Nourish
Coffee in the Spotlight: The Latest Coffee Research and Benefits
The coffee growers. The roasters. The baristas. And the consumers, coffee has a way of bringing us together. Let’s take more of a look at coffee and its benefits.
Now and again, you hear about Coffee hitting the big time in pop culture. I can see why? Coffee, mmmm, so creamy, it's like caramel coloured liquid gold, oh how I love it!
Online searches for the health benefits of Coffee have skyrocketed by over 650%— Wow!
A lot of the searches are reported as health-related. So what's captured the attention of Coffee? Let's find out, and weigh up the latest coffee claim.
What is Coffee?
Coffee is the most popular drink in the world. It is grown in over 70 countries and consumed by more than 500 million people. And if you're anything like me, you can't start your day without it!
Coffee beans are roasted before they are ground and brewed to produce Coffee. Roasting the beans is crucial to their taste as it determines their flavour, acidity, and body. Roasting also helps release oils which contribute to the flavour of the Coffee.
There are many different varieties with different tasting profiles found worldwide.
Coffee contains caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system and increases heart rate. This effect is why some people have trouble sleeping after drinking Coffee.
A Little Bit of Coffee Nutrition
Coffee contains a reasonable amount of Niacin (B3), potassium and antioxidants. But if you drink coffee espresso-style, where half of the cup has milk or a milk alternative, there's an added benefit of calcium and protein that comes with it.
Are There Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee?
Coffee was recently studied for its therapeutic properties for chronic liver disease protection. The study ran for several years and compared coffee drinkers to non-coffee drinkers. Research reported a protective benefit of drinking Coffee in preventing or progressing chronic liver disease.
Sounds promising, but before we hit the local coffee store to purchase an annual supply of coffee beans. The study is only very early, and more rigorous blinded studies will be needed.
How much Coffee is okay?
There are no specific recommendations for drinking coffee, but there are for caffeine intake which recommend:
- Pregnancy or Breastfeeding: 200mg of caffeine a day (approx 1-2 cups of coffee depending on the strength),
- Adults 400mg daily (2-4 cups of coffee depending on the strength)
I know if I have 2 coffees, I'm a jittery mess, and the enjoyment I get from that first coffee is never the same. Whereas my husband could drink four coffees and not notice any difference.
Being a stimulant, the higher caffeine that comes with drinking Coffee will likely affect your nervous system, and if you are prone to anxiety, it can increase anxiety levels. It's just something to be mindful of, and if this is the case, decaf might be a good alternative.
3 More Reasons this Dietitian Enjoys Coffee
It's always good to reflect on the other reasons we enjoy the foods we do over and above physical benefits. Here are a few of mine.
- It's something I look forward to every single morning
- Is a great way to catch up with friends and colleagues over a coffee and explore new coffee shops to try.
- Did I say It's something I look forward to every morning? I really do!
Do you drink Coffee? How do you like it?
Me?
Strong, with soy milk and 1 sugar (oh and chocky sprinkles on top, please ;)
Add your fave coffee (or give a plug to your favorite coffee shop) in the comments below ☕
Image credit. Sarah Pflug, Tomáš Hustoles
1 comment
I like flat whites. I learnt to love them in Rundle st! Bravo! Three a day please!