Coffee
It's what wakes us up and keeps us going. But it does more for our bodies than just save us from a mid-afternoon slump. Whether it's the antioxidants that protects against cell damage or the caffeine that helps speed up metabolism, coffee is something most people could use to their advantage. However, those benefits won't do us any good if we don't also look at how the coffee we drink is grown and where it comes from. The word organic isn't just used to trick customers into thinking they're buying healthy alternatives. The way coffee beans are sourced doesn't just impact the drinker's lives, but the workers too.
Ever since the World Health Organization removed coffee from the carcinogen list in 2016, studies have shown that it actually has many benefits that protect from cancer and other illnesses. The benefits of coffee are never guaranteed but have been known to decrease the likeliness of certain medical conditions, as listed below. Antioxidants, contained in coffee, inhabit our bodies to protect from cell damage by reducing oxidative stress. Cell damage is one of the contributing factors in many diseases and cancers. We discuss oxidative stress more in our Benefits of Drinking Tea article.
Esophageal cancer and cardiovascular disease used to be included in the list of possible negative side effects of drinking coffee. Luckily, those claims have since been debunked. The increase in cancer of the esophagus has now been associated with drinking any substance at a temperature of 149 degrees Fahrenheit and hotter. So let's collectively start waiting for our food and drink to cool down before consuming! In the instance of cardiovascular disease, drinking more than 4 cups a day was determined to be the culprit. Keep the daily intake to 2-4 cups and we should be good to go.
Possible Benefits
Reduced risk of:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Colon, liver and uterine cancer
- Stroke
- Cirrhosis of the liver
Increased:
- Metabolism (assisting in weight loss)
- Dopamine levels
- Antioxidants
Most of the common side effects related to coffee can be prevented or lessened. Dehydration can be counteracted by drinking an extra cup of water per cup of coffee. Higher levels of cholesterol were mostly found in people that consumed unfiltered coffee. Insomnia can be reduced by limiting intake to the morning and afternoon. On the other hand, not much can be done in the way of coffee causing more trips to the bathroom, as it is a natural diuretic. And if a person is prone to anxiety, it may be best to stay away from the caffeinated variety. As it does increase fight or flight responses and jitteriness.
Possible Negative Effects
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
- Higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol)
- Increased bathroom usage
Why is Organic the Better Choice?
The make or break factor of whether coffee will be worth the benefits is determined by the kind we are buying. Drinking organically sourced coffee is the only way to guarantee that we aren't also ingesting toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Not only that, but these farms that don't use natural methods are poisoning the workers and surrounding living areas. Furthermore, the coffee plant prefers to grow in shaded areas that are harder to tend to and harvest. With the demand so high, conventional growers are modifying the plant to grow in the sun for accessibility and larger area. This results in forests being cleared out to make space. This leaves native animals and plant life with no where to go.
The Takeaway
The simple solution for coffee drinkers is to switch to organic coffee. Now whether or not to start drinking coffee for the benefits is left up to each individual. Every single person is different and not everyone can handle certain side effects. But those of us who are just fine, Naturally Ideal can help you make the switch today.
