The Health Benefits of Coffee

Everybody talks about how green tea is good for you, but what about the health benefits of coffee? Is there any hope for those who love their morning java?

Studies show that coffee can be just as beneficial as green tea, but in different ways. Over 19,000 studies have been done in the past few decades on coffee's effect on health. In the majority of studies it is found that coffee is better than once thought. In fact, for most people, drinking it has more benefits than detriments.

According to several studies, one of the health benefits of coffee is that people who drink it on a regular basis are 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. And this is not the only benefit; other studies show that drinking coffee can cut the risk of developing gallstones in half and reduces the risk of colon cancer by 25%. There is an 80% less risk of cirrhosis of the liver.

Interestingly enough, drinking coffee can even offset some other unhealthy habits. One study showed that people who smoke but also drink a lot of coffee had less incidence of heart disease as well as liver damage than those who smoked and drank coffee (but it was still higher than those who did neither). Coffee can also help manage asthma, boost mood, stop head aches and even has compounds that help to prevent cavities (although it is also known to stain teeth).

One of the things that makes coffee healthy is that it is loaded with antioxidants. It also has antibacterial as well as anti-adhesive properties. One of these antioxidants is called quinine and has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in rats. This is interesting because a Harvard study showed that people who drank coffee had a reduced risk of diabetes. The caffeine in coffee helps fight off fatigue, zap a headache, and improve concentration, as well as give a mood boost.

On the whole, coffee consumed in moderation (1-3 cups per day) has a positive effect on health.

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The Health Benefits of Coffee

Coffee: The Relaxing Energy Drink

Man has had a love affair with coffee ever since the beans were first discovered and why shouldn't he? This rich aromatic drink can help wake you up, enhance your mood, and possibly even improve your health! It's no wonder that almost two thirds of the entire population of the earth enjoys a good "cup of Joe".

While we typically associate coffee with Columbia or Brazil, the history of coffeeactually begins in Ethiopia where the Coffea arabica tree is native. No one knows the identity of the person who first "discovered" coffee, but it is certain that the beans were used even before 1000 A.D. by tribes in Ethiopia who noticed that it gave them an energy boost. Arab traders visiting Ethiopia brought the plants back to their homeland and cultivated them. Yet it wasn't until the 1400's when the Turks were introduced to coffee at Constantinople that it was widely consumed as a drink, and even mixed with other herbs and flavors.

In ancient history we find that food stuffs that could be stored for a long time became highly valued. This was a huge advantage of coffee beans, which could be harvested and kept for later use. Like any good thing people worked to improve upon it, experimenting with it, by mixing it with other foods and drinks.

Today, there are many varieties and flavors of coffee. The biggest exporter ofcoffee is Brazil. In the Western Hemisphere the most famous coffee producer isColumbia. Vietnam is a newcomer on the coffee production scene and has surpassed Columbia in recent years to become the number two producer of this product.

Coffee needs a special climate in which to grow. It requires a warm temperature, a fairly high altitude, and rich soil. Columbia offers the high-altitude which gives the beans a more acidic taste, Brazil grows coffee at a lower altitude which makes for a sweeter taste. The coffee from Vietnam is also quite good. How coffee is grown, the altitude at which it is grown, and how it is processed, can impart different tastes to the beans. There are bitter tasting coffees, sweet tasting coffees, fruity, chocolaty, and even coffee that is reminiscent of the taste of wine.

Coffee tastes good and can help improve mood as well as give stamina. Recent research shows that coffee can be very good for the health. Studies indicate that people who drink coffee have an 80% reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease. It also cuts the risk of gallstones in half, as well as lessens the risk of developing colon cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. Coffee has antibacterial properties and is also loaded with antioxidants. So it can help to boost immune systems, get rid of headache symptoms, improve concentration and even has been shown to help athletes perform longer and better.

So the next time you sit down and relax with a good cup of coffee, feel good in knowing that not only are you doing something that is going to please your taste buds, you are also doing something that can be good for your health.

thanks to http://www.indepthinfo.com/coffee/ for this great view on coffee