Coffee's Bad Rap Came From Cigarettes - Coffee's Actually Not Bad

Get this: for many years scientists claimed that drinking coffee was responsible for all kinds of ailments and illnesses, and they were wrong. In actuality most of the ailments were caused by the cigarettes on which most of the coffee drinkers were puffing. It turns out that coffee and cigarettes are habits that go hand-in-hand for many people, a factor that the studies did not take into account.

Not that coffee is as healthy as, say, a drink from an unpolluted spring high in the mountains. It's not. The caffeine from coffee can be addictive, and those who drink coffee on a regular basis will find that quitting can be somewhat painful. In addition, coffee can be a bladder irritant and disturb your sleep. People who drink a lot of coffee are also at greater risk for developing osteoporosis.

Health Benefits of Coffee

On the other hand, coffee also has its health benefits. Aside from a mild (and sometimes useful jolt) here are a few:

Reduced Suicide Rates

Caffeinated substances act like mild antidepressants. According to the Nurses' Healthy Study, suicide rates 50% less among coffee drinkers than among those who don't drink coffee.

Decreased Chance of Gallstone Development

Although researchers are not sure why, coffee-drinkers are less prone to gallstones than non-coffee drinkers. Part of the reason may be that coffee stimulates the gallbladder to contract regularly, and this movement may not allow gallstones to form. Caffeine also slows the crystallization of cholesterol, which is part of the how gallstones form.

Less Risk of Type-2 Diabetes

According to the Stockholm Diabetes Prevention Program, people who regularly drink significant amounts of coffee (5 or more cups per day) are less likely to develop this kind of diabetes than those who drink 2 cups or fewer.

Like red wine, dark chocolate, and the egg, coffee is making a comeback as a substance that isn't totally sinful, and actually has health benefits. As with everything we put into our bodies, "moderation in all things, even moderation" is a fabulous motto to follow!

Alan Joel is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and nutritional counselor. He is also an independent distributor of Simplexity Health, producer of all-natural blue-green algae products for people, pets, and plants. For free health tips and to order blue-green algae online at wholesale prices at http://www.prosperity-abounds.com/order.html.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Joel

Tweet

Subscribe to receive free email updates: