Add Avoidance of MS to the List of Potential Benefits of Coffee
Drinking 6 or more cups of coffee per day has been associated with a reduced risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). In a paper published on March 3rd in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, two studies -in California and Sweden reported that people who drank six or more...
From the Coffee Shop
Coffee Grounds for Compost
Now that gardening season is here, a great way to reuse your old coffee grounds is for a fertilizer as they make a great addition to the compost pile! They’re about 2% nitrogen by volume and serve as an excellent nitrogen source in compost, much like horse or cow manure does. Nitrogen stimulates root development, increases seed and fruit production, and promotes leaf growth. Good homemade compost is made by mixing carbon-rich ingredients (dried leaves, straw, shredded newspaper) with nitrogen-rich ingredients (grass clippings, manures, coffee grounds, green plant trimmings). The fastest rate of decomposition occurs when there are 2-3 times...
Dangers of Energy Drinks
Some new research presented to the American Heart Association highlights some scary ways high-caffeine beverages can impede heart function. Seven studies were reviewed with healthy participants aged 18-45, and found that energy drinks can disrupt heart rate and raise blood pressure. The QT interval, which measures the time between heartbeats, was noticeably longer with people who had three energy drinks compared to those who had none. While this may not be relevant to an average healthy person, it may be an issue for people with underlying heart conditions and even cause heart failure. Clearly, if you are going to drink...
American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month! Did you know that drinking coffee is healthy for your heart? Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center reviewed five studies that analyzed the relationship between coffee consumption and heart failure risk. Of the 140,000 participants in the studies, those who regularly drank two 8-ounce cups of coffee had an 11% lower risk of heart failure than those who didn’t drink it. Researchers think the preventative aspect comes from coffee’s healthy compounds like antioxidants, which can reduce the risk of Type II Diabetes (a known risk factor for heart failure). Heart Disease is...
Easy New Year’s Resolution: Drink Coffee!
Many people start the year off with resolutions about how to become healthier: watch their diet, exercise more, lose weight, etc. While these may be difficult to keep at times, drinking coffee is an easy way to become healthier in 2013. Coffee protects against many diseases (Parkinson’s, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, many cancers), increases concentration and provides energy, and is the leading source of antioxidants in the US diet. Oh, and it tastes great too! Also, the roasting process HealthWise uses allows it to retain more vitamins and minerals than other coffees, like calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc. Of course,...
Five Foods (Other than Coffee) That May Keep You Up at Night
Some of us decide to stop drinking caffeinated coffee long before bedtime because of the caffeine’s effects. About 10% of the American population suffers from insomnia, and some of that can surprisingly be caused by food. Below are 5 foods that may contribute to sleep problems: 1. Fatty Foods: Johns Hopkins researchers show that overweight or obese people who lose weight can improve sleeping problems like insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless sleep. The key ingredient is reduction in overall body fat which also helps to reduce over the counter sleep aid use. 2. Veggies: These are great for you, but...
