Jump for Java

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 540
Word Count: 392

Monday, May 14th

My husband recently purchased a fancy coffee maker that has more buttons than my cell phone. I was excited to taste that the results definitely rivaled a Starbucks latte. We get the cool noise as the beans are grinding, cut costs without as many trips to the corner store and save the environment from more garbage. I think I have mentioned this before, but I have never been a huge coffee lover. Now, however, I may just convert to a java junkie with our groovy machine and the latest research findings on coffee's health benefits.

The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry reported that coffee contains soluble fiber. There are two types of fiber in our diet, soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is the one that helps us lower our cholesterol. According to Joyce Hendley from EatingWell magazine, there have been a "stream of positive news" about coffee despite the modest 1 gram of fiber per serving. Harvard researches followed over 190,000 people to observe the effects of coffee on Type 2 Diabetes. Regular coffee drinkers were found to have a significantly lower risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes than those who abstained from drinking coffee. In another study, coffee was shown to have protective effects on the heart. Even though coffee temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, these changes are temporary. Hendley reports that the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found people over age 65 who drank 4 or more cups of leaded coffee per day had 53% less risk of heart disease. There is also evidence pointing to a decrease in Parkinson's Disease, gallstones, cirrhosis and liver cancer with regular consumption of caffeinated coffee.

Lead researchers believe that the health benefits are a result of coffee's antioxidants and magnesium content. The recommended amount of coffee for adults is 2-3 cups per day. This amount may not work for you as everyone has their caffeine limit. If you find yourself wide awake watching infomercials about hula hoop Pilates, you need to cut back. If you do not like coffee, no worries. Try not to think of drinking coffee as disease prevention. There are plenty of other things you can do like eat right, exercise and de-stress.

Who knew coffee could be so good for your health? Raise your glass and jump for your java!

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