We all know that sometimes we can get a bit carried away with our consumption of caffeine, whether in beverage or bean form. I myself am a self-diagnosed caffeine addict. Yes, I said it. Addict. Two or six cups of coffee in the morning with plenty of Diet Dr. Pepper sipped liberally throughout is my daily routine. (I don't think its a problem, but to each his own.)
With all of the controversial medical studies surrounding coffee, caffeine, diet and regular sodas, I have decided to do this community a true service.
I'm going to convince you that caffeine is in fact a GOOD thing.
At least, I will try my very hardest.
1. Memory Booster
A recent study out of Johns Hopkins University showed that a 200 mg caffeine pill could increase memory consolidation, meaning that as a new ability or fact was learned it was better stored within the brain. It did not help with retrieval, but caffeine was a specific key in enhancing performance within 24 hours of a dose.
2. Antioxidant Rich
The coffee bean itself is full of antioxidants. It contains high levels of Magnesium and Chromium, which assist the body in using the hormone insulin, regulating blood sugar. As in the case of Type 2 Diabetes, the body loses its ability to use insulin and regulate blood sugar. The consumption of coffee saw a 7% reduction in the risk of diabetes for every cup consumed.
3. Cancer Care
Caffeine is a natural liver detox. In earlier studies, caffeine was shown to reduce the risk of liver cancer in coffee consumers. Differences in risk were noticeable even between those taking in 3-4 cups daily versus those consuming 5 cups daily.
4. Sweet Relief
Caffeine has long been a noted ingredient in pain medications such as Excedrin and Anecen. Research from the University of Georgia concluded that two cups of coffee could reduce post-workout rain by as much as 48%. Other researched showed that less of tradition pain medications were needed when combined with caffeine. Brazilian researchers from the University of Brasilia noted that proteins found in coffee beans had affects similar to and possibly more effective than morphine.
5. Mind and Manner
A study recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease revealed results of the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging. By pinpointing 1,445 people ages 65-84, the study reached the conclusion that those who drank one to two cups daily had a much lower rate of Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI. Non-coffee drinkers, as well as consumers who increased or had an erratic coffee intake schedule, had a much higher rate of MCI. The study showed that steady coffee intake was, in fact, beneficial to the mind.
