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Coffee Proved to Extend Life
Daily consumption of coffee reduces the risk of death from all causes. For this purpose, for 16 years, experts observed about 190 thousand volunteers of different origins. The relevant study is published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, briefly reports the University of Southern California (USA).
The experts observed about 190 thousand volunteers – blacks, Americans of Japanese descent, whites and Hispanics. Participants in the survey, whose age at the start of the study ranged from 45 to 75 years, depending on coffee consumption, were divided into several groups.
The average follow-up period was 16 years, and by the end of the study about 60,000 people had died, of which 36 percent were from cardiovascular disease and 31 percent from cancer.
After adjusting the results of the study (for gender, age, smoking, alcohol consumption and level of physical activity), it was found that drinking one cup of coffee a day reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by an average of 12 percent, three by 18 percent.
This result was independent of whether the drink contained caffeine. “Coffee includes many antioxidants and phenolic compounds that play an important role in cancer prevention,” co-author Veronica Setiawan explained the study results.
The benefits of natural coffee
– The stimulating effect of coffee. Due to the content of caffeine, the drink has an invigorating effect, which is well known to fans of morning coffee. Why it happens? Caffeine improves blood circulation in the brain and even activates short-term memory, which helps to make quick decisions, increases efficiency and can relieve fatigue. Because of its tonic effect, the drink helps to cope with stress, overcome apathy, lethargy and sleepiness.
– High content of antioxidants. We are well aware that over time, under the influence of oxygen, iron rusts. Free oxygen radicals have a similar effect on our bodies. Antioxidants (or antioxidants) neutralize free radicals, thereby protecting healthy cells in the body. The more antioxidants, the stronger the protection. One cup of coffee contains about 1,000 mg of antioxidants. And that’s 1/4 of your daily allowance.
– Reducing the risk of certain diseases. Regular consumption of coffee can protect a person from diseases such as liver cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. And if you drink coffee without sugar, you can avoid tooth decay.
In addition, coffee has beneficial effects on the immune and digestive systems. The drink increases the secretion of gastric juice, which in turn contributes to better digestion of food.
Six absolutely scientific facts about the benefits of coffee:
1. A large study in Italy showed that adults who drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily have 25% less asthma than those who abstain from coffee.
2. A decade-long study involving more than 86,000 nurses and scientists at Harvard College of Public Health found that women who drank 2 or more cups of coffee a day were 65% less likely to be suicidal, hypertensive and diabetic.
3. A Harvard scientist analyzed 17 colorectal cancer studies in 10 countries and found that people who consumed 4 or more cups of coffee had a 25% lower risk of cancer than those who rarely or never drank coffee.
4. Another 10-year study involving 46,000 people proved that drinking 2-3 cups of caffeinated coffee reduced the risk of gallstones in the male population by 40%. For those who drink 4 or more cups daily, the risk is reduced by 45%.
5. Studies in Japan, Italy, and the United States have shown that people who drink 3-4 cups of coffee daily are 80% less likely to develop cirrhosis compared to those who do not drink coffee.
6. Research at Harvard, Mayo Clinic and the U.S. Veterans Administration has shown that consuming caffeinated beverages prevents the development of Parkinson’s disease. A 30-year study involving 8,000 people proved that 3 to 4 cups of coffee per day resulted in a 500% reduction in the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Nutritionist’s opinion on the benefits of coffee
Coffee is beneficial because:
– Reduces the likelihood of gallstones and kidney stones,
– reduces the risk of colon cancer, – improves mood and reduces the likelihood of clinical depression,
– prevents cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease,
– stimulates the heart and boosts metabolism,
– improves blood flow and kidney function,
– positively affects lung function and reduces the frequency of asthma attacks,
– contains vitamin PP and minerals,
– increases endurance,
– Helps overcome sleepiness,
– It improves memory and ability to concentrate,
– stimulates creative and associative thinking.
Chemist’s opinion on the benefits of coffee
Raw coffee beans contain more than 2000 different substances: proteins, carbohydrates, fats and mineral salts. When roasting its chemical composition changes significantly – it all depends on the degree of roasting. But as a rule, finished coffee beans contain:
– 3% water,
– 13% fats (almost all of which remain in the grounds at the bottom of the cup),
– 25% sucrose, fructose, galactose,
– 8% various organic acids,
– 7% chlorogenic acid (it makes coffee taste astringent and is 60% more in the raw bean),
– Essential oils (they contain terpenes, which give the aroma of the drink, and also serve as excellent antiseptics),
– tannin (gives bitterness; milk or cream can be useful for neutralizing it)
– Caffeine (caffeine content in the finished coffee beans is from 0.6% to 2.7%).
Caffeine is an alkaloid contained in the seeds of the coffee tree, kola nuts and others. It has a stimulating effect on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. It is used as a stimulant, in case of drug poisoning etc.
Natural coffee fights the disease
The most active element of coffee is the well-known caffeine, which is a chemical stimulant of the central nervous system. The most common products that contain caffeine are coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, and about 60 kinds of plants. It is widely used in many light drinks such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and medicines to increase appetite and alertness, for colds, bronchial asthma, etc.
What is the secret?
So why are we “hooked” on coffee? The most popular motive is its ability to quickly tone people up after sleep, instantly fill them up with energy, increase the speed of thinking and physical reactions. This effect is due to the interference of caffeine in certain processes occurring in different parts of the brain. Under the influence of caffeine, the pituitary gland abundantly secretes a hormone, which in turn stimulates the increased production of adrenaline. It is the adrenaline that causes the heart to contract more frequently and the liver to produce more glucose into the bloodstream so that the body can use the extra energy. In addition, caffeine narrows the blood vessels and relaxes the airways, which makes breathing easier and allows muscles to contract with amazing ease. Thus, a cup of coffee in the morning mobilizes the body to be active during the day.
Do you want to determine exactly how many cups your body should consume? This is the full range of caffeine effects on the human body:
Caffeine helps people who are engaged in mental work. It stimulates the brain, increases receptivity and encourages concentrated thinking.
It is proven that the regular consumption of coffee (3-4 cups a day) reduces the risk of cirrhosis in people who are addicted to alcohol, but it’s much wiser not to abuse alcohol.
A Few Facts about Coffee Benefits
Coffee is very good for people suffering from low blood pressure
Our favorite refreshing drink in the morning is able to influence positively our teeth, preventing them from tooth decay, because it possesses a certain set of preventive properties that effectively protect the oral cavity from harmful bacteria.
Caffeine contributes to the accumulation of serotonin, the hormone of happiness.
Coffee contains vitamin PP and about 300 minerals, including antioxidants that are essential to the body. And that’s not all!
Caffeine relieves muscle pain
Scientists from the University of Georgia recommend that during the first week of sports you drink 2 cups of coffee before warming up. This helps reduce the sensitivity to muscle pain.
Coffee protects against cirrhosis
Every additional cup of coffee a day reduces the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver by 22%. These were the findings of American scientists who published a report on a study of 125,580 men and women in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
Coffee reduces harm from smoking
Risk of bladder cancer among smokers is 7 times higher. But if a person is an active coffee drinker, the risk increases only 3-fold. These data were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. True, oncologists remind us that the best method of bladder cancer prevention is to quit smoking altogether.
Coffee increases effectiveness of antibiotics
Iranian scientists from Mashhad University have come to this conclusion. After adding caffeine to antibiotics, the effect of the medicine on Pseudomonas aeruginosa doubled and on staphylococcus a quarter of the time.
Coffee is not contraindicated for pregnant women
An expectant mother can safely drink 3 cups a day without fear for the health of the baby. Provided, of course, that the pregnancy proceeds without complications.
Coffee protects from gout
According to research performed in the USA for 6 years covering 50 thousand men, 4 or more cups of coffee per day reduce the risk of gout by 40%.