You'll be pleased to learn that many of the foods and drinks you love are not just "okay" as an occasional indulgence--they're good for you! Let's begin with coffee and tea...and I request you to read my linked articles on wine and beer, and on chocolate.
Coffee is made from the roasted and ground seeds of some tropical trees or shrubs of the genus Coffea.
An Arabian legend tells of a goatherd who made a beverage from berries growing on strange shrubs, and after drinking it experienced spectacular, clarity N �����Ѵਹ and wakefulness. The shrubs were said to have been planted by the descendants of the Queen of Sheba, who came from Ethiopia, where Coffea arabica originates.
Coffee Tea
Nearly 20,000 scientific studies to date have been conducted on coffee or caffeine. Here, in a nutshell, are the results: not only is drinking coffee in moderation no threat to health, it for real can be a boon. It is unobjectionable even while pregnancy, and children are no more sensitive to caffeine than adults.
The midpoint American consumes about 200 milligrams of caffeine daily, approximately the equivalent of two cups of coffee (a figure that of course includes those who drink none at all). "Moderate" consumption is commonly defined as 300 mg daily--two to five cups of coffee, or four to eight cups of hot tea, depending on the size of the cup.
Which has more caffeine, coffee or tea? It depends. On a pound-for-pound basis, tea has more. But because less tea is required to make a cup of tea, commonly a cup of coffee has more caffeine--approximately twice as much. There are also considerable variations in the collection of coffee or tea and the brewing method used. Dark-roasted coffees may contain less caffeine than more lightly roasted beans; arabica beans tend to have less caffeine and milder flavor than robusta.
"Decaffeinated" coffee and tea contain about 5 mg per cup.
Caffeine is a central nervous principles stimulant. While individuals vary in their sensitivity to caffeine, some generalizations apply. Caffeine can increase the speed of rapid information processing, alertness, energy, endurance, motivation, and concentration. All this has leading implications especially for night shift workers and for drivers, as well as for anything wanting to remain effective on the job after lunch. This alertness-enhancing follow also can comfort the malaise linked with the base cold. (Now, that's good news for those of us who prefer coffee but feel obligated to switch to herbal tea with the onset of a sore throat or stuffy nose!)
Caffeine soothes headaches by constricting blood vessels in the brain, which in turn reduces cranial pressure. So it's no surprise that it's an active ingredient in headache relievers.
Some studies have linked caffeine consumption to a decline in levels of depression and anxiety.
Caffeine has long been known to help asthmatics, many of whom have found quarterly consumption of coffee to have a moderating follow on attacks. That's no surprise, either, thanks to the ingredient theophylline--a drug prescribed for symptomatic relief of bronchial asthma.
Higher caffeine intake is linked with a significantly lower incidence of Parkinson's disease. That's because caffeine intake reduces the amount of dopamine depletion, one of the characteristics of Parkinson's.
Last but not least, caffeine stimulates metabolism.
Caffeine aside, coffee has a complex chemical composition. A characteristic of many plants is the plenty of compounds with antioxidant properties, and coffee is no exception. Flavonoids are particularly allinclusive in plants and likewise leading in disease protection.
Antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer and preclude good (Hdl) cholesterol from turning into bad (Ldl) cholesterol, a cause of heart disease. Antioxidants neutralize the follow of "free radicals," very reactive molecules that voyage colse to the body causing chemical chain reactions that can damage cells, by binding with the extra electrons. Free radicals also have been concerned in strokes, cancer, and the aging process. Substances with antioxidant performance are found to be generated in the roasting process.
Coffee is a good dietary source of potassium. That makes coffee a good option as a diuretic; potassium loss is an undesirable side follow of most diuretics. Coffee can reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver.
Tea is made from the leaves of a shrub of the Camellia genus.
The Chinese first gathered tea leaves in the wild, and have cultivated the tea plant at least as far back as 350 Ad. The court of England's Charles Ii in the 17th century established tea as a fashionable drink for the elite.
The firing, fermenting, and/or oxidizing that is done to the leaves determines either the tea will be green, black, or oolong.
Tea is a source of vitamins A and B6, thiamin, and riboflavin; nicotinic, pantothenic, ascorbic, and folic acids; manganese, potassium, and fluoride.
Flavonoids are found in all types of tea; green tea has the top concentration. Tea is being studied for its benefits in enhancing immune function, lowering Ldl and raising Hdl levels, reducing blood pressure, thinning blood, reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer, expanding longevity, aiding digestion, and promoting dental health.
There is convincing evidence for a protective follow of both coffee and tea against colorectal cancers, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. High coffee intake decreases the urination of bile acids, which are suspected carcinogens to the colon. Because of its diuretic properties, caffeine may help lower the risk of bladder cancer.
Greater intakes of coffee and tea, both quarterly and decaffeinated, were linked with a decreased risk of kidney stone formation, significantly more so than water. (A dinky advantage was found in caffeine-containing coffee over decaffeinated.) Interestingly, increased consumption of apple and grapefruit juices correlated with increased risk of stone formation.
One study has found that habitancy who drink coffee are less likely to suffer heart disease than are tea drinkers. This may not, however, be a right cause-and-effect relationship: maybe habitancy who choose to drink coffee have more youthful/healthful lifestyles in other respects.
Science has debunked the dark myths that caffeine contributes to breast cancer, bladder cancer, ulcers, indigestion, and osteoporosis.
Is there any guess not to consume caffeine? In some patients, caffeine is linked with temporary rises in blood pressure, so habitancy with high blood pressure might be advised to avoid caffeine while high-stress times.
Moreover, those more sensitive to caffeine may not be able to drink coffee or tea late in the day because caffeine delays the onset of sleep. Worse, some habitancy may not be aware that they are not as rested the following day as they should be, and thus may be more prone to fatigue-related accidents.
Is it possible to come to be addicted to caffeine? Coffee drinkers do not exhibit the behaviors that define addiction--severe seclusion symptoms, tolerance, the need to consume the addictive substance at all costs, and antisocial behavior together with crimes. Neither coffee nor other products containing caffeine are classified by drug dependence experts as addictive.
Nevertheless, giving up caffeine suddenly can be unpleasant. The most base seclusion symptoms contain headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, depression, and flu-like feelings. Weaning oneself gradually--say, over a week--should minimize the discomfort.
So drink up--without the guilt.
Coffee and Tea Are Good for Us? Yes! (First in a Series)Friends Link : Coffee Tea Espresso Appliances
