Coffee: A brew-by-brew account

Coffee is an important commodity that continues to play an important role in our society today. The Turks first adopted it as a drink, adding spices such as cinnamon and anise to the brew, but it was not until 1938 that freeze dried coffee was invented to become the first drinkable instant coffee.

And while much has been said about the ill effects of coffee in the past decades, more recent studies have linked coffee to a number of potential health benefits.

One of the most notable benefits recently reported about coffee is its high antioxidant content. As we know, oxygen is essential to human life. Without it, we cannot survive. However, oxygen is also involved in toxic reactions that can damage the cells in our body. Most of the potentially harmful effects of oxygen are the formation of reactive oxygen species, among which are the free radicals. Once formed, these unstable molecules start a chain reaction, like dominoes, and damage the cells in our body.

These free radicals have been strongly implicated in premature aging, cardiovascular diseases, degenerative diseases, cataract, cancer, immune system decline, and other health problems.

Although the body has natural defenses against free radicals, nutrition plays a key role in maintaining the body’s defense against these harmful chemicals. Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cell damage caused by free radicals. They are linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection against heart diseases, degenerative diseases, and cancer. It is for these reasons that several countries have recommended the consumption of antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits.

Studies show that coffee actually contains the highest number of antioxidants per serving. Green coffee beans contain about 1,000 antioxidants, and the brewing process adds 300 more. This is four times more than the antioxidant content of green tea. The brewing process creates its own set of helpful compounds, which are unique to coffee alone. However, the exact amount of antioxidants in the average cup of coffee still remains to be known.

Numerous studies have also been made to offset the negative image coffee once had on health-conscious people.

Here are some other reported health benefits associated with coffee:

• A study published in the European Journal of Neurology and the Canadian Study of Health and Aging found that those who drank more coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

• A number of studies have indicated that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. This condition develops when the dopamine levels in the brain fall, thereby interrupting nerve signals from the brain to the muscles and resulting in memory impairment, accompanied by tremors and gait disturbances. Caffeine increases the expression of dopamine receptors in the brain.

• Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that both men and women coffee drinkers tend to have less risk of developing gallstones.

• According to a new study from the University of California, which was published in the November issue of Diabetic Care, coffee reduces the risk of diabetes by over 60 percent. Another study at Vanderbilt University believes that a group of compounds present in coffee called quinines increases the capacity of the liver to use glucose, thus improving the blood sugar control in diabetics. It was also found that coffee contains large amounts of chlorogenic acid, tocopherols, and magnesium, which have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.

• Researchers at Tonoku University claim in their study that people who drink more than a cup of coffee each day are less likely to develop liver cirrhosis and liver cancer than those who do not.

• Methylpiridinium, a powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee, boosts blood enzymes that are widely believed to protect against colon cancer.

• Coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease, though the exact mechanism is still unknown.

• Coffee stimulates peristalsis and is considered to prevent constipation.

• Another compound in coffee called trigolline, which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste, was shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties to help prevent dental cavities from forming.

• Research has also proved that aside from protecting us from disease, coffee has a positive functional impact on an array of human activities. In particular, a study published in Current Sports Medicine reports that caffeine in coffee improves performance and endurance during prolonged exhaustive exercise.

• A Brazilian study has determined that drinking a few cups of coffee a day increases male fertility. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm motility, thus increasing the odds of pregnancy.

Coffee is also the best known stimulant to the nervous system. It increases the dopamine levels in the brain, reducing the after effects of sleep, improving concentration, and warding off fatigue in general. It also produces a variety of effects in the body, such as increases in heartbeat, respiration, basal metabolic rate, gastroenteric reflexes, and production of stomach acid and urine.

Coffee is neither a miracle drink nor a cure for all diseases like the hype we get nowadays in drinking green teas and other health drinks on the market. Neither is it a villainous drink that can cause sickness to our body. In order to benefit from it, one should follow the simple but reliable rule that "everything should be taken in moderation."

A balanced and sensible diet with regular physical activity is still, by far, the best way to keep fit and healthy. So the next time you drink your favorite cup of coffee, share some of these wonderful facts with your loved ones while enjoying the moment.

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(Dr. Jardine Davies R. Torno is a psychiatrist and host of the health TV show "RxMen" aired every Sunday at 11a.m. on QTV 11. He also teaches cardio kickboxing.)