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Written by Superhuman
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Wednesday, 23 January 2008 |
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In the movie “Sleeper,” Woody Allen woke after hundreds of years in cold storage and was told that coffee, cigarettes, pastries, alcohol and chocolate promoted good health.
“We used to think these were unhealthy,” said the doctor, “now we know they are the best things for you.” Could it be that all of us are coming out of cold storage? Scientists have demonstrated health benefits for alcohol and chocolate and are finding that coffee contributes to health, too. Harvard researchers, in a study of more than 30,000 older Swedish women, found that drinking at least 5 cups of coffee per week reduced the risk of heart attack by 32 percent. Coffee contains chemicals that protect the body against oxidative stress (i.e., free radicals produced naturally during metabolism that destroy cells and tissues). Coffee improves blood sugar metabolism by reducing insulin resistance. It also stimulates the central nervous system, which improves thought processes, boosts mood and prevents drowsiness. Coffee drinking prevents type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and gallstones but promotes insomnia, heartburn and speeds heart rate. It does not appear to cause high blood pressure. Coffee drinkers are more likely to smoke, drink and eat poorly. America has more than 110 million coffee drinkers, and we spend nearly $20 billion a year on coffee in restaurants and coffee shops. (American Journal Epidemiology, 65: 288-293, 2007
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