Coffee and Antioxidants: All You Should Know

Despite multiple opinions we have about coffee, and read various studies regarding the effect of coffee on health, we will find out that it is believed to be beneficial. Some health benefits of coffee include reduction of risk of liver diseases, type II diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.

What is an antioxidant? An antioxidant is a molecule that protects cell damage and cell death in human cells. This is the simplest way I can explain it. Our body cells go through a process called oxidation which creates free radicals and causes’ our cells to age prematurely and other cell damage over time. Antioxidants protect us from this cell damage.

Most health benefits that coffee has, are a result of the high amount of antioxidant substances that are present in it. Studies show that coffee has the highest antioxidant content in the human diet, and that says a lot! In this article, I will look deeply into all you need to know about the antioxidant content of coffee.

The Biggest Dietary Source of Antioxidants

Many people consume about one to two grams of antioxidants per day; these antioxidants are ingested primarily from beverages like tea and coffee. Beverages have larger antioxidant content than normal food.

About 79% of antioxidants received from diet, usually comes from beverages. The remaining 21% comes from the food we eat. This is because people tend to drink more beverages that have a high percentage of antioxidants than food that also contains them.

There was research done to know the percentage of antioxidants present in food based on the size at which they are served. Coffee was 11th on the list with other types of berries ahead of it. This doesn’t still matter; people only eat a few berries but they can take many cups of coffee in a day.

The amount of antioxidant that is provided by coffee is greater than that of berries, even though berries are richer.

Loaded with several powerful antioxidants

Over the years, many types of research have been done on coffee and we have started discovering the secret to the many health benefits that coffee has. Coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and fatty liver diseases; drinkers of coffee have a lower chance of developing any of these diseases.

Many laboratory tests and researches have been done to test what gives coffee these health benefits. The result of these tests and researches has shown that these health benefits been a result of the antioxidants that are present in them.

Some of these antioxidants are CGAs and chlorogenic acid. As we live on this planet with a lot of things to do, a lot of factors can cause stress for our body – from the food we eat to the water and the type of air we breathe in.

These factors cause an excessive buildup of some compounds in our body and the release of some substances called free radicals. It is not possible to stay away from these substances because they are everywhere.

Too many of these substances in our body can lead to the development of some health problems. These substances build up at the cell membranes, and some at the DNA. They cause oxidation stress to the cell and they cause some changes to the cell.

Oxidation stress causes’ a change in the cellular structure that leads to some diseases we have mentioned above. So many factors that surround us like oxygen, nitrogen, pollution, UV light, eating low-quality or fast food, and taking alcohol all cause these harmful substances to build up in our body.

These free radicals damage brain tissues, skin, and they cause cognitive function diseases and wrinkles on the skin. It can also accumulate on the wall of blood vessels which may cause cardiovascular diseases.

Radicals can alter cell reproduction process leading to the growth of cancerous cells. Antioxidants have the ability to nullify the effects of these free radicals; this means they can protect the body from the free radicals.

Therefore, the health benefits of coffee don’t come from the caffeine you drank to keep you awake. By drinking a healthy cup of coffee, you are restoring the health and integrity of the cells in your body.

Antioxidants Fight Inflammation

Now, you may want to ask; what are the things free radicals do in the human body? The oxidation stress that is induced by these radicals in the body causes inflammation of the body.

It has been shown that chronic inflammation is the cause of some diseases that affect the human body. When the inflammation in the body is prolonged, this is what actually causes those diseases.

This is something we should take note of; inflammation itself is not a harmful thing. It’s this inflammation that helps our wounds to heal. When there is a cut in the body, there will be some inflammation due to an accumulation of cytokines in the wounded areas.

Cytokines then induce swelling up of the region and signals are passed to the other parts of the body. As the area swells up, it allows the easy passage of substances across the blood vessels.

The blood vessel will allow for the passage of hormones and immune cells that will fight the foreign bodies. It’s normal for the wounded area to swell up, but when the swelling refuses to go down, it’s not a healthy situation.

Chronic inflammation keeps the cell walls in a state of constant emergency. The difference between acute and chronic inflammation is that chronic inflammation occurs in the inner part of the body that you can’t see.

They come as a pain, aches, and diseases that you won’t notice until the damage has been done. The only way the body counters the effect of these radicals is through the antioxidants present in the body.

After a lot of observational research, scientists have concluded that coffee’s high antioxidant effects reduce the risk of these diseases. Currently, there are many studies that agree with this conclusion.

Linked to a Reduced Risk of Many Diseases

For example, people who drink coffee have a 23 to 50 percent decrease in the risk of having type II diabetes. For every cup of coffee, you take per day, there is a linked 7 percent decrease in the risk.

Drinking coffee is also beneficial to the liver; it reduces the risk of having liver cirrhosis. Coffee can also reduce the risk of stroke, heart diseases, and colorectal cancer. People who drink coffee have been reported to have a lower risk of having Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Coffee has also been reported to have a beneficial effect on the overall mental health of people. Some studies found that women who drink often have a lower chance of depression and suicide.

Lastly, coffee has been linked to an increased lifespan; it lowers the risk of premature death. You should note that these studies are observational and there is no concrete evidence to back up these claims.

Unnoticed Antioxidants in Coffee

• Cafestol

Even decaffeinated coffee will still contain the antioxidant called Cafestol. It acts as the bile modulator in the human body. The Cafestol also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the human brain. According to a study, this antioxidant helps improve memory.

• Trigonelline

Trigonelline is an antibacterial compound and can help one prevent tooth decay. The compound is one of the bitter alkaloids that are present in coffee. It adds a special type of great aroma to the coffee.

There is a higher percentage of the compound in roasted coffee than green coffee. It also has a higher percentage of Arabica coffee than Robusta coffee. Another thing to note about this compound is how it degrades to other compounds when it is being roasted.

When the compound is roasted, it slightly degrades to form pyridines or nicotinic acid. Another name for nicotinic acid is Vitamin B3 and its scientific name is niacin. The compound is a well-known antioxidant.

• Chlorogenic Acid

Green and roasted coffee have a great percentage of chlorogenic acid in it. Chlorogenic acid is a phenol compound, and it is one of the major antioxidants out there. It acts as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent in the body.

The chlorogenic acid contains some lactones and this has been found to tackle diabetes in the body. Green coffee has been said to the primary source of Chlorogenic acid. Research has shown that Chlorogenic acid reduces fat deposition in rats and increases their rate of metabolism.

• Melanoidins

The Melanoidin that is present in coffee is the cause of the special smell that comes from it during roasting. This compound is also responsible for the brown color of coffee.

The compound of this antioxidant is formed during the roasting of coffee and they have great anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

• Quinine

This bitter compound is responsible for the bitter taste of coffee, and it has antioxidant properties. The quinine in coffee becomes more effective when it is roasted. Taking large quantities of quinine is harmful to the body, and some people are allergic to it. However, only a small amount is present in coffee and it is not harmful.

• Caffeine

Caffeine on its own is an antioxidant; it helps to cure headaches, lose weight, and prevent diabetes. Recent studies show that caffeine has a similar structural formula to uric acid. Caffeine can be used to treat redness of the skin, puffed skin, and the likes.

Conclusion

Many people have different opinions on coffee, but it has been established that coffee has a lot of health benefits. In this article, I have reviewed the source of the many health benefits of coffee. So, basically high level of antioxidants found in coffee-based on many studies, are very healthy for you.

If you have any comments, please leave them below, I’d love to hear from you. If you’re a coffee lover and a dog lover check these pet supplements.