Should you Make Coffee your Companion?

Over the past year or so, I have really acquired a taste for coffee, one which a cup of tea cannot easily satisfy. The benefits of tea and coffee have long been known: both being high in anti-oxidants (when not taken with milk!). However it has always appeared to me that (white or green) tea triumphs over coffee for health benefits. Well, if you are a chain coffee drinker, researchers at Harvard Medical School have just put coffee back into the health spotlight again for all the right reasons.

Coffee vs. Cancer, Heart Attacks and more..

This latest research shows that those who drink large amounts of coffee can reduce their cancer risk by 60 per cent in comparison to those who drink no coffee. Whilst it was deemed that caffeine was not the responsible element, the researchers could not confirm what this vital compound in the coffee bean was. In another study, researchers in Manchester have supported claims that coffee can cut the risk of heart attacks.

Making your house a Coffee House

As a big coffee fan it was good news to hear of more health benefits being found in the coffee bean. So for those of you that also like the black stuff, here are some of my tips to maximise the enjoyment and health benefits of coffee:

• Perhaps most importantly, drink organic coffee. This should avoid any nasty fertilizers and help to preserve the true natural taste of the bean as Mother Nature intended. If like me, you find that it isn’t always viable to buy organic produce, I’m happy to say that coffee is one item which is an affordable organic product.

• Invest in a caffetiere, so that you can brew freshly ground coffee. The freeze dried stuff may be a bit quicker but has usually undergone more processing and has an inferior taste.

• Beware of consuming coffee less than 4 hours before sleep. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine that others but you should aim for balance and not become a coffee addict. Organic decaffeinated coffee is a great option if you just cannot go without an evening cup.

• Take pleasure in experimenting with various countries and roasting grades. We do this with wines, so why not coffees…

• Organic dark chocolate makes a great complement to a good cup of organic coffee don’t you think?

The Dark Side of Coffee

I have expressed my support for coffee but we need to consider both sides. What about the negative side effects of caffeine that so often grab the headlines? Personally, I have experienced the ‘caffeine headache’ and it is not nice. This was my body’s way of telling me I was drinking too much and was becoming dependant on caffeine. I thought that I should stay clear of anything that had the ability to do that to my body! I feel that I have now reached a happy medium and could go without coffee if needs be and not get a ‘caffeine headache’. As always with life and nutrition, I think balance is the key, and I currently have 1-2 cups per day. Also, as mentioned above, it’s probably better to never take in caffeine 4 hours before sleep and use good decaff coffee if you really want a cup, although we all have different levels of sensitivity to caffeine so you may be fine with 4 cups a day. Although, when I hear people who say they have 10+ cups a day, I think to myself – they have too much time on their hands!

So that you can make up your own mind, I would encourage you to read about why Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training stays away from coffee (and caffeine) on his blog.

**Update: I like to stay on top of my research and thought I would just share another media coffee warning that even a single espresso can put your heart at risk…So you see the coffee debate continues! The latest studies showed that blood flow to the heart was reduced by 22% within an hour of drinking the espresso. Again, we all know that caffeine can give you the ‘G’ up that you need, so it calls for the same advice really – be balanced and know your level of caffeine sensitivity (especially if you have a weak heart!)

Related posts:

1. Gourmet Coffee – Grab a cup of Kopi
2. Energy Shots – Put some Voltz into your workouts!
3. Food for your Mood
4. Should you supplement for Fat Loss? – Bio-Synergy Thermogen on Test
5. Ideas on How to Beat Headaches