The consumption of coffee antioxidants has made the news lately, so I thought it worth taking a moment to review some of the more recent evidence that supports the idea of regular coffee consumption as part of a strategy to maintaining a healthy weight. And since I didn’t really start drinking coffee until about the age of 35, it makes me feel a little better about that choice as well.
Antioxidants In Coffee
According to the University of Scranton, the antioxidants in coffee are the number 1 source of antioxidants in the average America diet. It wins the top award for one simple reason – Americans drink a ton of the stuff. In fact, according to CBS News, coffee is the second most valuable commodity in the world, just behind oil. And with over 75% of Americans drinking coffee at least occasionally, we prove that fact out, by consuming almost 9-pounds per person each year.
But should we be drinking the stuff?
The results of a long-term study on the impact of coffee consumption on aggressive prostate cancer indicate there may be tangible health benefits. A study that lasted 20-years and included nearly 50,000 men showed that regular coffee consumption reduced the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. Those men who consumed 6 cups of coffee daily saw a 41% reduction in their risk of developing the disease.
Coffee has also been shown to reduce the risk of early onset dementia symptoms by as much as 65%, as well as reducing the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, and even gout.
I’ve mentioned before that I primarily took up drinking coffee as an alternative to plain drinking water. After all, as many benefits as there are to water, it can simply get boring. We all like a little variety in our diets, and being restricted to a single drink becomes limiting.
So, while coffee way into my staple of foods for weightloss, by virtue of the low calorie content, it may have secured that slot by its value as an antioxidant source.
Now, does this mean that all coffee drinks have health benefits? Naturally, no. For instance, we’ve covered the pitfalls of coffee-flavored milkshakes before, and the calories in iced coffee. So, even though I personally enjoy my coffee with a little bit of sweetener and milk, its important to be careful not to let calorie creep edge out the potential benefits.
With that all being said, I believe its safe to say that coffee can be a good source of antioxidants, while also offering a low (to zero) calorie alternative to water.
I guess that pot of coffee every morning has more benefits than I realized!
@Ron – I’m going with that!
This is very interesting and encouraging news. I do wonder about the impact of the caffeine, what long term impact is that having on our body?
@Mark – It’s a good question. It seems settled that caffeine can improve athletic performance, but its impact on long term health seems spotty.