Coffee isn't just a vehicle for caffeine, it has more health benefits

Posted by Zebra Organics on 2019 Feb 6th

Here are the stats: 54 percent of Americans over the age of 18 drink coffee every day and the average Canadian consumes 2.6 cups of coffee a day.

Drinking coffee has evolved into an unhealthy habit and is thought of in a similar way to smoking and excessive drinking, as coffee drinkers try hard to reduce their consumption despite the enjoyment it gives them. But why has it evolved into an unhealthy habit and does it deserve a negative reputation?

With the addition of milk and sugar, it's easy to turn a healthy cup of coffee or tea into an unhealthy one. There's a difference between drinking a cup of black coffee and a 24-ounce mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks with whipped cream. This coffeehouse beverage consists of 550 calories - 25 percent of the daily calorie intake for someone who requires 2,000 calories per day. This often leads to weight gain over time, as people don't realize how many calories they are consuming and do not eat less over the course of the day to compensate. Weight gain could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

How much coffee is healthy to drink a day?

A study by Dr. Rob van Dam of the Harvard School of Public Health revealed no negative effects of drinking up to six cups of coffee a day (a cup is 8 ounces with 100 mg of caffeine, not a 16 ounce grande coffee at Starbucks which has 330 mg of caffeine). Research is based on black coffee.

Does research exist supporting the positive health effects of coffee?

Yes. Two of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world are tea and coffee, after water. Drunk without sugar and milk, these are calorie-free beverages full of antioxidants, flavonoids and other active ingredients that may promote good health.

Lower risk of chronic diseases

Green tea has gained a reputation for its role in protecting against heart disease, while coffee may help protect against Parkinsons' disease and liver cancer. Coffee also reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by blocking a substance in the body called human islet amyloid polypeptide that may help diabetes develop, as found in a 2012 study.

The Harvard coffee study reveals that regular coffee drinkers had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than non-coffee drinkers (pending confirmation by further studies).

Good for the brain

Coffee drinkers are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's later in life, according to a 2009 study. Another study conducted on rats found that coffee assisted stress reduction from lack of sleep.

Caffeine helps decrease fatigue and increase alertness

With approximately 2,000 substances in a cup of coffee, the main active ingredient is caffeine. Also, a common ingredient in tea, caffeine in coffee is far more prominent. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee has 135 mg of caffeine while the average caffeinated tea has 43 mg.

Acting as a stimulant, caffeine fosters the release of adrenaline in the body while suppressing a natural relaxant in the brain known as adenosine. This contributes to more energy, alertness and elevated mood.

These are some reasons why we support drinking a cup of warm and energizing coffee. Further research is required to determine whether you should start drinking coffee even if you don't like it. Be aware that excessive amounts of coffee can contribute to raised blood pressure, anxiety and nervousness. Apart from pregnant women and people that have blood pressure or blood sugar problems, coffee is a good, healthy beverage choice.

If you want to improve your health and cannot drink coffee or tea without milk and/or sugar, we recommend focusing on lifestyle factors such as increasing your physical activity, eating more whole grains and quitting smoking.

Zebra Organics is pleased to announce that People Organic's local, organic and fair trade coffee is soon to be available.

A non-caffeinated alternative

Not all tea contains caffeine. As an alternative for those sensitive to caffeine, Zebra Organics carries high antioxidant energizing tea, such as Yerba Mate and Summit Tea Huckleberry Rooibos from South Africa.