Coffee is good for your health. Studies have shown that drinking a moderate amount of coffee is associated with many health benefits. Coffee associations have been shown many times, but they don't prove that coffee reduces disease risk. It's difficult to prove that coffee is good for your health.
It is suggested that you should consume three to five cups of coffee a day, but it is not straightforward. Coffee contains many components that can affect your health in different ways.
Coffee has more to offer than just coffee with caffeine being the most well-known compound. Coffee contains a number of compounds that may affect your health.
Alkaloids. Coffee contains trigonelline, an important alkaloid. It is not known if triconelline has health benefits, but it is thought to have benefits such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
There are polyphenols. Some research shows that compounds found in cocoa and blueberries are good for your heart and blood vessels, and may help to prevent Alzheimer's. Coffee contains a class of compounds called chlorogenic acids.
There are diterpenes. Coffee contains two types of diterpenes, cafestol and kahweol, that make up coffee oil. The risk of cardiovascular disease may be increased by diterpenes.
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There are melatonins. These compounds are produced during the roasting process and give roasted coffee its characteristic flavor and aroma. They may increase the amount of beneficialbacteria in your gut, which is important for overall health.
The way your coffee is grown, brewed and served can affect the compounds in your coffee and thus the health benefits you can see.
Coffee contains chlorogenic acids and can be affected by growing conditions. Coffee grown at high altitudes will have lower caffeine and chlorogenic acid content. Coffee beans with different levels of caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and trigonelline have been shown. Both types have been shown to be beneficial to health.
The amount of coffee roasted is important. The more severe the roasting, the more melanoidins formed. This lowers the chlorogenic acids and trigonelline content.
In the UK, instant coffee is the most popular type of coffee. This is usually freeze-dried. Research shows that instant coffee has higher levels of melanoidins.
Coffee's chemical composition will be affected by how you prepare it. Coffee with higher levels of diterpenes is boiled. Coffee's chemical composition will be affected by other factors, such as the amount of coffee used, how finely it was ground, water temperature and cup size.
Health effects.
Coffee is produced and brewed in a way that is important to the health of your body.
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Chlorogenic acids are thought to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving the function of your arteries. They may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by controlling blood sugar spikes after eating.
Diterpenes have been shown to increase levels of low-density lipoprotein, a type of cholesterol associated with cardiovascular disease. Some evidence suggests that trigonelline and melanoidins may be good for your health.
Adding cream, sugar and syrup will change the nutrition of your cup. They may increase your intake of saturated fats and sugars. Both of these compounds are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and may counter the beneficial effects of the other compounds in your cup of coffee.
People may respond differently to some of these compounds. A study shows that drinking three to four cups of coffee daily builds tolerance to the effects of caffeine. Genetics may be involved in how your body handles compounds.
Coffee may have health effects that are influenced by the gut microbiome. Some research suggests that the gut microbes play an important role in chlorogenic acid metabolism, which may determine if they will benefit your health or not.
Smaller studies show that coffee is good for your health, so researchers need to conduct large studies to confirm that. You should reduce the sugar and cream in your coffee. If you are in good health and are not pregnant, you should continue to drink a moderate amount of coffee.
The story was originally aired on The Conversation.
