For people who like to start their day with a shot of espresso, there’s no better introduction to the world of coffee than learning about its history and what makes it so special. Coffee is a dark, robust, fresh drink made from roasted green coffee beans, the beans of certain Coffea species. Roasting coffee beans start at approximately 14 degrees Celsius, and depending on the bean, roasting time may vary depending upon the region in which the coffee was grown. Once green coffee beans turn from golden to bright red to dark red in color, they are harvested, processed, and then dried. Dried coffee leaves have been used for many years as a way to preserve food. In fact, it was once a common practice to store coffee leaves in chest-on coffins to be used in the morning as a breakfast drink. Click here for more information about fastest coffee maker
Recent studies show that drinking coffee daily lowers the risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer, including colon, bladder, esophagus, stomach, and prostate cancer. One study in particular, a study sponsored by the National Coffee Association, shows a lower risk of stomach cancer in those who drink one or more cups of coffee per day. Another study, this one sponsored by the National Cancer Society, showed similar results when participants were given coffee supplements rather than coffee. The chemicals found in coffee, called antioxidants, help protect our bodies from free radicals, chemicals that can cause damage to cell DNA and the formation of tumors.
There are some common health effects associated with coffee, including increased risks of Parkinson’s disease, gallstone formation, liver diseases, as well as a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. Some studies suggest that coffee can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a mental disorder that causes the loss of memory. While other studies suggest that coffee can increase the risk of certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer, lung and colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer. So it’s clear that there are some real health effects of coffee.
Many people mistakenly believe that coffee is healthier than tea, because both contain caffeine. But coffee beans contain about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated tea. Therefore, drinking coffee is not likely to cause harmful side effects.
Other studies show that coffee drinkers have a lower concentration of oxygen in their brain than non-coffee drinkers. This effect is likely caused by the presence of caffeine, as caffeine disrupts the delicate chemistry of brain cells that determine brain function. Caffeine also increases blood pressure and heart rate, two symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Caffeine can cause insomnia, which further reduces someone’s ability to think clearly. For these reasons, many researchers have linked the caffeine intake to the occurrence of depression.
Other health effects of caffeine include: increased chance of tooth decay, stroke, allergic reaction to caffeine, increased risk of traffic accidents, allergic reaction to peanuts and chocolate, convulsions and loss of consciousness, and liver damage. If you’re drinking coffee on a regular basis, you should seriously consider removing it from your diet. Coffee beans are relatively cheap, so removing it from your diet will make a big change. However, if you’re already drinking other caffeinated beverages, you may be able to continue depending on your personal habits and your tastes.
