Recently I was reading a book on Natural Clinical Medicine and came across an entire chapter on the benefits of coffee. For years I have been suggesting to my clients that a cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning with breakfast is a great way to improve your immune system. (Clinical Natural Medicine Handbook, Chris Meletis, ND, and Robert Rountree, MD)
One of the most important notes to make on coffee is “social use” or modified forms of coffee these are called “latte” or “mocha”, this is where dairy and sugary flavors are added – these forms are not coffee but merely empty calories.
Just like with any fruits or vegetables in their natural form they are wonderful antioxidants and medicines if you over process them you destroy the medicinal value. Candied Yams is a good example – Yams are wonderfully healthy foods for your pancreas but toss them in the oven covered in Marshmallows! You get the idea now they are no longer healthy obviously the sugar in the marshmallows would not be good for your pancreas that helps to regulate blood sugar.
Of course just like any food or herb there are going to be exceptions for benefits of coffee. Those who have underlying health conditions may need to limit coffee. Those with high blood pressure or irregular heart beats, insomnia or anxiety may not need the natural stimulant. Those with ulcers may find benefits from coffee but only when enjoyed with milk to reduce the natural acids that coffee has.
Coffee Bean Chemistry
Simple chemical analysis shows that coffee has numerous effects on metabolic changes. Put simply coffee provides minerals and nutrients. A single cup of coffee provides 8% of daily required chromium and is a high source of magnesium, which means it is a wonderful way to help remove toxic metals such as lead that you may be getting from your water. Coffee is very high in niacin which means it helps transport nutrients to the brain.
Antimicrobial effects
Coffee has been used in folk medicine for years as treatment for sore throats, colds and other ailments. The antimicrobial effects can reduce the effects of viral infections the caffeic acid adds anti-adhesive properties so that the virus cannot attach to the mucosal membranes. Several studies have been done using coffee to treat Streptococcus. Gargling with coffee was found a wonderful way to treat strep throat and tonsillitis
Antioxidant Power
Coffee beans contain a substance called “silver skin”. Everyone knows the power of water to cleanse toxins in the body. The silver skin in the coffee bean when brewed provides one of the highest yields of antioxidants with a particular effect on lipids, in simple terms it protects you from hardening of the arterial walls.
Asthma and Bronchitis
Pulmonary ailments continue to grow in the United States in response to our polluted air. Coffee is a natural source of theophylline, which is the number one medication, used in prescriptions for asthma and pulmonary illness. Further applications include using coffee to treat both acute and chronic airflow in COPD and emphysema. Smokers should enjoy coffee to reduce the ill affects as well.
Cardiovascular Disease
In the United States, heart attacks lead to one death every 33 seconds and contribute to 70% of total deaths annually. Studies show that regular coffee intake has the potential to decrease the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (too much fat in the blood stream). Research showed that the ability of 250 mg, two times daily of caffeine (3 cups of coffee) lowered the incidence of heart attacks and demonstrated positive effects on serum cholesterol.
Cognition and mood
A few cups of coffee can strengthen information processing and enhance the ability to retain information. Coffee provides adrenaline for “in the moment” clarity which makes it wonderful study or meeting food. The anti fatigue properties of caffeine are well-documented among bus drivers and pilots; coffee has been documented to improve safety when discontinuing activities is not an option. Beyond improving learning and information-accessing capacities, there is evidence that drinking coffee can improve mood as well. Coffee is part of the national protocol when helping as a suicide intervention technique.
Coffee and Diabetes
Coffee is well documented and researched to show that it reduces plasma glucose levels. For whatever reason women with diabetes respond better than men but both showed that coffee consumption improved insulin sensitivity and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, improving glucose tolerance. Maintaining lean body mass is an important factor in helping with diabetes. Coffee helps to increase metabolic rates and improve thermogenesis (weight loss).
Gastrointestinal (GI) and Liver Health
Effects on digestion, the liver and the biliary track (gallbladder) are well-documented. Coffee acts as a natural laxative and digestive aid by triggering gastrin and other GI hormones. Regular bowel movements in itself provide numerous benefits for protecting against many diseases such as colon cancer. Coffee is found to significantly reduce the affects on the liver from alcohol consumption. Finally, gallstone formation can be reduced with coffee. One study showed that two to three cups of coffee per day helped to reduce not only the gallstones but also ease the symptoms.
Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other neurologic conditions
Coffee consumption can decrease the incidence or risk of Parkinson’s disease. Additional studies support findings that coffee consumption also lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. There is also a synergistic effect between coffee and anticonvulsant therapy to reduce sleep seizures. Swedish doctors often use caffeine for sleep apnea.
Sexual activity
Healthy sexual response is achieved when proper neurologic, cardiovascular, hormonal and mental health is maintained. Coffee provides hormonal dominators for both men and women relative to sexual desire. It has been reported that tat total testosterone is associated with coffee and the drinking at least one cup of coffee per day increases sexual activity in both men and women.
Conclusion
Coffee is important for helping to sustain human health. It is important to note that like any food the purer the better, simply put the better the bean the better the medicinal qualities. Fresh ground coffee beans will provide wonderful medicine; a bargain brand of coffee might be several years old. Researchers are still working to determine the best amount of coffee to achieve the wonderful health benefits. At the present time, one to three cups per day are considered ideal for most people. To use coffee actively as medicine is to follow the teaching of Hippocrates, who stated in 400 B.C.: “May your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.”
**Dr. Deb say’s when you buy your coffee use muscle testing to see which brand is best for you – not sure how to muscle test? Check out muscle testing in my blog page