Coffee Coffea arabica

I have a three to four cup a day coffee habit, not uncommon among those of us who spend most of the workday at a desk, pecking at a keyboard for a living. Americans consume the equivalent of 500 cups per person - per year and import half of the worlds coffee crop. Caffeine is the world's most widely used central nervous system stimulant, with approximately 80% consumed in the form of coffee.

Coffee's reputation as America's favorite bad habit has been redeemed with Many recent reports in scientific literature pointing out many benefits of regular coffee consumption. These health benefits include statistically lower rates of stroke, ¹⁶¹² diabetes, ¹⁴⁴⁷ prostate cancer, ¹⁴⁴⁶, and depression among caffeinated coffee drinkers when compared to non-coffee drinkers.

The welcome surge of alertness and energy that the morning cup of coffee aids our start to the work day. Caffeine and caffeinated coffee have been shown to improve short-term alertness, attention, and memory, and may have long term protective benefits on cognitive decline as well. ¹⁷³³ Many studies confirm the common knowledge that aspirin or other analgesics provide work faster and better on headaches when combined with caffeine.

The caffeine in coffee and tea is a chemical cousin to the asthma drug theophylline, drinking coffee and caffeinated teas can help calm an asthma attack and stop coughing spasms. ^{White,Linda B., M.D.}

Coffee consumption has always been a mainstay for dieters and has been associated with long term weight loss, likely from the thermogenic effects of caffeine raising the metabolic rate. Green coffee extract is another component that may be a factor. Green coffee extract, (GCE) is obtained mostly from green or raw coffee, as some of coffee's active, antioxidant compounds are damaged in the roasting process. GCE is believed to suppress the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides, in other words works as a fat burner. There have no side effects reported in studies when using GCE, but the studies have been small in scope so far. Green coffee extract is not a "magic pill", however, it may be a good supplement to try as part of a healthy approach to weight loss. ¹⁷³³

As in all things balance is key, coffee's worst aspect may be that it crowds out the many other healthy herbal teas and drinks we should be consuming during the course of the day. Not all coffee studies have produced positive results and dosage may be a key factor, along with coffee chemotype, processing, and preparation. The dosage most frequently associated with decreased risk is one to three cups/day or approximately 350 mg caffeine/day. However, several studies have reported increased mortality associated with consumption of = four cups/day. Individual variables may also influence the effects of coffee and caffeine.