What new research says about daily coffee consumption
This is for all the coffee lovers out there! I was once told “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” however, some exciting research suggests the same could be true for coffee.
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks of choice across the world. The stimulant effects of caffeine and the anti-anxiety effects have been widely studied. We know that coffee drinking is linked to various positive health outcomes, such as a lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases but what we didn’t know was how it worked.
Well, we do now (sort of).
The article states that “coffee employs similar pathways of promoting health as assumed for other vegetables and fruits” and that coffee beans could be considered a healthy vegetable food (still to be determined). It may be good for your gut health too! They have established the health benefits may be due to the phenolic acids and polyphenols.
Polyphenols are a large group of naturally occurring organic compounds. They have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and are beneficial for both the brain and body. We get polyphenols from plant foods, like fruit and vegetables. Another major dietary source of polyphenols is coffee. And so, research is starting to discover that the reason coffee is good for us may be similar to the reason fruit and vegetables are good for us.
However, now seems like a good time to make a reminder that caffeine may not be suitable for everyone. For some, caffeine can cause anxiety and interfere with bowl movements. The research by no means suggests that everyone should be having a daily coffee. If you’re prone to anxiety or have IBS, you might already avoid it. However, if a coffee or two a day is what you love, then it may be better for you than originally imagined.
As this research is relatively new, it means that these ideas behind how and why coffee is good for us have yet to be fully established. It is though, an exciting area to follow.
For coffee lovers everywhere, I’ll keep you posted!
Working With Wellness 