Coffee Has Its Perks

OK, so I really enjoy a good cup of coffee. As I write this blog, I'm perking a pot of Starbucks Caffe' Verona Decaf. I love the smell of fresh ground coffee beans. I love the aroma of a pot of coffee being brewed. And I love a cup of fresh perked coffee in the morning. It's one of lifes simple pleasures.

And now, new research is coming out that demonstrates coffee's health benefits. Researches have found that coffee is quite high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are generally helpful substances, found in foods, which scavenge unstable molecules (free radicals) in your body. Free radicals contribute to oxidative stress, which, over time, can cause inflammation and other unhealthy changes in your cells.

The February issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource highlights news about these health benefits of coffee:

• Reduced risk of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. A study of more than 27,000 postmenopausal women concluded that coffee’s antioxidant properties may inhibit inflammation and, consequently, development of cardiovascular disease.
  
• Reduced risk of diabetes: It appears that routine coffee consumption, particularly decaffeinated coffee, substantially lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes.
  
• Brain protection: Among a group of 890 older women, a history of consuming caffeinated coffee throughout their life appears to help preserve cognitive skills -- thinking, memory and comprehension -- possibly because of long-term caffeine exposure.
  
• Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease: A large trial called the Nurses’ Health Study found that low levels of caffeine intake reduced the risk of Parkinson’s disease in women who used postmenopausal hormone therapy. In women who didn’t use hormones, caffeine intake at moderate to high levels decreased the risk of Parkinson’s.

So there you have it. I knew there was a good reason why I so enjoy a good cup of coffee. Great taste, wonderful aroma, along with significant health benefits. Coffee has its perks! I gotta go. My coffee's ready!