and a subsequent array of health warnings and encouragements have been issued regarding its regular consumption.

Since the liver processes all that we ingest, people living with liver disease, including hepatitis, must be extra vigilant in watching everything entering their digestive system. Coffee is turning heads as a liver cancer and cirrhosis preventative. It has also been noted as a factor in reducing insulin resistance, a prominent liver disease risk factor. The keys to accentuate coffee’s benefits while avoiding any harm are to stay within moderation, be aware of conditions contraindicating its consumption, and be careful of what you add to your brew.

“Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful,” says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. “For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good.”

Benefits of Coffee

The latest research confirms that moderate coffee consumption harbors several benefits, including:

· Reduces the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis

· Decreases risk of type 2 diabetes

· Reduces risk of developing gallstones

· Discourages the development of colon and liver cancer

· Improves cognitive function

· Reduces headache/migraine severity

· Reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease

· Improves endurance performance in long-duration physical activities

· Reduces the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease

Liver Benefits

In a Japanese study, researchers looked at the association between coffee consumption and liver cancer among the middle-aged and elderly. Those who drank coffee daily, or close to it, had about half the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer, than people who never drank coffee. Among daily coffee drinkers specifically, the liver cancer rate was over 200 cases per 100,000 people over 10 years. Among those who never drank coffee the rate rose to nearly 550 cases per 100,000 people. The more coffee consumed, the lower the HCC risk.

Based on data collected from more than 125,000 people, researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in California recently reported a 22 percent daily reduction of liver cirrhosis risk from alcohol with each cup of coffee consumed. Hepatitis c and other liver disease can also cause cirrhosis. Study co-author, Dr. Arthur Klatsky reports that the study found coffee did not protect the liver against those other causes of scarring.

Several studies have demonstrated that drinking coffee lowers the liver enzyme GGT, especially among heavy alcohol drinkers. Although GGT is a relevant indicator of cirrhosis risk, the liver enzyme ALT is a more specific marker of liver injury. Several population-based surveys from Italy and Japan have found a similar inverse relationship between drinking coffee and ALT levels.

Diabetes Benefits

Type 2 diabetes and one of its precursors, insulin resistance, have been making headlines in various health reports as a leading cause of fatty liver disease. (Read the posted article, How to Prevent a Fatty Liver.) After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculated that compared to those who do not partake in America’s favorite morning drink, people who consume one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by up to 10%. Having six cups or more each day slashed men’s diabetes risk by 54% and women’s by 30% over java abstainers.

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants, including a group of compounds called quinines that when administered to lab rats, increased insulin sensitivity. This increased sensitivity improves the body’s response to insulin. Coffee also has large amounts of magnesium and the antioxidants, chlorogenic acid and tocopherols. Each has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, reducing the risk and severity of diabetes.

Possible Harm

As reported in the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, coffee is not completely devoid of risks. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient, is a mildly addictive stimulant with cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and occasional irregular heartbeat. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding coffee and its effect on women’s health issues such as breast health, gynecological cancers and osteoporosis. Coffee has also been reported to aggravate previously existing gastrointestinal ulcers.

Researchers are quick to point out that caffeine is a drug, and can be abused if used in place of a good night’s rest or a healthy diet. We each have our own thresholds for caffeine. Most people can tolerate two cups of coffee each day without a problem. But any more than that may cause nervousness, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, sleeplessness and irritability. It can even lead to health problems such as osteoporosis or high blood pressure. Additionally, skipping your usual morning cup of joe can lead to a caffeine withdrawal headache.

Brew Additives

The greater risk of coffee consumption lies with the ingredients typically added to java. Creating a “light and sweet” drink carries an entirely separate set of hazards. Whipped cream, flavored syrups, half-and-half, sugar, sucralose and aspartame can contribute to diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease and toxic liver reactions. Below are the statistics for a few common coffee additives:

· 2 tablespoons of flavored liquid nondairy creamer = 80 calories and 4 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon of plain liquid nondairy creamer = 25 calories, 2 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon half-and-half = 20 calories, 2 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon cream = 50 calories, 6 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon whipped cream = 90 calories, 9 g fat.

· A drizzle of Starbucks caramel syrup = 25 calories.

· 2 tablespoons flavored syrup = 80 calories, no fat.

· 2 tablespoons malt = 90 calories, 2 g fat.

· 1 tablespoon mocha syrup = 25 calories, .5 g fat.

· 1 teaspoon sugar = 15 calories.

If you prefer your coffee light and sweet, choose your additives wisely to support the healthful benefits offered by your beverage.

Putting it all Together

Individuals with pre-existing liver disease, or who are at high risk of its development, may want to think twice before sacrificing the enjoyment of a coffee ritual. While the proof of coffee reducing the risk of cirrhosis is limited to alcohol-related cirrhosis, its benefits transcend this one condition. In its entirety, this evidence supports coffee’s role in liver health. When selecting your beverage of choice, consider coffee’s ability to reduce insulin resistance, improve liver enzyme levels and prevent against liver cancer. As long as you do not harbor another risk factor to prohibit java consumption, proceed moderately and are conscious of the additives you chose, feel good about lifting your favorite cup in support of your liver’s health.

References:

http://www.cnn.com, Coffee May Cut Alcohol Liver Damage, Reuters, June 13, 2006.

[http://www.coscic.org], Coffee and Liver Cirrhosis, The Coffee Science Information Centre, 2006.

http://www.health.harvard.edu, Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women’s Health Watch, Harvard Health Publications, 2006.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com, Coffee Consumption Reduces the Risk of Liver Cancer, April hivandhepatitis.com, 2005.

http://www.medscape.com, Coffee, Caffeine Consumption Associated with Reduced Liver Disease, Karla Harby, Medscape Medical News, May 2004.

http://www.mercola.com, Coffee May Prevent Liver Cancer: Should You Add it to Your Morning Routine?, Dr. Joseph Mercola, 2006.

http://www.onhealth.webmd.com, The Buzz on Coffee, Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, WebMD, Inc, March 2006.

http://www.webmd.com, Coffee, the new health food?, Sid Kirchheimer, WebMD, Inc., March 2005.

This article was prepared for LiverSupport.com. Visit us to learn more about liver health, natural liver remedies and the benefits of milk thistle.

Are you taking coffee for that extra burst of energy in the morning? Learn more about an herbal supplement that is clinically proven to aid your body in creating more energy at the cellular level – without the use of stimulants.

Author: Nicole Cutler
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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