Coffee Coffea arabica


Coffea arabica
Coffee beans on tree
  • Common Names
  • Coffee , java, joe
  • Botanical Name
  • Coffea arabica
  • Family
  • RUBIACEAE

Medicinal Uses & Benefits of Coffee

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How to Use: Coffee


I have a three to four cup a day coffee habit, not uncommon among those of us who spend most of the workday at a desk, pecking at a keyboard for a living. Americans consume the equivalent of 500 cups per person - per year and import half of the worlds coffee crop. Caffeine is the world's most widely used central nervous system stimulant, with approximately 80% consumed in the form of coffee.

Coffee's reputation as America's favorite bad habit has been redeemed with Many recent reports in scientific literature pointing out many benefits of regular coffee consumption. These health benefits include statistically lower rates of stroke, 1612 diabetes, 1447 prostate cancer, 1446, and depression among caffeinated coffee drinkers when compared to non-coffee drinkers.

The welcome surge of alertness and energy that the morning cup of coffee aids our start to the work day. Caffeine and caffeinated coffee have been shown to improve short-term alertness, attention, and memory, and may have long term protective benefits on cognitive decline as well. 1733 Many studies confirm the common knowledge that aspirin or other analgesics provide work faster and better on headaches when combined with caffeine.

The caffeine in coffee and tea is a chemical cousin to the asthma drug theophylline, drinking coffee and caffeinated teas can help calm an asthma attack and stop coughing spasms. White,Linda B., M.D.

Coffee consumption has always been a mainstay for dieters and has been associated with long term weight loss, likely from the thermogenic effects of caffeine raising the metabolic rate. Green coffee extract is another component that may be a factor. Green coffee extract, (GCE) is obtained mostly from green or raw coffee, as some of coffee's active, antioxidant compounds are damaged in the roasting process. GCE is believed to suppress the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides, in other words works as a fat burner. There have no side effects reported in studies when using GCE, but the studies have been small in scope so far. Green coffee extract is not a "magic pill", however, it may be a good supplement to try as part of a healthy approach to weight loss. 1733

As in all things balance is key, coffee's worst aspect may be that it crowds out the many other healthy herbal teas and drinks we should be consuming during the course of the day. Not all coffee studies have produced positive results and dosage may be a key factor, along with coffee chemotype, processing, and preparation. The dosage most frequently associated with decreased risk is one to three cups/day or approximately 350 mg caffeine/day. However, several studies have reported increased mortality associated with consumption of = four cups/day. Individual variables may also influence the effects of coffee and caffeine.

Preparation Methods & Dosage :Coffee can be prepared by boiling, drip brew, and French press, the favorite method of coffee aficionados. Make the most of your coffee by brewing it fresh from good quality, fair trade, beans. Good coffee doesn't require copious amounts of cream and sugar to make it palatable.

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Coffee Remedies


Coffee Side Effects: Nursing mothers who drink coffee might transfer the caffeine to their babies, giving them insomnia. Don't take mineral supplements with your morning cup of coffee as it may impede your body's absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron and other nutrients.

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Plant Description


Coffea arabica, the first cultivated species of coffee is native to northeastern Africa. Coffee plants are evergreen shrubs with glossy leaves up to 10 in long. It produces dense clusters of fragrant white flowers in late summer. Ripe red fruits contain 2 seeds (coffee beans).

How to Grow Coffee

Coffea arabica, the first cultivated species of coffee is native to northeastern Africa. Coffee plants are evergreen shrubs with glossy leaves up to 10 in long. It produced dense clusters of fragrant white flowers in late summer. Ripe red fruits contain 2 seeds (coffee beans). Some have had success growing coffee in greenhouses, or as houseplants in less temperate climates. Used coffee grounds make great plant food for acid loving plants like tomatoes. Use 1 part grounds to 3 parts cool water and pour it on your plants roots weekly.


References:
books citedWorks Cited
  1. White, Linda B. M.D.. "The Herbal Drugstore" Rodale, (2003) The caffeine in coffee and tea is a chemical cousin to the asthma drug theophylline. Researchers have found that a caffeine dose of 7 milligrams per 2.2 pounds of body weight can significantly improve lung function of people with asthma.
  2. Carman AJ, Dacks PA, Lane RF, Shineman DW, Fillit HM. . Review of Coffee and Caffeine in Delaying or Preventing Cognitive Decline , J Nutr Health Aging. 2014;18(4):383-392., (10-15-2014): Current evidence for the use of coffee and caffeine to prevent age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.,
  3. Onakpoya I, Terry R, Ernst E . Review of Available Clinical Evidence on Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Management Tool Shows Promising Results , American Botanical Council Herb Clip, (02-15-2011): GCE is believed to mediate its anti-obesity effect by suppressing the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides, altering plasma adipokine level and body fat distribution, and down-regulating fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. .,
  4. . Coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk and progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. , J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 Jun 8;103(11):876-84. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djr151. Epub 2011 May 17., (2011 Jun 8): Coffee contains many biologically active compounds, including caffeine and phenolic acids, that have potent antioxidant activity and can affect glucose metabolism and sex hormone levels. Because of these biological activities, coffee may be associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.,
  5. Huxley R, Man Ying Lee C, Barzi F, et al. . Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. , Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009; 169: 2053-2063, (12-2009): People who drink 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day were found to have a 25 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who drank zero to two cups a day. There is good news for tea drinkers as well, those drinking three to four cups daily were found to having an 18 percent lower risk than those who drank none. ,
  6. Larsson SC, Virtamo J, Wolk A. . Coffee Consumption and Risk of Stroke in Women , PMID: 21393590, (March, 2011): A Swedish study found that Drinking one to five cups of coffee a day may decrease stroke risk in women., The benefits of the antioxidant polyphenols and other compounds in coffee may boost endothelial function, cut down on inflammation, and improve insulin sensitivity as well.,
  7. Harvard School of Public Health . Coffee and Prostrate Cancer , , (2011-05-14): Men who drank 1 to 3 cups per day lowered their risk of prostate cancer by 13 percent, according to the study which was published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Those who who drank the most coffee regular or decaffeinated have the least risk for prostate cancer, especially the deadliest forms of the disease, the 12-year study of almost 48,000 male health professionals found. ,