Coffee: It's a Healthy Brew - Real Healthy - Cooking

Coffee: It’s a Healthy Brew

No Comments | Written on March 28, 2012 at 11:00 am, by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Can’t get started in the morning without a cup of coffee? Don’t feel guilty! People who drink java on a daily basis are less likely to develop diabetes, colon cancer, gallstones, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease! You’ll get some of the same benefits from decaf, but a lot of the beneficial effects are from the caffeine itself.

In addition to the long-term benefits, there are short-term payoffs as well! Studies show that having a cup of coffee before working on a mentally challenging task (like planning the week’s menus and grocery list, maybe?) can help you focus and even improve your memory and recall. Having a little caffeine before your work0ut can help you push a bit harder before you get tired. And if you have a headache, a cup of coffee can increase the effectiveness of your pain-killer.

Contrary to popular lore, the latest research indicates that drinking coffee does not increase your risk of heart disease or strokes. And as long as you’re getting the recommended amount of calcium, there’s no concern about coffee or caffeine being bad for your bones.

Of course, you don’t want to overdo it. Excessive caffeine intake—more than four cups of coffee a day—may make you jittery and drinking caffeine after 3 p.m. or so may interfere with sleep. If you’re pregnant or sensitive to stimulants, you should avoid caffeine altogether. For most people, though, moderate coffee consumption can be considered a healthy habit!

There’s more than one way to brew a cup of coffee. Try these coffee drinks. Need a little nosh to go with your joe? Check out these luscious coffee-cake recipes.

Grilling tonight? Try this robust coffee-rub.