Coffee is the choice drink for millions of people in the morning. But, whether you use a French press or a moka, you’re making a botanical extraction, pulling out the phytochemical constituents of coffee beans into a tasty, flavorful elixir. That rich black fluid gives a jolt of energy to people in the morning and it is excellent practice for anyone wanting to make a botanical extraction at home.
Coffee – The 2nd Best Extraction In The World
Following tea, coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world. Properly made, it’s filled with health benefits (see below).
It’s the primary source of caffeine for most people and one of the most potent sources naturally. But, caffeine is not the only nutritional component and it can be healthy for you in the right quantity.
What Makes Coffee Such A Great Botanical Extraction
Fortunately, coffee beans are available almost everywhere. Simple, black coffee and a fresh grind of beans will give you more nutrients and health benefits than the pre-ground stuff.
It’s important to note that all the research studies are on black coffee without considering sugar, creamers, dairy and addedd flavors. It should be noticed that drinking more than 60 mg of caffeine is associated with adverse health outcomes.
High in Antioxidants
Coffee has a lot of antioxidants. To get the most health benefits you should choose high-quality, fresh ground coffee over instant and pre-ground coffee.
Boosts Your Energy
Caffeine is an energy booster. Some of the antioxidants in coffee block adenosine uptake in the brain, which increases the feel-good hormones of serotonin and dopamine. [1]
Helps Memory and Focus
Caffeine helps to improve neurotransmitters function in the brain, which helps your memory and focus. Additionally, there’s some evidence that it may also help reducing memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. [2]
May Help to Reduce Depression
The antioxidants in coffee may help to slightly reduce depression.. The same boost in serotonin and dopamine can help people to feel better. [1] However, in the cases of moderate to severe depression, coffee may increase depressive symptoms.
May Help Reduce Liver Problems & Heart Disease
Some studies suggest coffee can help to prevent liver issues. Different studies show coffee can help reduce scarring, fibrosis, cancer, and chronic liver disease. [3] Additionally, in small quantities can help to protect the heart, reducing the risk of stroke, heart failure, and arterial blockage.[4] Nevertheless caffeine consumption is directly associated with higher blood pressure.
May Help Prevent Diabetes and Excess Weight
Coffee has a mild effect on protecting the beta cells in your pancreas, helping to prevent diabetes and to keep pancreas normal functioning. [5] Certain studies also link drinking coffee to healthier body weights. However, these studies also indicate that the people who drink coffee were more physically active. Therefore, the studies may show coffee and lower weight may just be an unrelated correlation, rather than a causation.
But, there is a downside. Caffeine is a diuretic, and drinking a cup of coffee does not count as drinking water. So, you should be drinking at least two cups of water for every cup of coffee.
References:
[1]Alasmari F. Caffeine induces neurobehavioral effects through modulating neurotransmitters. Saudi Pharm J. (2020); 28(4):445-451. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2020.02.005 [Journal impact factor = 2.794] [Times cited = 29][2] Liu QP. et al.Habitual coffee consumption and risk of cognitive decline/dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Nutrition. (2016); 32(6):628-36. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.11.015. [Journal impact factor = 3.172] [Times cited = 116 ]
[3] Niezen S. et al. Coffee Consumption Is Associated With Lower Liver Stiffness: A Nationally Representative Study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. (2021) S1542-3565(21)01057-0. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.09.042. [Journal impact factor = 11.382]
[4] Rodríguez-Artalejo F. et al. Coffee Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease: A Condensed Review of Epidemiological Evidence and Mechanisms. J Agric Food Chem. 2018 May 30;66(21):5257-5263. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04506. . [Journal impact factor = 5.50] [Times cited = 50]
[5] Kolb H. et al. Coffee and Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Arguments for a Causal Relationship. Nutrients. (2021) 31;13(4):1144. doi: 10.3390/nu13041144. . [Journal impact factor = 6.43] [Times cited = 10]
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