Is there Trouble Brewing in your Favourite Cuppa?
There are various accounts of the origins of coffee, but the most popular is the discovery made by Kaldi, a goat herder in Ethiopia during the 9th century. He noticed his goats dancing from one coffee shrub to another after consuming the red berries, in which the coffee bean is contained. Curiosity took over and Kaldi decided to try out these bitter berries for himself and soon he was as giddy as the goats. A passing monk on witnessing the antics of Kaldi and the goats, decided to pick some for himself and his brothers and sure enough, they were up all night praying and filled with divine inspiration. From these humble beginnings, word spread and coffee is now one of most widely consumed drink in the world. It is second to oil as the most traded commodity in the world.
Many studies claim that drinking one to two cups of coffee per day can protect against cancer, particularly liver and colon cancer. It also offers protection against conditions such as gallstones, kidney stones, Type 2 Diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The health benefits are primarily attributed to caffeine which temporarily increases the output of our stress hormones - which, in small amounts, produce positive effects all over the body. Caffeine is a stimulant in coffee which can increase our energy levels and metabolism, improve concentration and alertness as well as increase the rate at which we burn fat (mostly to fuel the extra energy burst). Antioxidants and tannins in coffee also have protective qualities - protecting us from free radical damage which is good for our heart, brain and vascular system.
On closer examination of these studies, the benefits of drinking coffee lie in its “protective” qualities, reducing risk of disease, rather than a curative effect, which treats a specific ailment or disease. Interestingly, coffee can make some existing conditions worse and impair healing. For example, coffee induces contractions in the gallbladder - thereby increasing the flow of bile and aiding the function of the gallbladder - this is good as it protects from gallbladder developing disease. But, when gallstones already exist - these extra contractions can worsen the condition and increase pain, inflammation and the risk of obstruction in the gallbladder - not so good! The same is true for Type-2 diabetes, much of the studies examine populations of coffee drinkers compared with non-coffee drinkers. Coffee drinkers are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, probably due to high levels of magnesium and chromium in coffee which assist insulin to work more effectively as well as the protective antioxidants in coffee. However, once type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, most of the protective qualities of coffee are negated as the body struggles to benefit from this beverage. Also, many of the other habits linked to drinking coffee, such as adding sugar, smoking and eating sweet foods far outweigh any benefits that coffee may offer. It is important, therefore, to look at these studies a little closer before you order a super-sized cup of latté, hoping to find a cure for diabetes at the end of your mug!
The first commercially-available decaf coffee came from a German merchant in 1906. Ludwig Roselius believed his father (also a coffee merchant) had died from too much caffeine and searched for a way to remove the “poison” from coffee beans. This led to the establishment of Kaffee HAG, a famous (or infamous) brand of decaffeinated coffee which grew popular as a “health” drink during the 1930s in Germany and soon after the war, was widely available throughout Europe. We know from research that caffeine, in moderate amounts, offers protection from neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia because of its positive impact on the neurotransmitters involved in cognitive function, alertness, concentration and memory. But there is the downside - too much coffee over-stimulates these same neurotransmitters leaving us feeling agitated, anxious and jaded. Caffeine affects our sleep patterns, particularly if consumed late in the day, and lousy sleep is a major drain on our physical and mental wellbeing.
Decaf, at first glance, might seem like a good alternative but the processing and chemicals involved in removing the caffeine can be harmful in other ways. Caffeine is removed from the bean by soaking it in a solvent such as carbon dioxide or methylene. Roselius relied on benzene as the solvent of choice back in the 1930s until it was banned because it was discovered to be a human carcinogenic and more recently (1970s), another solvent - trichloroethylene was discontinued due to its carcinogenic properties. If choosing decaf, look for safer methods for decaffeination (without solvents) such as "Swiss water process" which uses activated charcoal or carbon filters to remove the caffeine. These newer methods may add an extra cost to your decaf, but well worth it in the long run, if it is part of your daily routine.
As with all good things in life – moderation is key. Most research shows that the health benefits come with one or two cups of coffee a day, whereas more than five will certainly negatively impact on your health. If you have a pre-existing health condition or on medication find out how caffeine may impact on your illness and your meds. Thankfully, most people can enjoy a cup or two of this glorious brew knowing its great taste, aroma and caffeine offer some goodness and can raise our spirits - just like it did for Kaldi, his goats and the monks!
