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Reply #30 posted 07/19/06 4:28am

CynthiasSocks

avatar

My coffee is ready, now if I could just get some of those Chocolates! drooling ...and an ice pack for my eyes!
Socks still got butt like a leather seat...
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Reply #31 posted 07/19/06 4:37am

purpledisc

HamsterHuey said:



That must be ice coffee, I suppose.



I am intrigued by your sig !!!!!
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Reply #32 posted 07/19/06 4:41am

CynthiasSocks

avatar

Socks still got butt like a leather seat...
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Reply #33 posted 07/19/06 4:42am

Imago

This thread isn't serious is it? confuse


What's the punchline?
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Reply #34 posted 07/19/06 4:56am

Whateva

Had myself an Irish coffee this morning wink
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Reply #35 posted 07/19/06 5:01am

HamsterHuey

purpledisc said:

HamsterHuey said:



That must be ice coffee, I suppose.



I am intrigued by your sig !!!!!


and





.oops
[Edited 7/19/06 5:02am]
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Reply #36 posted 07/19/06 5:06am

purpledisc

HamsterHuey said:

purpledisc said:




I am intrigued by your sig !!!!!


and





.oops
[Edited 7/19/06 5:02am]



Yep.....That explains.....Nothing falloff Dig the Purple Banana though lol
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Reply #37 posted 07/19/06 5:20am

REDBABY

avatar

sad I cannot find your famous sun you always used to post..

here is another anyway hug



if sexy was a colour it would be red batting eyes
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Reply #38 posted 07/19/06 5:27am

AlfofMelmak

avatar

Whateva said:

Had myself an Irish coffee this morning wink


Tsss


hey muse wave I should write a lengthy email to you but it's soo damn hot here (95F) i don't think i'll be able to,
for fear of melting my fingers on the keyboard.
You don't scare me; i got kids
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Reply #39 posted 07/19/06 7:20am

tony23k

avatar



Java's cup runneth over with health benefits
By R.J. Ignelzi
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 18, 2006



MICHAEL FRANKLIN
/ Union-Tribune illustration
If you think bitter-tasting wheatgrass juice or pungent herbal tea concoctions are your only healthy beverage choices, it's time to wake up and taste the coffee. A good ol' cup of joe or two may be just what the doctor ordered.

Once believed to stunt growth, cause cancer and trigger heart attacks, recent research indicates that coffee may be a powerful elixir. Our favorite brew has been shown to prevent diabetes, liver damage and gallstones, plus it may also improve physical endurance and pump up your brain power.

“Not only is coffee not bad for our health, as once believed, coffee may may actually have a healthy protective effect,” says Cheryl Rock, researcher and professor of nutrition at UCSD School of Medicine.

Dr. Ken Fujioka, director of nutrition and metabolic research at Scripps Clinic, isn't surprised by the reported coffee perks.

“When I see patients, I look carefully at what they eat and drink,” he says. “I find that the elderly patients who are the healthiest and doing the best have always had a cup or two of coffee every morning.”

While the second-most consumed beverage on the planet (after water) is best known for providing a jolt of adrenaline-raising caffeine, to assume that all of its health advantages are due to caffeine may be misleading, Rock says. (Most of the studies looked at caffeinated, not decaffeinated coffee.)







“It may be something else. The healthy benefits may come from its plant source,” says Rock, who calls coffee a “very complex beverage.” “In addition to caffeine, coffee also has many useful antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant chemicals ) which can reduce inflammation and counteract and prevent many diseases.”
The drink isn't perfect, though. It can be addictive, and too much of it can cause sleeplessness or the jitters. A safe limit, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is around 400 milligrams or three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day. Coffee's also been associated with fertility problems. Women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding, should talk to their doctor about recommended consumption.

While the coffee/health studies that have been reported seem promising, Rock says more research is needed before everyone trades in their ubiquitous water bottle for a coffee mug.

Most of the coffee studies have been “observational,” examining lifestyle and dietary factors for possible connections to the risk for disease.

“These studies are good for creating a hypothesis, but further clinical studies have to be done,” Rock says.

But, even though definitive conclusions about coffee's health benefits can't always be drawn, Fujioka would still recommend it to his patients, as long as it's not laden with loads of sugar and rich cream.

Coffee by the numbers
Worldwide, more than 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year.

About half the adult population in the United Stated drinks coffee every day.

Coffee drinkers consume an average of 3.3 cups a day; 9 ounces is the average cup size

A little more than a third of coffee drinkers in the U.S. take theirs black.

More than 80 percent of American coffee drinkers have a cup at breakfast.

Ten percent of Americans drink gourmet coffee beverages (espresso drinks and specialty coffees) every day.

Finland drinks the most coffee, averaging about 740 coffee servings per person a year.

Coffee ranks second to petroleum in dollars traded around the world.

SOURCE: National Coffee Association


“The number one health problem in the U.S. besides obesity is diabetes,” he says. “So, if there's something that has no calories and has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and be protective for other diseases, then I'm all for it.”

Here's a sampling of the good news about coffee and why you no longer need to feel guilt over enjoying this simple pleasure:

REDUCES RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES. As part of the Women's Health Study (published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine), 29,000 postmenopausal women were followed for 11 years. It was found that women who drank more than six cups of any type of coffee per day were 22 percent less likely to develop diabetes than women who drank no coffee. Women who drank more than six cups of decaffeinated coffee had a 33 percent reduced risk.

Experts suspect that coffee's phytochemicals and antioxidants deserve the credit. Coffee may stimulate the muscles to burn carbohydrates more efficiently and help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues, so insulin resistance is less likely.

REDUCE RISK OF LIVER DISEASE. According to researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, drinking between one and four cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of cirrhosis and is especially good at repairing the damage done by heavy drinking sessions.

In a study of 125,000 people, the risk of developing cirrhosis (a permanent scarring damage to the liver) was cut by 20 percent in those who drank one cup of coffee a day. That figure rose to 80 percent with four cups a day, and general blood tests showed healthier liver results in those who were coffee drinkers.

NO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK. “We can put the coffee-cardiovascular disease connection to rest. Coffee will not cause these problems,” Rock says.

As long as you don't have high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia or anxiety, drinking coffee is no problem, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, if you already have a preexisting cardiovascular condition, avoid excessive intake, since coffee may exacerbate it.

In May, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported on a study that followed 27,000 women ages 55 to 69 for 15 years. It found a 30-percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease among those who drank two to four cups of coffee a day.

INCREASES ALERTNESS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS. In your brain, caffeine intercepts adenosine, the chemical that slows down our nerves and brain and signals the need to sleep. It also increases dopamine levels, stimulating pleasure centers. So, coffee can make you feel both alert and relaxed.

IMPROVES PHYSICAL STAMINA. Coffee can stimulate you to exercise 10 percent to 15 percent longer because it keeps you from getting tired, according to a study at Ontario's University of Guelph. Drinking a cup or two of coffee one hour before exercise may reduce muscle soreness during exercise, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of Pain. Caffeine may stimulate the release of endorphins and hormones that depress the sensation of pain or discomfort.

However, a recent Swiss study reports that drinking coffee before exercise may reduce blood flow to the heart. Anyone with any coronary risk factors should probably skip the pre-workout java.

HELPS HEADACHES. The caffeine in coffee constricts blood vessels, which is one reason it's used in some headache medications, including Excedrin and Anacin. It also increases the speed with which headache-reducing analgesics are absorbed into the body by as much as 40 percent.

MINIMIZES TOOTH DECAY. Coffee drinkers' teeth may be stained, but at least they won't be full of cavities. Coffee's antibacterial properties may slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the culprit in tooth decay. Coffee also contains compounds that keep bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel.

REDUCES RISK OF KIDNEY STONES. It's no secret that coffee makes your bladder more active. While that can be annoying, it can also help reduce the risk of kidney stones, according to the Nurses Health Study. Those in the study who drank the most coffee had the lowest risks. Caffeine increases the flow of more diluted urine, which lowers the chance of a kidney stone forming.

REDUCES RISK OF PARKINSON'S. Some research shows that just one cup of coffee a day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, a brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's, according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health. Women on hormone therapy don't seem to benefit, however. Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine.

REDUCES RISK OF GALLSTONES. The Harvard School of Public Health found that male coffee drinkers had a 45 percent lower risk of developing the condition and females a 40 percent lower risk.

Gallstones are small blobs of hardened matter which form out of liquid in the gallbladder and can block intestinal tubes, causing painful and occasionally fatal damage.

DOES NOT LEAD TO BONE LOSS. Contrary to what we believed just a few years ago, coffee does not cause thinning bones. There's evidence that calcium is lost through urine and by increasing the amount of urine you produce, you decrease your body's calcium stores. The effect, however, is negligible.



-----

R.J. Ignelzi: (760) 476-8206; rj.ignelzi@uniontrib.com



I know it's kinda long,but it's all good news for coffee drinkers biggrin
my phone is heavy
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Reply #40 posted 07/19/06 7:26am

Muse2NOPharaoh

tony23k said:



Java's cup runneth over with health benefits
By R.J. Ignelzi
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 18, 2006



MICHAEL FRANKLIN
/ Union-Tribune illustration
If you think bitter-tasting wheatgrass juice or pungent herbal tea concoctions are your only healthy beverage choices, it's time to wake up and taste the coffee. A good ol' cup of joe or two may be just what the doctor ordered.

Once believed to stunt growth, cause cancer and trigger heart attacks, recent research indicates that coffee may be a powerful elixir. Our favorite brew has been shown to prevent diabetes, liver damage and gallstones, plus it may also improve physical endurance and pump up your brain power.

“Not only is coffee not bad for our health, as once believed, coffee may may actually have a healthy protective effect,” says Cheryl Rock, researcher and professor of nutrition at UCSD School of Medicine.

Dr. Ken Fujioka, director of nutrition and metabolic research at Scripps Clinic, isn't surprised by the reported coffee perks.

“When I see patients, I look carefully at what they eat and drink,” he says. “I find that the elderly patients who are the healthiest and doing the best have always had a cup or two of coffee every morning.”

While the second-most consumed beverage on the planet (after water) is best known for providing a jolt of adrenaline-raising caffeine, to assume that all of its health advantages are due to caffeine may be misleading, Rock says. (Most of the studies looked at caffeinated, not decaffeinated coffee.)







“It may be something else. The healthy benefits may come from its plant source,” says Rock, who calls coffee a “very complex beverage.” “In addition to caffeine, coffee also has many useful antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant chemicals ) which can reduce inflammation and counteract and prevent many diseases.”
The drink isn't perfect, though. It can be addictive, and too much of it can cause sleeplessness or the jitters. A safe limit, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is around 400 milligrams or three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day. Coffee's also been associated with fertility problems. Women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding, should talk to their doctor about recommended consumption.

While the coffee/health studies that have been reported seem promising, Rock says more research is needed before everyone trades in their ubiquitous water bottle for a coffee mug.

Most of the coffee studies have been “observational,” examining lifestyle and dietary factors for possible connections to the risk for disease.

“These studies are good for creating a hypothesis, but further clinical studies have to be done,” Rock says.

But, even though definitive conclusions about coffee's health benefits can't always be drawn, Fujioka would still recommend it to his patients, as long as it's not laden with loads of sugar and rich cream.

Coffee by the numbers
Worldwide, more than 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year.

About half the adult population in the United Stated drinks coffee every day.

Coffee drinkers consume an average of 3.3 cups a day; 9 ounces is the average cup size

A little more than a third of coffee drinkers in the U.S. take theirs black.

More than 80 percent of American coffee drinkers have a cup at breakfast.

Ten percent of Americans drink gourmet coffee beverages (espresso drinks and specialty coffees) every day.

Finland drinks the most coffee, averaging about 740 coffee servings per person a year.

Coffee ranks second to petroleum in dollars traded around the world.

SOURCE: National Coffee Association


“The number one health problem in the U.S. besides obesity is diabetes,” he says. “So, if there's something that has no calories and has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and be protective for other diseases, then I'm all for it.”

Here's a sampling of the good news about coffee and why you no longer need to feel guilt over enjoying this simple pleasure:

REDUCES RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES. As part of the Women's Health Study (published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine), 29,000 postmenopausal women were followed for 11 years. It was found that women who drank more than six cups of any type of coffee per day were 22 percent less likely to develop diabetes than women who drank no coffee. Women who drank more than six cups of decaffeinated coffee had a 33 percent reduced risk.

Experts suspect that coffee's phytochemicals and antioxidants deserve the credit. Coffee may stimulate the muscles to burn carbohydrates more efficiently and help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues, so insulin resistance is less likely.

REDUCE RISK OF LIVER DISEASE. According to researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, drinking between one and four cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of cirrhosis and is especially good at repairing the damage done by heavy drinking sessions.

In a study of 125,000 people, the risk of developing cirrhosis (a permanent scarring damage to the liver) was cut by 20 percent in those who drank one cup of coffee a day. That figure rose to 80 percent with four cups a day, and general blood tests showed healthier liver results in those who were coffee drinkers.

NO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK. “We can put the coffee-cardiovascular disease connection to rest. Coffee will not cause these problems,” Rock says.

As long as you don't have high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia or anxiety, drinking coffee is no problem, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, if you already have a preexisting cardiovascular condition, avoid excessive intake, since coffee may exacerbate it.

In May, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported on a study that followed 27,000 women ages 55 to 69 for 15 years. It found a 30-percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease among those who drank two to four cups of coffee a day.

INCREASES ALERTNESS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS. In your brain, caffeine intercepts adenosine, the chemical that slows down our nerves and brain and signals the need to sleep. It also increases dopamine levels, stimulating pleasure centers. So, coffee can make you feel both alert and relaxed.

IMPROVES PHYSICAL STAMINA. Coffee can stimulate you to exercise 10 percent to 15 percent longer because it keeps you from getting tired, according to a study at Ontario's University of Guelph. Drinking a cup or two of coffee one hour before exercise may reduce muscle soreness during exercise, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of Pain. Caffeine may stimulate the release of endorphins and hormones that depress the sensation of pain or discomfort.

However, a recent Swiss study reports that drinking coffee before exercise may reduce blood flow to the heart. Anyone with any coronary risk factors should probably skip the pre-workout java.

HELPS HEADACHES. The caffeine in coffee constricts blood vessels, which is one reason it's used in some headache medications, including Excedrin and Anacin. It also increases the speed with which headache-reducing analgesics are absorbed into the body by as much as 40 percent.

MINIMIZES TOOTH DECAY. Coffee drinkers' teeth may be stained, but at least they won't be full of cavities. Coffee's antibacterial properties may slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the culprit in tooth decay. Coffee also contains compounds that keep bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel.

REDUCES RISK OF KIDNEY STONES. It's no secret that coffee makes your bladder more active. While that can be annoying, it can also help reduce the risk of kidney stones, according to the Nurses Health Study. Those in the study who drank the most coffee had the lowest risks. Caffeine increases the flow of more diluted urine, which lowers the chance of a kidney stone forming.

REDUCES RISK OF PARKINSON'S. Some research shows that just one cup of coffee a day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, a brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's, according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health. Women on hormone therapy don't seem to benefit, however. Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine.

REDUCES RISK OF GALLSTONES. The Harvard School of Public Health found that male coffee drinkers had a 45 percent lower risk of developing the condition and females a 40 percent lower risk.

Gallstones are small blobs of hardened matter which form out of liquid in the gallbladder and can block intestinal tubes, causing painful and occasionally fatal damage.

DOES NOT LEAD TO BONE LOSS. Contrary to what we believed just a few years ago, coffee does not cause thinning bones. There's evidence that calcium is lost through urine and by increasing the amount of urine you produce, you decrease your body's calcium stores. The effect, however, is negligible.



-----

R.J. Ignelzi: (760) 476-8206; rj.ignelzi@uniontrib.com



I know it's kinda long,but it's all good news for coffee drinkers biggrin


I think I love you!
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Reply #41 posted 07/19/06 7:28am

Muse2NOPharaoh

CynthiasSocks said:




Hello you! hug Hope all is well in your world!
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Reply #42 posted 07/19/06 7:30am

Muse2NOPharaoh

Imago said:

This thread isn't serious is it? confuse


What's the punchline?



Why you are darling! bitchfight
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Reply #43 posted 07/19/06 7:32am

Muse2NOPharaoh

REDBABY said:

sad I cannot find your famous sun you always used to post..

here is another anyway hug






omfg I like that one! Where have you been? hug
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Reply #44 posted 07/19/06 7:39am

obsessed

tony23k said:



I know it's kinda long,but it's all good news for coffee drinkers biggrin


I skimmed! biggrin lol
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Reply #45 posted 07/19/06 8:14am

purpledisc

tony23k said:





I know it's kinda long,but it's all good news for coffee drinkers biggrin



If all that is true, I am gonna live to be 300 !!!!! lol

I drink Coffee, never Tea or Fizzy Drinks.
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Reply #46 posted 07/19/06 9:04am

Whateva

AlfofMelmak said:

Whateva said:

Had myself an Irish coffee this morning wink


Tsss


hey muse wave I should write a lengthy email to you but it's soo damn hot here (95F) i don't think i'll be able to,
for fear of melting my fingers on the keyboard.


hammer







tease
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Reply #47 posted 07/19/06 9:28am

Muse2NOPharaoh

Whateva said:

AlfofMelmak said:



Tsss


hey muse wave I should write a lengthy email to you but it's soo damn hot here (95F) i don't think i'll be able to,
for fear of melting my fingers on the keyboard.


hammer








tease




Aksel was just telling me it was 95! omfg Yikes....got to be humid and I doubt you guys have airconditioners right?



.
[Edited 7/19/06 9:31am]
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Reply #48 posted 07/19/06 9:29am

jerseykrs

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Reply #49 posted 07/19/06 9:33am

Muse2NOPharaoh

jerseykrs said:

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/mikomiko.php



lol













whofarted

slam
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Reply #50 posted 07/19/06 9:41am

AlfofMelmak

avatar

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Whateva said:



hammer








tease




Aksel was just telling me it was 95! omfg Yikes....got to be humid and I doubt you guys have airconditioners right?



.
[Edited 7/19/06 9:31am]


just bought a mobile airco. Makes a helluva noise but keeps the room pleasant.
Screw the environment, I'm hot wink



typoz
[Edited 7/19/06 9:42am]
You don't scare me; i got kids
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Reply #51 posted 07/19/06 9:51am

Muse2NOPharaoh

AlfofMelmak said:

Muse2NOPharaoh said:





Aksel was just telling me it was 95! omfg Yikes....got to be humid and I doubt you guys have airconditioners right?



.
[Edited 7/19/06 9:31am]


just bought a mobile airco. Makes a helluva noise but keeps the room pleasant.
Screw the environment, I'm hot wink



typoz
[Edited 7/19/06 9:42am]



Now yer talking!
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Reply #52 posted 07/19/06 11:14am

Whateva

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Whateva said:



hammer








tease




Aksel was just telling me it was 95! omfg Yikes....got to be humid and I doubt you guys have airconditioners right?


A tiny little one for the attic (my daughters bedroom), it makes it just bearable (27 degrees Celcius) if ya just don't move.

It's sooooo humid, we can almost swim through the air lol
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Reply #53 posted 07/20/06 4:21am

REDBABY

avatar

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

REDBABY said:

sad I cannot find your famous sun you always used to post..

here is another anyway hug






omfg I like that one! Where have you been? hug



But your one MOVED!!!!

I have been in hiding, but its great to see you back here! woot!
if sexy was a colour it would be red batting eyes
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Reply #54 posted 07/20/06 6:58am

tony23k

avatar

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

tony23k said:



Java's cup runneth over with health benefits
By R.J. Ignelzi
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 18, 2006



MICHAEL FRANKLIN
/ Union-Tribune illustration
If you think bitter-tasting wheatgrass juice or pungent herbal tea concoctions are your only healthy beverage choices, it's time to wake up and taste the coffee. A good ol' cup of joe or two may be just what the doctor ordered.

Once believed to stunt growth, cause cancer and trigger heart attacks, recent research indicates that coffee may be a powerful elixir. Our favorite brew has been shown to prevent diabetes, liver damage and gallstones, plus it may also improve physical endurance and pump up your brain power.

“Not only is coffee not bad for our health, as once believed, coffee may may actually have a healthy protective effect,” says Cheryl Rock, researcher and professor of nutrition at UCSD School of Medicine.

Dr. Ken Fujioka, director of nutrition and metabolic research at Scripps Clinic, isn't surprised by the reported coffee perks.

“When I see patients, I look carefully at what they eat and drink,” he says. “I find that the elderly patients who are the healthiest and doing the best have always had a cup or two of coffee every morning.”

While the second-most consumed beverage on the planet (after water) is best known for providing a jolt of adrenaline-raising caffeine, to assume that all of its health advantages are due to caffeine may be misleading, Rock says. (Most of the studies looked at caffeinated, not decaffeinated coffee.)







“It may be something else. The healthy benefits may come from its plant source,” says Rock, who calls coffee a “very complex beverage.” “In addition to caffeine, coffee also has many useful antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant chemicals ) which can reduce inflammation and counteract and prevent many diseases.”
The drink isn't perfect, though. It can be addictive, and too much of it can cause sleeplessness or the jitters. A safe limit, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is around 400 milligrams or three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day. Coffee's also been associated with fertility problems. Women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding, should talk to their doctor about recommended consumption.

While the coffee/health studies that have been reported seem promising, Rock says more research is needed before everyone trades in their ubiquitous water bottle for a coffee mug.

Most of the coffee studies have been “observational,” examining lifestyle and dietary factors for possible connections to the risk for disease.

“These studies are good for creating a hypothesis, but further clinical studies have to be done,” Rock says.

But, even though definitive conclusions about coffee's health benefits can't always be drawn, Fujioka would still recommend it to his patients, as long as it's not laden with loads of sugar and rich cream.

Coffee by the numbers
Worldwide, more than 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year.

About half the adult population in the United Stated drinks coffee every day.

Coffee drinkers consume an average of 3.3 cups a day; 9 ounces is the average cup size

A little more than a third of coffee drinkers in the U.S. take theirs black.

More than 80 percent of American coffee drinkers have a cup at breakfast.

Ten percent of Americans drink gourmet coffee beverages (espresso drinks and specialty coffees) every day.

Finland drinks the most coffee, averaging about 740 coffee servings per person a year.

Coffee ranks second to petroleum in dollars traded around the world.

SOURCE: National Coffee Association


“The number one health problem in the U.S. besides obesity is diabetes,” he says. “So, if there's something that has no calories and has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and be protective for other diseases, then I'm all for it.”

Here's a sampling of the good news about coffee and why you no longer need to feel guilt over enjoying this simple pleasure:

REDUCES RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES. As part of the Women's Health Study (published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine), 29,000 postmenopausal women were followed for 11 years. It was found that women who drank more than six cups of any type of coffee per day were 22 percent less likely to develop diabetes than women who drank no coffee. Women who drank more than six cups of decaffeinated coffee had a 33 percent reduced risk.

Experts suspect that coffee's phytochemicals and antioxidants deserve the credit. Coffee may stimulate the muscles to burn carbohydrates more efficiently and help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues, so insulin resistance is less likely.

REDUCE RISK OF LIVER DISEASE. According to researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, drinking between one and four cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of cirrhosis and is especially good at repairing the damage done by heavy drinking sessions.

In a study of 125,000 people, the risk of developing cirrhosis (a permanent scarring damage to the liver) was cut by 20 percent in those who drank one cup of coffee a day. That figure rose to 80 percent with four cups a day, and general blood tests showed healthier liver results in those who were coffee drinkers.

NO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK. “We can put the coffee-cardiovascular disease connection to rest. Coffee will not cause these problems,” Rock says.

As long as you don't have high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia or anxiety, drinking coffee is no problem, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, if you already have a preexisting cardiovascular condition, avoid excessive intake, since coffee may exacerbate it.

In May, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported on a study that followed 27,000 women ages 55 to 69 for 15 years. It found a 30-percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease among those who drank two to four cups of coffee a day.

INCREASES ALERTNESS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS. In your brain, caffeine intercepts adenosine, the chemical that slows down our nerves and brain and signals the need to sleep. It also increases dopamine levels, stimulating pleasure centers. So, coffee can make you feel both alert and relaxed.

IMPROVES PHYSICAL STAMINA. Coffee can stimulate you to exercise 10 percent to 15 percent longer because it keeps you from getting tired, according to a study at Ontario's University of Guelph. Drinking a cup or two of coffee one hour before exercise may reduce muscle soreness during exercise, according to a 2003 study published in the Journal of Pain. Caffeine may stimulate the release of endorphins and hormones that depress the sensation of pain or discomfort.

However, a recent Swiss study reports that drinking coffee before exercise may reduce blood flow to the heart. Anyone with any coronary risk factors should probably skip the pre-workout java.

HELPS HEADACHES. The caffeine in coffee constricts blood vessels, which is one reason it's used in some headache medications, including Excedrin and Anacin. It also increases the speed with which headache-reducing analgesics are absorbed into the body by as much as 40 percent.

MINIMIZES TOOTH DECAY. Coffee drinkers' teeth may be stained, but at least they won't be full of cavities. Coffee's antibacterial properties may slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the culprit in tooth decay. Coffee also contains compounds that keep bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel.

REDUCES RISK OF KIDNEY STONES. It's no secret that coffee makes your bladder more active. While that can be annoying, it can also help reduce the risk of kidney stones, according to the Nurses Health Study. Those in the study who drank the most coffee had the lowest risks. Caffeine increases the flow of more diluted urine, which lowers the chance of a kidney stone forming.

REDUCES RISK OF PARKINSON'S. Some research shows that just one cup of coffee a day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, a brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's, according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health. Women on hormone therapy don't seem to benefit, however. Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine.

REDUCES RISK OF GALLSTONES. The Harvard School of Public Health found that male coffee drinkers had a 45 percent lower risk of developing the condition and females a 40 percent lower risk.

Gallstones are small blobs of hardened matter which form out of liquid in the gallbladder and can block intestinal tubes, causing painful and occasionally fatal damage.

DOES NOT LEAD TO BONE LOSS. Contrary to what we believed just a few years ago, coffee does not cause thinning bones. There's evidence that calcium is lost through urine and by increasing the amount of urine you produce, you decrease your body's calcium stores. The effect, however, is negligible.



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R.J. Ignelzi: (760) 476-8206; rj.ignelzi@uniontrib.com



I know it's kinda long,but it's all good news for coffee drinkers biggrin


I think I love you!
2+ cups a day... had a feeling I was doing something right. wink
coffee
my phone is heavy
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Reply #55 posted 07/20/06 8:33am

Diosuni

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That was soooo sweet!
Now can anyone make a beer run?
Oh.....and on the way pick up my refill of Xanax 2mg., I'm jumpy from the beans!
[Edited 7/20/06 8:34am]
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