For years, doctors have been telling us to beware of the side effects of coffee. Coffee is said to be harmful to health, as it can raise blood pressure, cause heart problems and ulcers or possibly induce diabetes. It seems that current studies contradict these claims. According to some scientists, moderate coffee consumption is even beneficial to health. It is obvious that, like anything else, wisdom imposes certain limits.
Published in April 2012 in an American journal of clinical nutrition, a recent study confirms that coffee can actually reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Of course, we are talking about "pure" coffee, i.e. without the addition of sugar, sweeteners, milk or any other substance. To be beneficial, coffee must be consumed in the "right way".
Like any natural substance, coffee is a mixture of hundreds of different elements. Each isolated element could indeed be toxic, but nature does it right. And it turns out that the proportions of the natural mixture of these various components neutralize the harmful effects of caffeine for example.
Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world and depending on the dosage and the way it is used, it can be useful or harmful. Normally, caffeine blocks the action of adenosine. Normally, adenosine slows brain activity and induces sleep. Some people who are very sensitive to caffeine will have problems falling asleep if they drink coffee in the evening.
It is important to know that natural caffeine concentrations vary depending on the species of coffee bean and the way it is made. The way coffee is roasted, ground or brewed directly affects the amount of caffeine it contains. And contrary to popular belief, darker beans contain less caffeine than lighter ones, because prolonged heat breaks down the caffeine molecules. Bean species also differ widely in their natural caffeine concentrations. Coffee whose water has slowly passed through a filter actually contains more caffeine than an espresso whose water passes through the filter very quickly. Generally speaking, the finer the grind, the higher the caffeine concentration. If you think you are very sensitive to coffee or caffeine, it may be the sugar you add to it or the petroleum derivatives used in roasting, rather than the caffeine itself. Indeed, coffee contains many other contaminants that can trigger intolerances and reactions such as heartburn, heart palpitations or anything else that is usually related to a sensitivity to caffeine.
Numerous studies, recently published or to be published in the near future, confirm the protective effect of coffee on type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent fatty diabetes. Coffee would act in a significant and preventive way towards Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. This is of great interest to pharmaceutical companies who are rushing to develop drugs that mimic the effects of coffee. In 2011, a study of nearly 50,000 men showed that those who drank 6 cups of coffee a day had a 60% reduction in risk of developing fatal prostate cancer. As for those who drank 3 cups a day, their risks were reduced by 30%. Similar results were obtained by observing cases of fibrosis, steatosis, hepatitis C and liver cancer. The active ingredients in coffee seem to reduce the risk of kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, colon cancer in women, but also cardiac arrhythmia problems for which there would have been significantly less hospitalization. The benefits of coffee have also been observed on the lung function of non-smokers and on the gastrointestinal flora. Thanks to it, the activity and/or the number of Bifidobacterium in the intestine increases. The main thing to remember from these latest observations is that coffee, which is unjustly accused, irrefutably stabilizes blood glucose levels.
Here are some more virtues of this hot drink with a strong taste and aroma.
The research also proves that coffee triggers the release of a brain growth factor, which in turn activates the development of new neurons. This is manifested by a better muscular activity since there would be an optimization of the motor neurons. These motoneurons are essential since they act as true starters of muscle activity. With advancing age, this muscular process seems to atrophy and decrease. The absorption of natural caffeine could therefore maintain the youthfulness of brain and muscle tissue. Drinking coffee would increase our metabolism by up to 20% and would be beneficial if consumed before physical exercise. It would allow the energy processes necessary for the training session to be initiated more quickly.
Coffee stimulates the adrenal glands, so it is recommended in cases of adrenal exhaustion. This type of burnout is very common nowadays, due to excessive stress levels. Coffee also has a diuretic effect.
A very thorough study from a molecular point of view shows that heavily roasted coffee replenishes blood levels of vitamin E and glutathione, which are both very powerful antioxidants. It leads to a significant reduction in body weight in fat people and even those close to obesity, as well as preventing the stomach from secreting excess acid thanks to a particular molecule it contains. Many other improvements have been observed, but it would be tedious to list them all.
Coffee beans are among the most heavily sprayed crops with pesticides, so it is absolutely essential to choose organic and/or quality coffee. Be aware that all of the beneficial effects disappear if the coffee has been in contact with pesticides or other chemicals. It must be consumed quickly after opening the package, otherwise it loses its aroma quickly. If your coffee doesn't have a pleasant aroma, it's probably rancid and stale. Make sure the water you use is pure. The beans chosen for its preparation should be as dark as possible, since they will be less concentrated in caffeine and the "espresso" method remains the best in terms of the optimal content of the various components of the coffee. Remember that synthetic caffeine does not have the same virtues and that this type of caffeine really increases the risks of exceeding the optimal doses. Roasted coffees, whether French, Italian, Turkish or in the form of espresso, have the best neuroprotective principles, unlike green coffees (unroasted).
If you use paper filters to make your coffee, make sure they are unbleached. The bright white filters are bleached with chlorine products and contain dangerous by-products such as dioxin that were used for their disinfection. Chlorine-based products are harmful to your health. Pay attention to the container you are using. Avoid plastic cups and Styrofoam cups. Glass and ceramic cups are still the best containers.
To ensure that the roasting is sufficient and done in a natural way, you can roast your coffee beans yourself. Currently, many stores offer dry, organic green coffee beans in packages or by weight. You will see the cost of your coffee reduced by at least half and the investment in a small roasting machine will be quickly regained. Not to mention that you will be guaranteed to retain all the nutritional properties of the coffee beans you roast yourself.
In order to maintain its effectiveness, coffee should be consumed immediately after preparation, in moderation and without adding sugar. The slightest addition of sugar removes all of the benefits listed above. In addition, it causes insulin spikes, which contribute to the development of insulin resistance.
If you follow all these tips precisely and remain reasonable, there is really no reason to deprive yourself of the pleasure of enjoying a good coffee if you like it, especially since you will benefit from all its "therapeutic" and preventive wealth.
Nevertheless, coffee is not recommended for pregnant women.