Everyone has heard, at least once, the negative criticism about coffee, that it has bad effects on our health and because it contains caffeine, it can cause hypertension and lead to heart attacks later in life. However with years of research, I have brought you the latest scientific research on how coffee can, in fact, improve your health and your lifestyle.

1. First off, unlike the common myth that coffee can lead to heart attacks, it actually does not! After monitoring over 8,000 coffee drinkers since approximately the 1960s, the Honolulu Heart Program has found no scientific link between coffee and heart attacks. In fact, drinking coffee on a regular basis can actually reduce your risk of developing heart attacks and hypertension.

2. Second, scientists have concluded that coffee reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. After years of research, scientists have found that those who drink between three and six cups of coffee daily are five times less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. This is because coffee protects the brain cells that could possibly lead to Parkinson's.

3.Finally, coffee can also reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. In a recent study conducted by Harvard researchers in 2003, they found that people who drank an average of four to five cups of coffee daily reduced their risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by 30 percent. This is a surprising twist, since scientists earlier hypothesized that coffee can lead to water retention, obesity and spiked blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Although, it has only recently been determined that this myth is also false!

Therefore, why do we, as a society, continue to argue that coffee produces so many harmful effects on the body? Well, up until the past 40 years, many of these myths about coffee were believed and feared that they could widely damage the body. However, in fact, coffee provides numerous benefits for adults ... and children alike. For instance, why not allow your teen to drink coffee in the morning? The caffeine has been shown to dramatically increase alertness and improve performance on tests. So, if you want your child to score high on that exam first period, serve them a cup or two of coffee in the morning. This may considerably help their class averages in the long term as well.

Originally published by Monmouth Academy.

Source: Sun-Journal Lewiston, Me. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. Powered by YellowBrix.

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