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Benefits of Coffee
Great news! Coffee is good for us again. It was, then it wasn’t, then it was, then it wasn’t, and now it is again. Hooray for me! Read on to see what’s right for you.
Multiple studies with half a million participants over 10 years found that:
…having two to three cups of coffee a day was associated with the greatest benefit, translating to a 10%-15% lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart failure, a heart rhythm problem, or dying for any reason.
And, it’s not just the caffeine:
People often equate coffee with caffeine, but coffee beans actually have over 100 biologically active compounds. These substances can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, boost metabolism, inhibit the gut’s absorption of fat and block receptors known to be involved with abnormal heart rhythms…
But What Kind of Coffee?
I should mention that the studies were UK based, which means it was UK not US coffee, and there are differences. As with most of Europe, there is a UK preference for espresso, although they do serve filtered coffee, which is what American coffee is called there.
The studies did suggest that it made little difference whether it was ground versus instant, and that caffeinated was better than decaf.
Remember when we thought decaf was better? Science Daily quotes the authors of the UK studies:
“Clinicians generally have some apprehension about people with known cardiovascular disease or arrhythmias continuing to drink coffee, so they often err on the side of caution and advise them to stop drinking it altogether due to fears that it may trigger dangerous heart rhythms,” Kistler said. “But our study shows that regular coffee intake is safe and could be part of a healthy diet for people with heart disease”.
The authors included recommendations for future research on some of the limitations of the studies. As only a couple of examples, the participants were all white, and the studies did not differentiate whitening of the coffee with creamers and such either.
So, although sounds like great news for coffee lovers, because we are all so different, it is always a good idea to check with your own physician on the best way to proceed for you.
And When to Drink It?
Now, if we are going to drink coffee, when exactly should we drink it? Science says we should wait about an hour after wake-up to have that first cup. The reason has to do with something I have posted on before:
And it’s called CAR for Cortisol Awakening Response:
“During the first 30 to 45 minutes that you are awake each day, cortisol levels spike, a phenomenon known as CAR, which can make you feel more stressed in the morning.”
As with most annoying things, there is likely a good reason why it’s so common, which is to say hardwired in, usually to help us survive and thrive.
In this case, the survival advantage would be that CAR activates our alertness and readiness for whatever chaos is waiting to pounce on that day. But too much of a good thing can be crippling, especially for the those whose cortisol is on already on high to begin with.
Some of us are more jittery in the morning than others and, for those who are, it is a good idea to wait until the early morning cortisol settles down, so the caffeine doesn’t increase the jitters.
Waiting also isolates and protects caffeine’s beneficial jolt in energy and concentration from clashing with, and being subdued by, the early morning cortisol.
Alternatives
If you don’t like coffee, or for any other reason not for you, you know you can boost your energy and concentration in many other ways.
Quickest, easiest, cheapest way of all? Just use your breath…anywhere, anytime, by anyone for any reason. Go here, scroll to “Complimentary…” pulldown, select “Power Breathing,” and let us know how it works for you.
Warm wishes.
Madelaine
Photo by Pexels – Pixabay
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