well, let me give you some ideas why coffee is a big part in our health.
Coffee has been revving up people for more than 1000 years, and with over 21,000 studies on its signature stimulant, caffeine, scientists have solved pretty much every mystery, except the popularity of the decaffeinated half-soy caramel frappchino. Add the cream of that scientific knowledge to your cuppa to maximize its benefits for . . .
...YOUR HEALTH
A recent US study by the University of Scranton found that coffee is a significant source of antioxidants, reducing cancer and heart disease risk.
Harvard researchers also found that drinking more than four cups a day defends against gallstones and cirrhosis of the liver. This is thanks to its soluble fibre, which also explains your midmorning appointment with the sports section.
. . .YOUR HEART
Easing fears of heart-breaking news for heavy drinkers, Harvard researchers tracked 128,000 people for 20 years and found drinking more than six cups of coffee a day didn't increase heart disease risk.
Even better news: last year, scientists at Brooklyn College in New York found men who drank four cups of coffee a day had a 53 per cent lower risk of dying of heart disease than those who never took a sip. A great excuse to lurk round the coffee machine in the presence of that gorgeous marketing assistant.
. . .YOUR BRAIN POWER
Beyond merely helping you stay awake in that early meeting, drinking one or two cups of coffee before tasks can increase your short-term recall and alertness, reports a study by the University of Arizona.
"Caffeine also has a mild mood-elevating effect," says Dr William Lovallo, professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the University of Oklahoma. "That's because it releases dopamine, which stimulates the area of your brain that is responsible for pleasure."
In the longer term, caffeine has been found to slash your risk of developing Alzheimer's by as much as 60 per cent, and Harvard researchers have also found that drinking four cups a day can halve your risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
. . .YOUR WAISTLINE
Caffeine's an appetite suppressant that also turns up the kilojoule-burning heat of your heart rate and metabolism.
"Drinking six cups per day combined with exercise and a low-fat diet can boost fat-burning by up to a fifth," says Catherine Collins, chief dietitian at St George's Hospital in London.
. . .YOUR MUSCLES
Caffeine revs your nervous system, increasing heart rate and breathing, which primes your body for peak performance. And caffeine may also have a direct effect on your muscles. The experts reckon it triggers extra calcium release in your muscles. "This means stronger muscle contractions," says Dr Terry Graham, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph in Canada.
. . .YOUR ACHING HEAD
Big night? Stick on the kettle. Caffeine increases production of stomach acid, helping your body absorb pain-relief drugs more quickly, according to research in the Archives of Neurology.
. . .AND YOUR SMILE?
An espresso a day may keep the dentist away. Chemicals in coffee prevent tooth decay by stopping bacteria attaching to your enamel, Milan University researchers found.
. . .YOUR BIG GAME
The Australian Institute of Sport found the equivalent of a single espresso before excercise can increase endurance levels by up to 25 per cent, mobilising fatty acids and providing fuel for active muscles. So pack that thermos in your kit bag.
coffee...coffee...coffee... =D
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