World Blog by humble servant. Many of us have a love affair with coffee. Fortunately, the beloved brew is—in every sense—a feel-good story in nutrition science.
Author: Stephen Devries, MD Many of us have a love affair with coffee. Fortunately, the beloved brew is—in every sense—a feel-good story in nutrition science. Although most people drink it for the mild stimulant effect of caffeine, the data shows a link between coffee consumption and impressive health benefits. Some surprising ones: significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—and most impressively, improved longevity. Why Is Coffee Helpful? Caffeine is partly responsible for coffee’s benefits. Caffeine is a chemical in the same family as some medications, including the asthma medicine theophylline. Beyond caffeine, coffee’s health-promoting attributes are due to its rich content of polyphenols. These are plant compounds with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. How Much Caffeine is in Coffee? Caffeine content varies widely among different styles of coffee and brewing methods. And of course, serving size is an important factor too: An 8-ounc...