Thursday, January 9, 2014

The Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee



 
Health Benefits of Coffee


You have to admit it.  A great cup of coffee is one of life’s simple pleasures.  

Coffee holds a place of honor in many of our daily rituals.  It’s often the first thing we sip in the morning, the mid-afternoon reboot, and the perfect accompaniment with that scrumptious dessert after dinner.  We study coffee’s traits and cherish the moments we share it with friends.  Now there’s good news for those who love coffee because medical research is finding that coffee appears to be great for your health. 


Researchers have discovered what they consider to be hundreds of healthful compounds found in coffee.  One of the most important finding is that coffee is very high in antioxidants.  In fact according to The Mayo Clinic, coffee provides coffee-drinkers with more antioxidants than any other food or drink in their diet.   


Coffee Contains a Large Amount of Antioxidants

Some of the predominant types of antioxidants found in coffee are called polyphenols, which basically are chemicals that lower or stop the destructive oxidation of the body’s cells, boost the body’s immunity, and assist in the repair of the body’s tissues. 

Chlorogenic acid, a type of “super star” polyphenol found in coffee is especially helpful in reducing inflammation in the body and protecting the cells in the brain.  It’s thought to aid in human cognition, act as an antibacterial agent, and lower the risk of many diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke and perhaps even obesity. 

Chlorogenic acid also assists in lowering blood pressure.  How is this possible?  Doesn’t coffee raise blood pressure through caffeine?

It appears that chlorogenic acid reduces inflammation and aids in the release of the body’s nitric oxide.  Arteries relax, and the linings of arteries function better.  Blood pressure rises temporarily in the short term but thanks in part to antioxidant health benefits, blood pressure is not a long term problem attributed to coffee. 

Researchers are also discovering that polyphenol compounds in coffee are inhibiting the release of glucose from the small intestine, and reporting that they see the risks of diabetes drop significantly with the intake of each additional cup of coffee they measured.

And it isn’t just caffeinated coffee that is good for your health.  Decaffeinated coffee has been shown to lower glucose levels even better than regular coffee. 

There is a point where the compounds in coffee make a U-turn and become destructive to the human body so you don’t want to take coffee-drinking to extremes.   You’ll want to talk to your doctor to determine just how much coffee is too much for you to drink daily. 


           

“You get the health benefits of coffee up through about the first twenty-four ounces. It's the biggest source of antioxidants for Americans, and we think it helps prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well.”

                                                                                                              - Dr. Mehmet Oz



  
Coffee Appears to Lower Risk of Breast, Uterine, Prostate and Skin Cancer

Researchers at several well respected institutions are in agreement that drinking coffee appears to have many health benefits for the individual, and may even help to prolong a person’s life. 

Harvard Medical School’s Coffee Study

A 12-year study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that drinking coffee lowers the body’s levels of insulin and estrogen, two hormones linked to both endometrial cancer (lining of the uterus) and prostate cancer. 

The study followed a group of women ages 34 to 59, and found that those who drank 4 or more cups of coffee per day had a 25% lower risk of endometrial cancer.   

Women who drank 5 or more cups of coffee were also found to be 57% less likely to develop a type of high-risk breast cancer.

But it wasn’t just women who benefited from drinking coffee.

Harvard researchers found that men who drank 6 or more cups of coffee per day had a 60% lower risk of developing the most deadly form of prostate cancer, and a 20% lower risk of developing any type of prostate cancer.  Chlorogenic acid and another compound found in coffee, caffeic acid, seem to slow or halt the formation of harmful proteins that destroy the cells of the pancreas when these proteins collect in the body. 

This study also found that men who drank at least 3 cups of fully caffeinated coffee daily were also less like to develop basal cell carcinoma type of skin cancer. 

The Harvard study was concluded in 2012, and results were then published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2013.

National Institutes of Health’s Coffee Study

Another long term study, this time at the National Institutes of Health, observed 400,000 men and women over 13 years (excluding those with pre-existing health issues) and found that the more coffee that subjects drank, the longer the subject’s longevity. 

NIH reported that people in their study group (comprised of 50-71 year olds) who were coffee drinkers were less like to die than non-coffee drinkers, and those that did die where less likely to die of specific diseases like infection, respiratory diseases or heart diseases. 


Keeping the Coffee Drinking Habit Alive

The benefits of coffee drinking aren’t limited to the research findings of one or two studies at one or two hospitals or universities.  Teams are arriving at similar conclusions in studies both at home and abroad.  Current research findings suggest that drinking coffee can be very beneficial to one’s health and something you may want to pursue.    Talk to your doctor to learn more about a healthy coffee drinking routine.







Thought For the Day


A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape.  Joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked.

-          Anais Nin
             
             

Monday, January 6, 2014

Is that Receipt in Your Hand Bad for Your Health?




BPA - Research Suggests that it’s Harmful to Your Family’s Health

The FDA banned the harmful chemical BPA (Bisphenol A) from items for children such as baby bottles and children's sippy cups in July 2012.

In the past few years, many manufacturers of consumer products have considered this an important issue and have taken steps to make their products were "BPA-free".

But there's another source of BPA that you'd never think could harm you, and it might be right in the palm of your hand.

It's the shiny cash register receipt you received from your last purchase.







What is BPA?

Bisphenol A or BPA is chemical that's been used in both polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins since the 1960s.

You'll find polycarbonate plastics in hard plastic food and beverage storage containers, water bottles and cups. They're also found in other consumer goods such as electronics, sports equipment, DVDs, CD's and toys.

Epoxy resins are in the internal coatings of metal food and drink cans found in items on your grocery shelves such as in cans of soup or soda cans.

Epoxy resins are used to coat water supply lines, so it contaminates our drinking supply.

They're found in dental fillings and sealants, on dental devices, eyeglass lenses and medical devices.

Epoxy resins are also used on thermal paper products, such as your shiny cash register receipt.

These items all contain levels of BPA which can be considered significant when the chemical breaches into our bodies.





Is BPA Bad for You?

According to researchers, BPA can leach into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA or into your body when you handle products made with BPA.

The Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) chose to ban the use of BPA in products for young babies because of the harmful effects many research studies showed. However The American Chemistry Council, representing the plastics manufacturers, still disputes these studies and contends that BPA poses no risk at all to human health.

The Endocrine Society, on the other hand, issued a statement of concern in 2009 over the amount human exposure to BPA we are now seeing. Research from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) found BPA to be present in the urine of 95% of adults and 93% of children in their studies.





So What Does This Have to Do with My Cash Receipt?

Approximately 40% of cash register receipts in the United States are printed on glossy thermal-coated paper. Thermal paper is not only used on cash receipts but today is commonly used for other purposes such as movie theater tickets, airline tickets, and other stubs.

You can recognize this type of receipt or ticket because it's printed on shiny paper. Shiny or glossy receipts contain measurable levels of the chemical BPA.

BPA from thermal paper and carbonless paper can easily get onto your hands and fingers. The problem is not so much from what you'll absorb through your skin, but from what you'll ingest if your fingers or hands come in contact with your mouth.





Receipts are Part of Everyday Life So What Do You Do?

Cash register receipts and thermal paper tickets are a part of modern living, we’re not going to get past that.  But here are some expert tips offered by a pediatrician and medical researcher who studies the effects of BPA.

According to Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, M.D., assistant professor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics and a researcher at the Seattle Children's Research Institute, you should take these steps:

1. Examine your receipt or ticket and recognize when you have the need to act on protecting your health. Don't just blindly receive the thermal paper and forget about it.

2. If you don't have a requirement for a receipt, decline to accept it. Simply don't take the receipt.

3. If you need a receipt for your purchase or must handle receipts in your job, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, eating, or placing your hands near your mouth.

4. Finally, keep shiny receipts away from children's hands. If a shiny receipt is handled by your child, wash your child's hands thoroughly and immediately.





Wash Hands After Handling Glossy Receipts

This chart from the Canadian Lung Association demonstrates how to thoroughly wash your hands to help control disease. Use the same technique when washing to rid your hands of BPA.






Receipts in Your Life

First of all, be aware that you might be touching a toxic paper product.  Examine your receipt or ticket.  Is it shiny?  You need to notice this fact in order to deal with the issue properly.

Next, if the paper is shiny, do you really need a receipt?  If no, don't take it.  If yes, wash your hands as soon as possible after touching the receipt.  Be sure to keep your hands away from your mouth.

Finally, don't let children touch shiny receipts. Wash their hands thoroughly whenever they come in contact with shiny receipts.




Thought for Today

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,
ambition inspired,
and 
success achieved.
 - Helen Keller                 


The Dangers of BPA in Everyday Plastics and Canned Foods





BPA is a Harmful Chemical Found in Some Kitchen Plastics
and the Linings of Canned Foods


BPA, or Bisphenol A, is part of a family of harmful chemicals called phthalates that are used in the manufacturing of plastics and in the inside coating of canned foods and drinks.

There's been a lot of research into the dangers of BPA in everyday plastics and canned foods and scientists from around the globe have documented their findings on the issue.

Studies link BPA to such health problems as changes in reproductive hormones, allergies, diabetes, heart disease, abnormal liver function, breast cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer and ADHD.

And BPA is a problem you can find right in your kitchen.







How Does BPA get into our Bodies?

We become exposed to the dangers of BPA through ingestion.

This occurs in two ways.

The chemical either leaches into our food contaminating what we then eat, or it rubs off onto our hands and when we put our hands up to our lips it makes its way into our body.

We do not experience harmful effects of BPA or other phthalates through our skin.



Our BPA Exposure is the Greatest

When we use Canned Foods and Canned Drinks

Your risk of exposure to BPA is the greatest through your diet, and your largest source of exposure is from canned foods.

Canned goods make use of BPA in coatings used to line the can. The BOA coating helps protects the container from decomposition caused by the food it’s storing.

Acidic foods degrade cans quickly, so they will tend to have a higher concentration of BPA in the can's coating.

Examples of canned acidic foods are products containing tomatoes or fruits, and drinks such as canned sodas and juices.








By decreasing the amount of canned foods your family consumes and by eating fresh foods, you can reduce your exposure to BPA.




Ways to Reduce Exposure to BPA and Phthalates

1. Don't use the Unsafe Plastics

Look for the grade marking on your plastic product. This is usually found on the bottom of the container. Don't use those marked as #3, #6, or a #7.

Plastics labeled 3, 6, and 7 are considered unsafe. These are plastics made from polyvinyl chloride (3), polystyrene (6), and polycarbonates(7).




2. If you need to use a Plastic, Choose a Safer Plastic.

If you will be using a plastic that will come in contact with food, check the designation on the bottom of the product and choose a safer plastic. Use products labeled #1, #2, #4, or #5.

Plastics labeled 1, 2, 4, or 5 are made of polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene respectively.




3. Look for alternative containers.

Use glass or stainless steel containers when you can. Choose products that say they are "BPA-free" or "phthalate-free".




4. Don't microwave food or beverages in plastic. Don't use plastic cling wrap when heating or microwaving food.

Put your food or drink in a glass container or a paper plate. Cover food when heating with a napkin or paper towel.




5. Do not use warm or hot liquids in water bottles, baby bottles or sippy cups made of hard polycarbonate plastics (#7).


This final suggestion is especially important to consider when feeding children. BPA is thought to be very harmful to the smallest among us. You'll want to stay vigilant to protect their health.

Be sure to use BPA Free products for babies -- especially on items that go into their little mouths!





Will BPA be Banned in the US?

U.S. health experts are hopeful that the FDA will eventually completely ban BPA, but until that happens, BPA and other phthalates will continue to be found in canned goods, canned drinks, plastic water bottles and plastic food storage containers.

Limit your exposure to the dangers of BPA in everyday plastics and canned foods today by knowing which plastics you should never be using, selectively using those plastics which are thought to be less harmful, and choosing wholesome foods and healthy storage for a beneficial future for you and your family.


BPA is found on Cash Register Receipts Too!

Certain types of receipts (the shiny ones) contain BPA or phthalates. 40% of the cash register receipts in the US are this type. While the BPA won't leach through your skin, it is important to wash any residue off your hands.



Learn More about BPA on these upstanding sites:
 
    The US Food and Drug Administration homepage

     The US National Institutes of Health homepage