Coffee. To drink it or not to drink it? 2015 kicked off with another spate of headlines on the benefits of coffee. Once demonised, coffee is increasingly proving to be the good guy when it comes to healthy ageing. Yes, one more of those irritating u-turns that makes us want to give up altogether and live off cream buns and booze. But read on, because when it comes to coffee, the pendulum has swung too far to be ignored.
Recent Studies On Coffee
Last month, the Journal of Nutrition published a study concluding that a moderate intake of coffee (3-5 cups a day) has a beneficial effect on our cognitive abilities. Apparently it helps preserve our brain cells as we age and could help prevent neurodegenerative disease (like Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s). And last week, a new rash of headlines appeared: a Korean study found that coffee could improve heart health by preventing the clogged arteries that result in heart attacks.
Here is some credible information about coffee and clean arteries from BBC. Two February reports linked coffee with a reduced risk of MS, and endometrial cancer, while a January report linked coffee with reduced melanoma risk. These studies followed a flurry of reports linking coffee with a lower risk of stroke and heart failure.
The turning point for coffee came with a 2008 Harvard study involving 130,000 people over 20 years which found no link between coffee consumption and reduced mortality. Subsequent reports linked coffee consumption with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (interestingly this included decaf) and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s. A huge 20-year Scandinavian study then found that those drinking coffee in middle age had a 65% lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
A Florida study furthered this by finding that even people with early onset Alzheimer’s could halt symptoms – if they consumed coffee. A study of mice took it even further – finding that caffeine could actually reverse some elements of Alzheimer’s (specifically memory impairment). Experts now think that caffeine acts in conjunction with another as-yet-unspecified ingredient in coffee that boosts levels of something that fights the process of Alzheimer’s.
A Portuguese study then found similarly positive links with Parkinson’s, reporting that for every increase of 300mg per day in caffeine intake, there was a 24% drop in the relative risk of developing Parkinson’s. It’s the same story for cancer, a Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health went on the record saying coffee appeared to act “as a protective agent in cancers linked to obesity, estrogen and insulin with lab tests showing it has more antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables.” More recently, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risks of liver cancer, skin cancer and prostate cancer, as well as deteriorating eyesight and blindness. The case for coffee is mounting day by day.
But How Much Coffee To drink?
300mg daily seems to be the recommended amount, which is roughly 3-4 cups of real coffee or five cups of instant.
[pullquote] Don’t forget that caffeine’s also in tea, chocolate and some colas. [/pullquote]
But is it the caffeine or the other nutrients? Surprisingly, coffee is rich in anti-oxidants, as well as minerals like magnesium and chromium which help regulate insulin, perhaps explaining the link between coffee and reduced rates of type 2-diabetes. Again, scientists aren’t clear on which coffee components should take the credit or whether it’s the interaction of these components.
When Is Coffee Bad?
So let’s look at the downside of coffee. Pregnant women and those wanting to get pregnant are still advised not to consume large amounts, as are people with high blood pressure. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that caffeine could cause anxiety symptoms in “vulnerable patients,” including those with pre-existing anxiety disorders. If you’re feeling particularly stressed or anxious, you may want to reduce your caffeine intake. When my husband nearly died from adrenal gland failure, every single Doctor told him to give up coffee. He hasn’t drunk a cup since. Stress and coffee is still not a good combination. But for those of you mindfully cruising through life, a couple of cups of coffee a day may well be to your benefit. The recipe below is a great way to get your coffee without actually having a coffee:
Morning Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 shot of coffee, espresso size
- 2/3 cup of almond milk
- 1/2 tsp Acai berry powder
- 3/4 cup frozen berries
- 1 tbsp. unshelled hempseed or flaxseed
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Directions
If you remember you could make the coffee the night before and leave it in the fridge to cool completely. Otherwise make the coffee and set aside until cool. Put all the ingredients in a high speed blender and whizz until perfectly smooth. You may add some additional ice cubes to chill further. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Tip: Add a few flakes of sea salt to it, gives it a nice touch.
