Benefits Against Diabetes
According to the study, regular coffee drinkers are significantly less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who do not drink coffee. At the University of Helsinki in Finland, a study done in 2004 by Professor J. Tuomilehto found that there is a correlation between the onset of type 2 diabetes after the age of 40 and the decrease of coffee consumption from middle age onward. Coffee reduces the body’s sensitivity to insulin, and in several test cases, men and women who drank more than six cups of coffee per day actually reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 50% for men and 30% for women.
Benefits Against Parkinson’s disease
What about something like Parkinson’s disease, which affects an estimated 4 million people worldwide? Although Parkinson’s can’t necessarily be ceased from developing, two studies published in the November 2000 issue of the scientific journal for the American Academy of Neurology found that coffee consumption can either reduce or delay the onset and development of Parkinson’s disease, as well as increase mobility functions for those who already suffer from the disease’s effects.
Benefits Against Cancer
Still not convinced? Consider a statement made by the American Institute for Cancer Research in 1997, and later confirmed in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention in 2000, that drinking coffee does not increase one’s cancer risk - in fact, it may assist in the prevention of liver cancer! The results of a wide-scale Japanese study on the beneficial association between caffeine and liver cancer was published in a 2005 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
A Source of Antioxidants
The truth is, coffee contains natural antioxidants that can actually help cleanse the body and assist in disease prevention – and it’s no secret that antioxidants are absolutely crucial in reducing the chance of heart disease, one of the world’s worst killers. The World Coffee Conference in 2001 resolved that, in moderation, coffee is beneficial for human health – but that’s just the key: moderation. When taken in moderation, coffee can give the drinker a boost in alertness, reduce migraines, and even help in controlling asthma, according to Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Coffee Studies.
Healthy Habits
How can someone moderate their coffee intake? One suggestion made in the Harvard study was that drinking smaller quantities throughout the day would be beneficial for people who enjoy coffee all day long and not only in the morning. Since too much of anything is never good, drinking smaller quantities more frequently would provide the same heath benefits as drinking a large mug of coffee in the morning – and reduce the likelihood of binging on coffee throughout the day and consuming too much. Drinking coffee in moderation might be better attained through using a different brewing method – namely, using espresso makers for one’s daily doses rather than using drip coffeemakers, since espresso makers provide smaller servings.
And that’s good news for coffee devotees. When taken in moderation, coffee can be a very, very good thing!
About the Authors
Andréanne Hamel and Luc Cloutier are successful business owners and espresso lovers, providing valuable information for proud users of home makers like the Rancilio espresso machine as well as for coffee shop and restaurant owners going for an automatic commercial espresso machine. Their many articles offer valuable insight in a fun and entertaining way. |
