Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Does Coffee Have Antioxidants?

Coffee is chock-full of healthy antioxidants. It has been said to be an American’s largest source of antioxidants; with bananas coming in at a distant second. Our favorite morning beverage is naturally rich with polyphenols, powerful molecules that prevent the damage caused to our bodies by those infamous “free radicals.”
In scientific yet simple terms, free radicals are unstable molecules that are by-products of our metabolism and produced when our cells grow and die. These unstable molecules want nothing more to become stable again so they bond with other healthy molecules resulting in cell damage, disease, and aging.
Diseases and conditions attributed to free radical damage include:
  • Heart Disease
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Colon Cancer
  • Increased Incidence of Gallstones
Antioxidants stabilize the free radicals preventing them from doing damage to our healthy tissue. Our bodies produce their own natural antioxidants to combat the free radicals but we can get extra from consuming plant-based foods, including coffee.
In addition to the prevention of the disease as we mentioned, antioxidants also:
  • Invigorate the Immune System
  • Inhibit Overall Aging of Cells and the Body
  • Boost Immune System
  • Improve Blood Flow
  • Improve Eye Sight
  • Slow Down Bone Loss
Not only is coffee natural high in these beneficial antioxidants but it has been found that the roasting processing creates its own healthful compounds. Coffee is purported to have more antioxidants than green tree. If you’d rather avoid caffeine, go for a decaffeinated brew for the same benefits. Other foods in which you will find antioxidant nutrients are fruits and vegetables, nuts, seed oils, whole grains, lentils, and beans.
Elizabeth Dennis writes for a variety of home and garden topics. If you are looking for replacement pots for your favorite coffee maker, jump over to our website now. Find some fantastic deals on Braun replacement pots.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Dennis

Monday, May 16, 2011

Coffee and 10 Health Facts

Coffee, like red wine, is a drink with both health benefits and dangers. Because coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant, it can increase the heart rate, boost adrenaline and up your cortisone levels. With this increased stimulation comes both pros and cons.


To learn more about the health impact of coffee, keep reading for 10 critical health facts about coffee.

1. Reduced Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

A recent study published in the European Journal of Neurology shows that people who drank about 2 cups of coffee per day were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease when compared to people who only drank a cup a day or less.

2. Better Cognitive Performance

There may be another reason why students guzzle coffee during late-night study sessions – those who drink coffee regularly often perform better on short term memory recall, verbal memory and logical reasoning tests.

3. Increased Constipation

While Coffee is a stimulant and can therefore stimulate the bowels, it is also a diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate the body and contribute to constipation. However, alternative medical practitioners often prescribe coffee enemas to clear out the colon. 

4. Antioxidants

Coffee contains a number of antioxidants, particularly methylpyridinium which is formed during the roasting process.

5. Increased Anxiety or Sleep Problems

People suffering from anxiety or insomnia should not drink large amounts of coffee or caffeine products, especially after noon. Because it’s a stimulant, it can keep you up and give you coffee jitters if drunk in excess.

6. Reduced Risk for Parkinson’s Disease

A recent study showed that heavy coffee drinkers, those drinking more than 3 cups a day, were less likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease when compared to non coffee drinkers or light drinkers.

7. Increased Cholesterol

The health risk of increased cholesterol only applies to coffee brewed with a French press. Coffee made with a regular paper filter tends to trap the brew’s natural oils, therefore not causing as high of a cholesterol risk.

8. Reduced Risk for Gout

Thanks to its diuretic and stimulant properties, regular coffee consumption has been shown to reduce the incidence of gout in men.

9. Stained Teeth

Coffee will stain your teeth. While this isn’t a health risk, it can adversely affect your teeth and their natural enamel. No doubt your dentist will routinely remind you of this drawback.

10. Pain Killer

If you read the ingredients for many over-the-counter painkiller medications, you’ll see they contain caffeine. This is because coffee and caffeine increase the effectiveness of these medications despite the need to be cautious of excess.

For additional informative details on coffee and enticing flavors that explode your taste buds, please visit [http://www.coffeetryst.com] a popular site with insights on coffee options, such as flavored decaf coffee [http://www.coffeetryst.com/flavored-decaf-coffee.shtml], gourmet coffee gift baskets, and many more!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wesley_Johnson