The Truth About Coffee

Historians generally agree that coffee was first discovered around the third century in Abyssinia, know known as Kaffa.

The legend goes that a goat herdsman called Kaldi was rounding up his goats when he heard a ruckus a little ways off. Going to investigate he discovered some of his goats jumping and frolicking wildly by some shrubs which bore red berries. Curious to see whether the energy they enjoyed was derived from the berries, he grabbed a handful and gobbled them down. Kaldi did not find the flavor pleasant but found their effect quiet pleasant. He felt renewed and ready to complete his task.

Grabbing up a handful of berries for the trip and another to share with his wife, Sharon, he completed his journey.

After experiencing the effects of the red berries, Kaldi’s wife felt the berries were God’s gift and should be shared with the monks at the local monastery. It was written that after introducing the “berries” to the monks the monks became more diligent in their prayers and devotions and even had more energy to perform their every day duties.

The coffee plant is native Ethiopian and still grows wild there today. It was the Arabian countries that began growing coffee beans as a crop. The first known coffee shop was opened in Istanbul, Turkey.

The great coffee plantations of Latin America began with just one live cutting of a coffee tree brought to Martinique in 1714 by a French naval officer named Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu. South America became the coffee center of the world after the Dutch took plants to Surinam in 1718, and after the Boston Tea Party, coffee became the number 1 hot beverage in North America.

Gourmet coffee became extremely popular in the 20th century when the hotel Maxwell House in Memphis, Tennessee started serving freshly brewed coffee. The above information was located at: http://www.volcanicacoffee.com/ and the site offers free samples of their product.

Asthma protection

According to The Green Pharmacy written by James A. Duke, Ph.D. an asthmatic patient had gone on her honeymoon and forgot her medications at home. At some point during her trip she started wheezing. It was then she realized that she did not have her medications with her. The panic she felt caused her wheezing to become worse. She was saved when she recollected reading about coffee being a substitute for asthma medication. She quickly drank three cups of coffee. Her wheezing subsided, and she was able to send a “thank you” note to the columnist and pharmacist, Joe Graedon, who advocated the use of coffee.

Coffee, which contains the well known stimulant caffeine, also contains two natural anti-asthmatic compounds theobromine and theophylline which help to stop bronchospasms and open constricted bronchial passages. This information is not meant to encourage anyone to avoid their physicians care or advice concerning the treatment of asthma or any other ailment.

Coffee is not the diuretic it has been claimed to be

Studies have found that the statement regarding coffee being a diuretic is untrue. In tests conducted by Lawrence Armstrong, a professor of exercise and environmental physiology at the University of Connecticut, 60 men were tested and divided into three categories. Twenty men maintained a caffeine intake of 226 milligrams daily, which is equivalent to two cups of brewed coffee, 20 took 452 milligrams of caffeine (equivalent to 4 cups of brewed coffee) and the final 20 avoided caffeine altogether. At the end of the study, which monitored 20 different indices of hydration, all 60 men had similar hydration variables. The results are published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, and are explained by Armstrong “Caffeine creates a diuretic effect in the body, this is true. But a diuretic effect is not the same thing as whole body dehydration. What caffeine does is cause a brief increase in urine output followed by a decline.”

Armstrong then went on to comment that had the participants drank a liter of water their urine output would have increased, however no one would consider them to be dehydrated.

Coffee does not worsen gerd

In 2005 the results of a study conducted by Swedish researchers evaluating the lifestyle of 3,000 participants to determine factors on heartburn. While finding that smoking, and high sodium foods increased the risk for GERD, they found that consumptions of coffee, tea, and alcohol did not. The study did indicate that there are individuals who coffee did irritate their symptoms, and those individuals are advised to avoid consumption.

Participants sleep lighter

In another study conducted in Canada in 2006, published in the Journal of Neuropsychopharmocology, scientists conducted sleep studies concluding that caffeine caused participants to sleep lighter, and not enjoy the full recovery of good night’s rest. It was recommended that caffeine intake be restricted prior to sleep.

Decaffeinated vs. caffeinated

In a study conducted by Dr. Robert Superko of the Fuqua Heart Center in Atlanta participants drank black coffee. After all the information was compiled and presented to the American Heart Association in 2005, it was found that drinking decaffeinated coffee leads to a rise in bad cholesterol, however drinking regular coffee did not. Dr. Superko concluded that the difference could perhaps be found in the bean. Decaf coffee is usually made from the Robusta bean and regular coffee from the Arabica bean. The difference may not seem significant, a mere 10 points, but for someone who is trying to lower their cholesterol it may be important.

The same study was used to draw conclusions regarding caffeine vs. decaffeinated and its effect on hypertension. The study concluded that those with high blood pressure would be wise to avoid or curtail caffeinated beverages.

Caffeine for exercising

According to Armstrong, a cup of coffee is an excellent choice for a pre-race snack. He states that coffee is more for the rowers, cyclists, swimmers and runners who cover long distances than those who participate in an event that lasts one or two minutes. It improves the mood and ability to remain focused, which improves the overall workout. Approximately 300 to 500 milligrams should be consumed by the average 150 pound athlete about 60 to 90 minutes prior to exercising.

Caffeine worsens diabetes symptoms but helps improve risk

James Lane, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University recommends those with type 2 diabetes to try and give up caffeine. Caffeine seems to increase the spike in glucose and keep it higher longer. But on the other hand studies have shown that those (non-diabetics) who drink coffee improve their odds of not becoming inflicted with type 2 diabetes.

Coffee and pregnancy

Mark Klebanoff, a pregnancy epidemiologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recommends that expectant mothers give up caffeine or at least limit their caffeine consumption to one or two cups daily. While the facts are not all in on this topic (it is understandably a difficult study to conduct), it would be wise to err on the side of caution for the sake of the unborn child.

Protection against parkinson’s

Alberto Aschero, a leading scientist who works at Harvard as a professor of nutrition states “So far, the research has consistently shown a link between a lower risk of getting (the disease) and a moderate consumption of caffeine” while speaking on his study regarding coffee and the link to Parkinson’s.

In a 30-year survey conducted in Hawaii it was found that non-coffee drinkers faced double the risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to those who drank one 4 oz. cup of coffee daily.

The above information is available at MSN Health & Fitness.

Coffee has undergone many studies regarding its benefits and preferred flavors and has definitely stood the test of time. Some studies have advised against coffee consumption, but no doubt there are readers drinking a hot cup of coffee made to their specifications, as they read the article. Then there are the articles that boast the benefits of drinking a daily pick me up of coffee. Who do we believe? Would someone please pass the sugar?