COFFEE

COFFEE DAY: SEPTEMBER 29 T H

MORE THAN JUST A JOLT OF CAFFEINE

ANTIOXIDANTS• Coffee is an excellent source of antioxidants

• Antioxidants can protect against free radicals that cause cancer as well as protection from heart disease

• Coffee was one of the number one sources of antioxidants when compared to an existing USDA database on the contribution of each type of food item to the average U.S. per capita consumption

http://phys.org/news/2005-08-coffee-source-antioxidants.html

ALTERNATIVES

•A downside: people that regularly drink coffee m

ay also consum

e those extra goodies we use to m

ake our coffee have that kick

• Opt for: –

zero calorie sweeteners

–sugar free syrup

–low-fat m

ilk or an alm

ond m

ilk-based cream

er–

flavored grounds such as sugar cookie of m

ocha swirl

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/multim

edia-article/risks/

HEALTH BENEFITS

• Liver disease prevention• Improved cognitive function in older adults• Sharper memory• Increased athletic endurance• Longevity• 4-5 cups of coffee daily may cut the risk of Parkinson’s disease

compared with drinking little or no caffeine • May protect against type 2 diabetes• http://www.ncausa.org/Health-Caffeine• https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/drink-up-health-benefits-of-coffee-are-numer

ous/

HOW TO

STORE COFFEE•

Bean’s greatest enemy: air, m

oisture, heat, light–

Store in opaque, air tight container–

Retail packaging not ideal for long-term

storage

•Buy quantities m

ore frequently (enough for 1-2 weeks)

•If you buy whole beans, grind the am

ount you need imm

ediately before brewing

•Coffee is hygroscopic in that it absorbs m

oisture, odors, tastes from the air

around it

•Freezing coffee m

eans airtight containers are im

portant –

Do not let the coffee gather condensation in m

oments it m

ay thaw

•http://www.ncausa.org/About-Coffee/How-to-Store-Coffee

CAFFEINE COMPARISONS

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/multimedia-article/caffeine/

TANNINS• What are tannins?• Tea and coffee contain tannins which

are naturally occurring organic substances known as polyphenols.

• Polyphenols are present in other products too: wine, beer, fruit juices, berries, pomegranates, nuts, smoked foods, legumes, some herbs and spices

• Polyphenols• May prevent degenerative diseases

such as cancer and cardiovascular disease

http://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/nutritionist-articles/is-your-daily-cuppa-leaving-you-lower-in-iron

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/5/727.full

Tannins may hinder iron absorption. This is particularly

important in vegan diets, vegetarian diets, athletes,

pregnant women, or women with certain conditions that require

extra iron. Always check with a healthcare professional to be

sure of your iron levels and what you need to do to maintain

healthy quantities. http://

www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/nutritionist-articles/is-your-daily-cuppa-leaving-you-lower-in-iron

DON’T LIKE COFFEE?Consider black tea! It is the second most consumed antioxidant source in the U.S.