Coffee Day Healthy pick-me-up?

Facts about the day of coffee

09/08/2013

Yesterday Saturday in this country was the „Day of coffee“ committed. The favorite drink of the Germans is classified so far predominantly as harmful to health. But there are also recent findings about a variety of positive effects of coffee consumption.

Day of coffee
Since 2006, every first Saturday in September, the „Day of coffee“ celebrated. The organizing German Coffee Association describes the day of action as follows: „On the day of coffee, various facets of coffee - from lifestyle to tradition, from enjoyment to conviviality - can be experienced through numerous promotions and events throughout Germany. Coffee lovers and those interested can inform themselves and celebrate coffee in a new way.“ In this country, for a large part of the population, the view is that coffee is harmful to health, as it increases insulin levels, blood pressure and blood sugar, deprives the body of water and also damage the whole cardiovascular system. But coffee consumption also has positive effects on health.

Coffee reduces diabetes risk
For example, scientists have found in several large-scale studies of up to 120,000 participants that regular consumption of coffee can protect against type II diabetes. „Several studies have found that the risk of diabetes is lowest in those who drank up to seven cups of coffee daily“, Prof. Dr. Stephan Martin from the West German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf. Thus, for men who drink more than six cups of coffee a day, there is a 50% reduced risk of developing type II diabetes, and for women who also drink plenty of coffee, the risk is reduced by about 30%. The scientists assume that especially the antioxidants contained, polyphenols or minerals develop the protective effect, not the caffeine. The effect was measurable with decaffeinated coffee in the same way.

Coffee and green tea protect against stroke
A large Japanese study with over 80,000 subjects found a significantly lower risk of stroke among tea and coffee users. In summary, the researchers came to the conclusion: „People who drink tea or coffee often reduce their chances of succumbing to a stroke.“ The efficiency is given by the scientists with about 20 percent. Over a period of 13 years, study participants were continuously asked about their drinking habits, their weight, tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet and exercise. The latter factors played an important role in the calculation of the actual risk, because, for example, lack of exercise and a high-fat diet negatively influence the risk of stroke.

Positive effect on the liver
The likelihood of suffering from a liver disease, decreases with the daily coffee consumption also, and it is not clear whether the positive effect of the caffeine or the antioxidants is attributed. However, the results of the research refer exclusively to people who already have an increased risk of such diseases (eg alcoholics, obese). Professor Christian Strassburg of the University of Bonn recently pointed out at a congress of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists in Meran that two cups of coffee a day would have a positive effect on the liver. However, this does not protect the institution from excessive consumption of alcohol, as sometimes assumed.

Caffeine in coffee for Alzheimer's
Obviously, drinking coffee regularly can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the German Research Center Jülich came to this conclusion in a scientific study. The caffeine in coffee works in those areas of the brain that are involved in Alzheimer's disease. The result is not new, as previous research has found that coffee consumption reduces the risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. However, scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich were able to localize for the first time where the caffeine component in coffee acts in the human brain. The substance is not only contained in coffee, but also in black tea and chocolate.

All only hypotheses?
However, experts also believe that such nutritional observational studies provide only hypotheses that sound exciting on the one hand but often over-interpreted on the other hand. For example, a recommendation to drink coffee for health promotion can not be made until clinical trials of it „effectiveness“ would prove. Graduate Nutritionist and coffee drinker Uwe Knop said last year: „Enjoy your coffee when it tastes good and gets you good - but do not believe the numerous reports that you 'lower' more than four cups a day´ Your risk of diabetes, depression, cancer, Alzheimer's, gout, stroke and heart disease!“ (Ad)

Picture: Marianne J.