Health Benefits of Coffee
            A brief rundown of the recent developments in coffee research. 

People have been enjoying the benefits of coffee since the 15^th century, but it wasn’t until recently that we’ve become aware of the beverage’s true effects on the human body. In the past sixty years there have been more than 21,000 studies conducted on our nation’s favorite pick-me-up (that’s roughly one new study every single day since 1950), making it one of the most thoroughly scrutinized substances in the world. These scientists might have been drinking some themselves… The general consensus among the most recent and respected studies is that caffeine makes for 1) quicker thinking, 2) improved physical exercise, and 3) sweet longevity. Read on to learn why.

Think quicker on your feet. According to a recently published Austrian study, which directly measured brain activity under the influence of 100 milligrams of caffeine (the amount in a weak cup of coffee), drinking a cup will improve your brain power for about forty-five minutes. Dopamine will be released roughly fifteen minutes after your fist sip, and peak alertness will occur after about half an hour. Dopamine stimulates the part of your brain responsible for alertness, problem solving, and pleasure. "You have that feeling of being activated, sharper, and on the ball," says William Lovallo, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Oklahoma "And you can also experience a mild mood-elevating effect." Thanks to the dopamine, adrenaline, and adenosine-fighting effects of caffeine, coffee has been found to improve attention span, short-term memory, mental energy and acuity, and general positive thinking. So go ahead and refill your cup before you read on.

Live longer. Coffee has been found to counter the deteriorating effects that aging can have on the brain. In a study published this year, Harvard researches revealed that men become half as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease if they drink four cups of coffee per day (compared to those who drink none), supposedly because of the way caffeine maintains active dopamine levels. Additionally, because caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, (the chemical that makes you physically and mentally tired), it may decrease the accumulation of Amyloid-Beta, a damaging type of brain plaque that is linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Lastly, drinking a daily cup of joe has been found to combat the development of Type-2 Diabetes. Harvard researchers in 2005 revealed that drinking five cups of java daily actually reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 50% !  Scientists still aren’t exactly sure why coffee has this effect on diabetes, but most point to its potent level of antioxidants. (the chemical that makes you physically and mentally tired), it may decrease the accumulation of

For those who fear the drink’s tendency to increase blood pressure: you can rest assured, your heart is fine. Although research has shown that blood pressure can increase by as much as ten points in non-habitual coffee-drinkers, a Harvard study involving over 128,000 people determined that drinking more than six cups a day did not have any effect on the chances of determining heart disease. In fact, it’s the opposite! Scientists at Brooklin College found that men drinking four daily cups of coffee actually experienced a 53% lower risk of dying of heart disease compared to those who drank none. Matthew Sorrentino, M.D., a professor of medicine and cardiologist from University of Chicago, says that “If you don’t have hypertension to begin with, the temporary blood-pressure increase from a cup of coffee is not a problem. Plus, the impact on blood pressure tends to be smaller in habitual caffeine drinkers because their bodies are used to the effects.” If you experience a racing heart rate or even skipping beats then you are probably overly sensitive to caffeine, however, “symptoms such as palpitations are actually considered innocuous, unless you’ve had a recent heart attack,” says the cardiac electrophysiologist John Kassotic, M. D., from SUNY in Brooklyn.

Boost your muscles. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and it amps up your breathing rate and heart rate, all of which get your body ready for maximum physical performance. However, it can also directly impact muscle capacity. This is because in order for muscle fiber to contract, calcium has to first be released within that fiber. Adenosine receptors attached to those muscle fibers can become guarded by caffeine, which in turn triggers electrical activity and induced larger spurts of calcium. In other words, coffee can induce stronger muscle contraction. Studies suggest roughly 140 – 400 milligrams of caffeine thirty to sixty minutes before exercise for an increase in speed, endurance, and mental motivation. However, many chemical elements found in coffee have been found to counteract caffeine’s ability to enhance your workout, so you might be better off getting that caffeine from a pill or energy drink. And if you have heart problems or a family history of heart disease, your should be very wary of caffeine consumption during the four hours before exercise. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology released a study in 2006 which determined that 200 milligrams of caffeine constricts coronary arteries, and can decrease blood flow to the heart by up to 39% during aerobic exercise.

The moral of the story: the more research that is done on coffee, the more health benefits seem to be discovered. So not only can you feel guilt-free as you refill your mug up to four times a day, you can proudly inform any naïve, scornful, green-tea-drinking coworkers that this beautiful brown beverage is enhancing your muscles, stimulating your mind, and protecting you from a handful of diseases. 

By Max Cougar Oswald