Coffee & Health

There are many Myths around the dangers of Coffee however, new research has revealed more Pro’s than Con’s for your early morning Cup.

Coffee and digestion

Coffee and caffeine are very useful for digestion and protection of health:

• Stimulating the production of saliva and gastric juices,
• Emptying of bile from the gallbladder,
• Influence on gastrointestinal hormones,
• Protection of liver cell damage by alcohol or viral

Stimulation of colonic function

Ingesting coffee in acute quantities modifies, in humans, a gastrointestinal hormone secretion and glucose tolerance. Phenols attenuate the rate of absorption of glucose by moving the site of absorption in the intestine to a farther site (lowering the glycemic index).

It stimulates colonic motor activity: 60% more than water and 23% more of decaffeinated coffee.

Coffee and stomach

The main effect on the gastric system is the direct stimulation (via nerve) of acid secretion. People suffering from gastric disorders (gastritis, peptic ulcer, etc.) due to an excessive gastric secretion should limit their intake of coffee.

Coffee and Liver

When a liver cell dies, it issues certain enzymes: (ALT, GGT, AST, etc.). The increasing of those enzymes indicates damage to liver cells.There is an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and values of those enzymes, highlighting the protective role of coffee on this organ.

Coffee and anti-oxidizing agents

Coffee is a beverage surprisingly rich in antioxidants. The coffee is among the 50 foods with the highest antioxidant content.Coffee antioxidant molecules have both a hydrophilic and lipophilic nature in that they have effects on any part of the human body.Phenols are between 6 and 10% of dry coffee powder.The Melanoidine constitutes up to 25% of the dry weight of the beverage

Coffee and nursing

Consumption of caffeine does not alter the composition of breast milk in terms of macronutrients. The iron, however, appears to be reduced by one third.
The alkaloids contained in nervine substances are excreted in breast milk into within the parameters of responsible consumption.

Coffee and pregnancy

Caffeine crosses the placenta and exerts its pharmacological effects on the fetus.

The metabolism of caffeine in pregnancy appears to be severely hampered.
The half-life of caffeine in the blood is approximately 3 hours in a woman, during pregnancy, it could be up to 7 hours. A link between poor performance of pregnancy and caffeine intake has been established. Thereforeas a precaution, a limited intake of 300 mg / day is recommended.

Coffee and heart

Four or five cups of coffee a day does not interfere with heart health. The consumption of caffeine has always been considered as a potential cause of cardiac arrhythmias.

Doses up to 500mg do not cause arrhythmias and heart rate increases (although it is common place considering coffee is responsible for the rise in the number of beats as caffeine is a mild stimulant).