I am not a coffee junkie but I take two servings each day. First is early in the morning and the second, early afternoon.
Instant coffee is my choice early in the morning to recover lost sugar from my daily exercise. In the afternoon, I take brewed coffee in Internet cafes so I can avail of their wifi connection.
Coffee has come a long way since the Yemeni Sufis started drinking the beverage in the 15th century. Today, billions of people drink coffee every day generating a mind-boggling business – 151.3 million 60-kg bags in 2015/2016.
Since its discovery, people have been taking the drink to joggle them up early in the morning, to warm up, get an energy boost, for refreshment and to enjoy relaxing moments.
Then in 1652, a Pasqua Rosée, a London coffee-shop owner, popularized coffee as a health drink. He claimed that the beverage is good for digestion, prevent and cure gout and scurvy; that it is good for headaches, stomachaches, and may even prevent miscarriages.
That sent the medical world into a mad scramble to verify or debunk the claim. The results have all been in favor of coffee elevating the beverage to one of the superfoods – food types which are full of nutrients for your health and well-being.
Here are a few of them.
5 Health benefits of coffee:
1. Slows down age-related cognitive function decline:
Cognitive functions (reaction time, processing of information) of people start declining at age 60 (though some experience it at age 40).
This decline is attributed to unhealthy lifestyles, vascular diseases (abnormalities in the blood vessels), genes, oxidative stress, and inflammation, to name a few.
But it can be slowed down.
Two studies involving seniors show that caffeine improves attention span, psychomotor performance, cognitive functions, as well as feelings of well-being.
And a British study involving 9,003 adults shows that they are more susceptible to the performance-enhancing effects of caffeine on their mental performance than younger subjects.
2. Lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes:
In a 2009 study, a systematic review of 457,000 people, and 21,897 newly-diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes from eight different countries showed a negative association between coffee consumption and risk of developing the disease.
And one report shows that regularly drinking coffee reduces the risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 23 to 50% – but only if no creamer or sweetener is used with the coffee.
3. Reduces the risk of degenerative disease:
This type of disease, common among seniors, is characterized by the progressive deterioration of nerve cells ultimately resulting in their death. Examples are Alzheimer’s, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Huntington’s and Parkinson’s.
Various studies show that a regular consumption of coffee reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s – one of this type of disease and the most common.
4. Protects the liver:
Coffee has also shown to protect the liver against liver cirrhosis (loss of liver cells and irreversible scarring). This is backed up by long-term studies of both men and women from six different countries.
Again, this is true if no creamer or sugar or other sweeteners are used with the coffee.
5. Boosts energy:
Caffeine, the active ingredient of coffee, is a stimulant and can give you a quick, but temporary, energy boost. It allows you to start a new day running.
Be careful, however, to limit your consumption. Too much caffeine in your system is over-stimulating which can affect your heart and sleep patterns.
Health risks of coffee:
Too much of anything, however, is harmful – even coffee.
Consuming more than 5 to 7 cups of coffee per day can lead to significant dehydration, a condition you must avoid at all cost. It will affect the nervous system making you feel jittery; may upset your stomach and give you sleep problems.
Too much caffeine in your system can cause high blood pressure, reduced bone density, and anxiety, among other things.
Coffee is one of the world’s most favorite beverages (together with tea). On the average, Americans consume more than 60 billion of cups per year, with people 64 and above consuming more than any age group.
The history of coffee has been very colorful – from making goats go “high” after nibbling its leaves, to a favorite drink around the world, to a superfood you must make a part of your diet for to improve your health and well-being.
Please help other seniors by sharing this article.
~oOo~
You articles are great.. thanks for sharing