Drinking Coffee To Promote Good Health

Caffeinated beverages, and coffee in particular, have got a bum rap. Some people say coffee is harmful and many try to cut the drink out of their diet altogether. But don't put away your Mr. Coffee yet... recent studies suggest that regular consumption of caffeine can actually improve health. Good news for Starbucks... and for you, since you can now have your morning cuppa joe without feeling guilty!

According to researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital, studies indicate that those who drank coffee on an ongoing basis within a test environment were found to have a considerably reduced risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes than those who did not consume the beverage. In fact, male participants appeared to have received the greatest benefit. Those who drank more than six cups per day were shown to reduce their risks by more than fifty percent. Conversely, women who drank the same number of cups were only shown to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by less than thirty percent, still impressive, though not as significant as the benefit to men.

One possible explanation for this newest discovery is that the agents which are present in coffee, specifically, antioxidants, appear to enhance the body's sensitivity to insulin, which is necessary for controlling glucose levels in the blood. This would contribute toward staving off the circumstances that often serve as a catalyst for the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.

Doctors believe that environmental factors, such as diet, and family history are largely to blame for the onset of this disease, which generally strikes obese men and women over the age of 40. Once diagnosed, patients must either take oral medication or insulin injections to control glucose levels in the body. If coffee does indeed impact the development of diabetes, the implications for modern medicine are striking.

While no specifics have been given regarding the style of coffee. specifically, black coffee or that which has cream and sugar added. it has been stated that, though the short-term effect of caffeine has been identified as temporarily escalated glucose levels, the long-term effects of drinking caffeinated coffee are not only more significant, but also ongoing.

Though researchers don't encourage folks to take up the habit of excessive coffee drinking, those who do enjoy a hot cup of "Joe" can relax without the worry of the negative impact of their favorite beverage on their bodies.

Written by Stacy Juchina, the creator of AZ Coffee one of the leading information resources on the subject of coffee available on line. For more information, and immediate access to his articles library, visit http://www.azcoffee.com