Java Junkies Can Relax

I love coffee and can drink it in any form--hot or iced, and black, creamed or flavored. I felt compelled to stop drinking it on a regular basis, though, because I had been convinced it caused more harm than good physically, so I approached coffee like it was a dessert (only on occasion).

Now, they tell us that coffee is not only good for us but those who drink lots are better off than someone who drinks only one cup a day. Don't you wish these doctors would make up their minds. Honestly, there's a very clear reason they call medicine a "practice".

Many new studies confirm that coffee is a rich source of nutrients and anti-oxidants that destroy damaged cells, lower cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and Parkinson's disease. If that weren't enough, coffee treats headaches, helps control asthma, lifts mood, and reduces cavities.

Prevention Magazine says:

1 cup per day lowers your risk of early death from all causes by 37%.
2 cups per day reduces your risk of death from heart disease by 25%.
3 cups per day slashes your risk of dementia and Alzheimers by 65%.
4 cups per day makes you less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

If this news weren't good enough, The Harvard School of Public Health recently published a study indicating that drinking caffeinated coffee is the most beneficial choice, so unless you suffer with insomnia or high blood pressure, drink your java in its high octane version to benefit fully from its anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties and to dramatically decrease the incidence of gall bladder disease and gall stones in both women and men.

Two studies have shown that individuals who drank two or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than individuals who drank no coffee or a small to moderate amount.

The studies also indicated that regular coffee drinkers score significantly higher on cognitive ability tests, spatial awareness exams, IQ tests, and short term memory studies, and the effects of coffee on an individual's cognitive ability appear to be even more pronounced among women and the elderly.

And a study of more than 45,000 men conducted over a 12-year period showed the amount of coffee consumed was inversely related to their risk for developing gout.

There are so many reasons now for drinking coffee that it would be almost irresponsible not to indulge again, and don't dump those grinds after you savor that first cup and pull the plug on the pot. Use them for a great facial scrub before applying make-up. The anti-oxidants in the grinds reverse skin aging for men and women, and the texture sluffs off dead cells. The coffee grinds also leave a natural oil that lubricates the skin.

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm firing up the pot again tomorrow morning.