Coffee: Friend or Foe? (Part 1)

Enjoy one or two or even three or more cups of coffee a day?

Heard that coffee is bad for you one day and good for you the next?

Technically, both are correct. Here’s a closer look at what that cup of joe is doing for you:

Pros:

• Studies have shown that coffee, being a plant source, holds strong antioxidants from its phytochemicals that boost enzymes and can reduce diseases and help decrease the risk of cancers such as liver and colon cancer.

• Caffeine promotes the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, shown to be depleted in Parkinson’s disease carriers thus it is suggested that regular coffee consumption can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s.

• Researchers believe that caffeine may protect against the development of gallstones as it stimulates the gallbladder, flushing out substances that could cause gallstones.

• Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of Type II diabetes, however, studies used roughly 4-6 cups a day which is a little excessive!

• Caffeine is a well known stimulant and has been shown to improve cognitive function by stimulating the part of the brain that controls working memory and sustained attention.

• Coffee drinking may protect against liver cirrhosis, especially alcohol cirrhosis. One study even found a 22% reduced risk of alcohol cirrhosis for each cup of coffee drunk per day.

• There is some evidence that coffee can control asthmatic symptoms and some allergic reactions when medication is unavailable. It opens airways air ways for up to 4 hours and by getting coffee into your bloodstream, this could buy enough time for one to reach emergency care if necessary.

That cup in the morning may actually improve your life!? There is a flip side, though. Tune into the blog later this week when we take a look at the cons of coffee drinking. Then you can head into your weekend and decide what works for you.

Image Credit via Flickr.