photo by niculina

I love coffee. I love the smell of it, the dark rich taste of it, and the way it feels when I cup it in my hands. I carry my favorite green coffee cup around with me in the morning like a security blanket, so I can sip from it often. And it is regular. The caffeine works for me…in the morning. Of course, everyone’s different.

Take my husband. I keep the real stuff away from him. He has some sort of chemical reaction to it, that make a great day turn stressful and dark. I know many people opt for decaf, some even touting that caffeine is simply not good for you. That the stimulant is like a drug which clouds your consciousness. Hey, everyone’s entitled to their opinion.

But is caffeine really bad for you? My personal opinion is that it not bad for me. In an article By Sid Kirchheimer, WebMD Feature, the evidence actually shows that your health will improve if you drink it. According to his Harvard study which followed 126,000 people over 18 years, “Downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men’s risk by 54% and women’s by 30% over java avoiders.”

According to Kirchheimer, in the past few decades there have been about 19,000 studies done on the effect. of coffee. That alot of interest in this drug of choice for a growing number of Americans. And in a time where we are hearing everything under the sun (like many fresh veggies) are bad for you, it is refreshing to hear scientific evidence that this popular beverage make your body healthier.

In another study,Tomas DePaulis, PhD claims “Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful,” says the research scientist at Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. “For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good.”

In addition to helping the effects of diabetes here are some other diseases that coffee has been discovered to help:

Parkinson’s Disease, Colon Cancer, Headaches, Depression, Cirrhosis of the Liver, and Asthma.

And, according to other studies, besides the caffeine, regular coffee is also loaded with another goodie which leads to longevity: “Coffee is loaded with antioxidants, including a group of compounds called quinines that when administered to lab rats, increases their insulin sensitivity. This increased sensitivity improves the body’s response to insulin.”

If you are wondering about how much coffee to drink, the consensus seems to be about 2 mugs a day. Works for me. But, I’m still keeping it away from my husband. We are definitely a 2 coffee pot household.

We are all wired differently, and we each have our set of ailments (mental and physical) to deal with. So why not live and let live – stop feeling guilty about enjoying your joe-enjoy. That is, of course, if you are not an Olympic athlete.

Did you know… Caffeine is on the International Olympic Committee list of prohibited substances. Athletes who test positive for more than 12 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of urine may be banned from the Olympic Games. This level may be reached after drinking about 5 cups of coffee.

Just an amateur athlete? Or just a regular joe? Then kick a few back, get stimulated, and be healthy. And, as in nature, mind your own business, do the things that make you grow, and add to the environment by your simple way of being…

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Kim McGinnis, Be Like Nature

photo by Jocelyn McAuliflower

Ever wonder or worry about expiration dates on food? What does it mean when it is written “sell by?” or “best if used by?” How accurate are these date? The following chart that I found on GourmetSleuth.com is a great way to fill in the blank to these questions:

Some people are pickier than others. A good rule of thumb is to be cautious. And particularly with meat or fish, do the sniff test. If you can take a big whiff without scrunching your nose or getting queasy, you will be okay. If you are a stickler for freshness, then follow the dates to a tee.

When nature supplies its goodies in the wild, animals always respond quickly. And its not just because another beast will eat it if they do not claim it. The food, whether it be animal or vegetable, will not be edible if left to the environmental elements. That’s why it is best [safest] to act like the wild beast and eat your food soon after the hunt.

Eat well. Till next time…

P.S. If you like this blog, please click the icons below (i.e. Stumble it!). And please subscribe – I am deeply and sincerely appreciative of your support.

Kim McGinnis, Be Like Nature