Coffee ... Hot off the Press!
I Always knew I was Right!......well to be honest I did'nt know...I hoped I was right. But now its official, Coffee is good for you!. Well at very least its not bad for you.
Yesterday, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a study that suggested that a moderate intake of coffee, and by that they mean 3-5 cups a day, seems to be completely safe for your health. They don't go quite as far as to say coffee is good for you.....but on balance it is more likely to be good for you than bad. There are a couple of caveats....pregnant women, and women who at high risk of fractures (osteoporosis) should still exercise caution as they may be more prone to the harmful side effects of coffee.
So What?!....there have been hundreds of studies concerning coffee...most of them suggesting harm but some suggesting a benefit. This study was an Umbrella review....which means they have analysed all of the available previous review...and making the study reliable, and more robust.
I don't mind admitting that I am relieved.....I have a bit of a coffee addiction!. I can't imagine starting my day without the help of a couple of cups...and at work, the staff know that if they want to get the best out of me then they'd better keep me happy with a further two or three cups during the course of the day.
I think it all dates back to when I was packed off to University in Cape Town with an Industrial -sized tin of Ricoffy, Which, looking back on it, was rather strange as I come from strongly tea drinking family. Anyway the Ricoffy stood me in good stead, keeping me awake, and allowing me to study into the wee small hours...unless alcohol or palpatations supervened!. It did'nt take long to discover that 2 teaspoons of coffee kept me awake longer than one....and that if I took caffeine tablests as well, I could stay awake for ever!.......I was hooked.
Which brings me to the next interesting point. I think most people think of caffeine as being almost synonymous with coffee, and it is certainly what is responsible for its stimulative effects...but according to the BMJ study, Decaffeinated and Caffeinated Coffee appear to have the same benefits...Maybe its the large wallop of Antioxidants?!
The study does n't suggest how we should drink our coffee...black or white...Instant or Freshly Ground...Sugar or not?.
And they have also stopped short of suggesting that we should actively drink coffee to prevent disease, the study does'nt answer that question. But I don't mind....for the time being my drug of choice is safe!
Anyway, I'm off to make another cup of Carluccio's Chicchi di Caffe Milano....and might I suggest you do the same. Life is Good.