OLUFUNKE FROM PUNCH
An old citizen chatted me up after last week’s publication. He told me he does not take coffee and in his words, he said, “The challenge is that coffee’s aroma overpowers its drinkers’ decorum for moderation in drinking, so for me, flee from it. Look for beverages that have equal health benefits”
I quite agree with him on how captivating coffee’s aroma is. If one is not careful, the aroma will push one to go overboard with the consumption.
However, there are life lessons to be learnt here. Let coffee consumption teach you self-discipline. You should always restrain yourself from drinking too much. Also, like they say, every cloud has a silver lining, as bad as we think coffee is, it is still chock full of nutrients that give a lot of health benefits.
Aside from its health benefits, caffeine is also part of the coffee plant’s chemical weaponry to defend itself against predators and competitors. Remember that plants cannot defend themselves with limbs or run away from danger. It may also interest you to know that coffee is not alone in this, caffeine is found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of many plants, including tea leaves, cocoa beans, chocolate and kola nuts. Some types of chewing gums, energy drinks and even the common pain-relieving medications that you use contain caffeine.
If coffee is taken in moderation, one can still reap the benefits.
Last week, I started discussions on its benefits. Let us see more:
- Linked to a lower risk of depression
Some studies have found that drinking coffee could be associated with a lower risk of depression. According to one review of seven studies, each cup of coffee people consumed per day was linked to an 8% lower risk of depression. Another study found that drinking at least four cups of coffee each day was associated with a significantly lower risk of depression.
- Could protect against liver conditions
One study found that drinking more than two cups of coffee per day was linked to lower rates of liver scarring and liver cancer in people with liver disease. Another recent study found that coffee consumption was associated with decreased liver stiffness, which is a measure healthcare professionals use to assess fibrosis, the formation of scar tissue in the liver.
