For millions of people coffee is a part of their daily life. Therefore, it stands to reason that we must consider its affects on a person's health. In times past it has been thought to be bad for you. That opinion is now changing and in fact some health benefits have been discovered.
One believed culprit in coffee ? caffeine - considered an unhealthy stimulus because it causes a raise in heart rate and blood pressure. Now it is understood that there is really no dramatic affect and any affect it does have is very brief.
Continued research has discovered that not only is moderate coffee consumption not a health risk, there are some benefits.
Large amounts of coffee are believed to have a healthy affect on your colon, possibly lowering your risk of cancer. But this benefit requires that you drink over 4 cups daily which could be a bit excessive.
There are positives affects that coffee can have even when consumed in moderation.
Recent medical studies have produced much information on the benefits of antioxidants, and these are found in great quantity in coffee. In fact there are more antioxidants found in coffee than in tomatoes and cranberries. Antioxidants are beneficial because they cleanse the blood of harmful cells that can deplete the bloods oxygen and make a person more susceptible to certain types of cancer and heart disease.
Parkinson's disease is one of the most debilitating and heartrending diseases around. Certain studies indicate the possibility that in addition to contributing to awareness of mind coffee also helps lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's sufferers.
Another distressing disease is diabetes. Studies show that it is possible that coffee, both regular and decaffeinated, lower your risk of developing two kinds of diabetes. A great benefit indeed!
The caffeine in coffee also assists the digestive process by producing more acid in the stomach. This results in a decreased possibility of gall and kidney stones and makes for better digestion overall.
Theophylline, a bronchodilator is of great benefit to those who suffer from asthma. This property of coffee helps open the air passages and easier breathing.
However, as with anything with the positive affects come the negatives.
Though mammalian sperm swim faster, longer and farther in fluids laced with coffee some studies link heavy coffee drinking with reduced fertility.
Increased coffee consumption has been associated with higher blood levels of homocysteine, recently shown to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Other studies show an increase in LDL-cholesterol (the 'harmful' kind). To what degree these factors actually contribute to heart attacks is a matter of debate.