The Magic Bean

[marmar]

from the Orlando Sentinel:



.....(snip).....

It's no secret that caffeine boosts mental performance. It keeps attention focused and elevates mood. Studies conducted by the military show that it improves reaction time, vigilance, and logical reasoning, especially when you're tired. Neuroscientists attribute caffeine's effect on alertness to its ability to bind to adenosine receptors and to stimulate dopamine release.

But there's much more to coffee than caffeine. Researchers have found that coffee boosts a sense of well-being independent of its caffeine content, and that there are many other pharmacologically active substances in the brew.

Coffee is the number one source of cell-protecting antioxidants in the U.S. diet. Green coffee beans contain about a thousand antioxidants; roasting adds some 300 more, most of them unique to coffee. Many of the compounds have biological effects, from minimizing inflammation to favorably affecting glucose metabolism.

The health effects of antioxidants cover a broad range, as oxidation is a major factor in brain aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and many other diseases. Coffee compounds also deter Parkinson's disease and offset Alzheimer's disease. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/fl-jjps-coffee-1117-20101116,0,5303544.story

[liberalhistorian]

1. Glad to see this, because I LOVE coffee!

I drink several cups each morning and wouldn't go without it. I also like being healthy, though, so I'm glad to hear of the added benefits. I do, indeed, feel both better mentally and much more alert after a cup or two.

[pinboy3niner]

2. They can have my coffee when they take it from my cold, dead hands

:)

[Blue Owl]

7. +1

You tell 'em!

:hangover:

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[tridim]

4. Well I'm content until the next article comes out in 6 months saying coffee is bad.

A definite pattern is developing.

All I know is drinking coffee is so much better than drinking five Dr. Peppers every day.

[immoderate]

5. Does some magic to your digestive system too.

--imm

[4_TN_TITANS]

6. Shhh.... don't tell the coffee suppliers,

but I'd pay many times more than we do now for that black-magic in the morning. Between cigs, beer, & coffee - coffee is last on the 'expendable' list.