Is Coffee Good for You?

Is Coffee Good For You?

It’s a question that has been floating around for many years with the answer frequently changing from yes to no and back again.  It’s just one of those questions with no absolute answer.  However it seems now that research has settled on the fact that it does have proven health benefits and it may have a few side effects that you need to be aware of too.  That’s good news, because more than 50% of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee per day, and it’s the second most consumed beverage world wide, second only to water!

Some people drink coffee because they love the taste, others like the way it makes them feel. I may drink it for both of those reasons but particularly I love a great tasting coffee.   I can enjoy it even more though if I know it’s having a positive effect on my body.

The biggest health benefit of coffee is that it’s high in antioxidants and these help to protect your cells against damage and oxidative stress.  They can also help lower the risk of certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and may also decrease the risk of stroke by keeping your blood vessels flexible and healthy.

Maybe we don’t think about anti-oxidants and their disease fighting properties when we enjoy our morning cup, however we are more aware of the increase in mental alertness and energy.  Research has shown that coffee consumption can lead to improved memory, mood and cognitive function and studies have shown that coffee drinkers may live longer and happier lives.

There are other benefits too such as improving athletic performance, boosting metabolism and drinking a cup of coffee can also reduce sugar cravings and help with weight loss.  So what could possibly be the downside?  Most people can drink up to 2 or 3 cups per day without any negative side effects but it can become addictive and you may find yourself needing to drink more to get the same level of stimulation.   Simple coffee may be considered healthy but that’s not including any of the added milk, sugar, artificial sweeteners and flavored syrups which may look fancy but will do nothing for your health goals.

Nowadays not everything is created equal and when faced with so many options you need to know how to choose the right coffee.  Which of those shiny packages is going to give you the ultimate taste in coffee while delivering those promised health benefits?  Here are a few tips to help you find what you’re looking for:

• If it’s a choice between whole bean or ground, go with whole bean every time.  It may take a little more time & effort on your part but the fresh tasting flavor in your cup will reward you for your labor.  The grinding process exposes more surface area of the coffee bean to the elements (air, moisture & light) and coffee can lose up to 60% of its aroma just 15 minutes after grinding.

• Know your beans!  Look for beans that are from a shade grown coffee farm.  Here coffee plants grow under a canopy of assorted shade trees inhabited by varieties of birds, plants & insects which help to protect the plants.  Growing coffee in this way eliminates the need for pesticides and toxins so you’re getting clean, flavorful beans and it also protects the workers and the natural environment.

• What’s your favorite roast?
  Certainly the origin of the bean will affect the taste of your coffee but the bigger influence is the way the beans are roasted.  This process transforms the raw green seeds into the dark bronzed beans with their distinctive aroma that we use everyday.

Although no coffee is grown in Europe, the Italians have certainly adopted it into their cafe culture and perfected the roast to their own liking, with a bitter sweet flavor profile that can be enjoyed solo without adding any cream or sugar.

That’s exactly how the Papa Vince family enjoys their coffee.  We’ve been searching for a long time for a quality of coffee that matches our Extra Virgin Olive Oil and now we’ve found one, we can’t keep it to ourselves.  Papa Vince coffee takes shade grown Central American coffee beans, roasts them to Italian perfection and now we’re ready to ship them directly to your door.  Whichever way you like to drink your coffee, we know that you’ll love the exquisite taste of Papa Vince Italian coffee.

Try Papa Vince Whole Bean Coffee Now >>

Sources:

draxe.com “is coffee good for you?”

Coffeeconfidential.org “what’s wrong with buying pre-ground coffee?”
time.com “is coffee good for you? Is coffee bad for you?