Coffee is the most popular beverage around the world with more than 2 billion cups being drunk every day. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love a creamy latte, or an espresso made from their favorite bean.
Its rise in popularity comes from its abrasive aromatic flavour, psychoactive affects and social currency and now research has uncovered some important health benefits. Coffee contains caffeine and other bioactive ingredients which are the key ingredients to enhanced health benefits. These bioactive agents have shown to be anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective. Having just 3-4 cups of your favourite coffee each day may reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. This popular brew has also been shown to reduce the risk of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and specific cancers such as endometrial, oral and melanoma.
However, it’s worth noting that while coffee may have benefits for some, caution in it consumption is required if you are pregnant, at increased risk of bone fractures, have digestive diseases or disorders, have high blood lipids, or have bladder or lung cancer.
A standard cup of coffee is approximately 95mg therefore 300-400mg per day is recommended for optimal health benefits according to the latest research. It is also important to consider your infinity to caffeine. A low infinity means you can have 3-4 cups per day and feel no effects whereas those with a high infinity may have increased blood pressure, jitteriness, anxiety and insomnia. While drinking coffee is a delightful addition to those health benefits and a pleasurable part of your lifestyle, there are other factors that make a bigger impact on your health such as eating a balanced diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.
If you’re a coffee lover and want to enjoy the coffee bean a little differently, try this Coffee Chia Smoothie bowl.
THIS WEEK’S RECIPE: Coffee Chia Smoothie bowl
Written by Alissa Larrescy and Brady Schulz (Accr
edited Practising Dietitians, Accredited Nutritionists, Advanced Accredited Sports Dietitian from Healthy Lifestyles Australia)
Comments are closed.