Coffee health benefits and fun facts

Coffee is my family tradition

My great grandma, my mother in law and my grandmother all drank percolated coffee every morning. I find that I also enjoy coffee each day. My grandma lived to age 91 and for the last few years of her life I had to brew it for her. Sometimes I drink coffee late at night and it does not keep me up as happens to many people. If you enjoy drinking coffee there are some fun facts as well as health benefits that you may not be aware of. Here are six interesting truths that have been reported by Good Housekeeping.

Fun Coffee facts

1, Coffee was discovered in 800 A.D. by Ethiopian shepherds.

2. Goat herders in the 9th century noticed their flocks dancing after eating coffee berries because of too much caffeine. I am trying to picture a herd of goats running around like they are drunk. That must have been quite a sight.

3. Humans can overdose on coffee as well but would have to drink about 100 cups of java in order to do so.

4. Coffee is the second most trade-able good worldwide behind oil which is number one.

5. New Yorkers drink more coffee than anyone else in the United States.

6. Coffee cools down slower when the cream is added.

Health Benefits

According to Daily Coffee News African Americans as a whole drink less coffee than others in this nation. A survey from 2018 revealed the following regarding coffee drinking in the USA. 64 percent of Hispanic Americans, choose a cup of Joe as a beverage of choice, 59 percent of Asian Americans, 53 percent of Caucasian Americans, and only 42 percent of African-Americans drink beverages in this category. This includes expresso, non-expresso, ready to drink, and gourmet.

Only 32 percent of women drink coffee according to Huff Post while 50 percent of men drink beverages in this category. More males should drink up because a study by PLOS ONE indicates that coffee may play a role in preventing erectile dysfunction. It seems the heart-healthy benefits in java can also decrease the chances of impotence, by improving blood flow. The study found that men who drank two or three cups daily had the lowest risk for ED.

There are also increasing health benefits found for those who drink coffee on a regular basis. The caffeine in that morning cup of Joe is a psychostimulant which increases motivation and keeps you awake. Coffee has a positive effect on the brain chemical, dopamine, by causing it to become more effective. The result is that it t also improves motivation and helps you to become more alert and do better with making decisions. This is why you may feel yourself perk up or feel happier after drinking coffee. It also helps to relieve symptoms of depression.

Coffee may prevent certain illnesses

Research has also revealed that caffeine may prevent Alzheimer's disease by blocking inflammation of the adenosine receptors in the brain. I believe it to be true because my grandma, great-grandma and mother-in-law all her in their right minds, with great recall prior to their passing. A study from an American diabetes association indicates that people who drink coffee have lower blood sugar levels and studies indicate that coffee can also prevent strokes in older adults. Just one cup a day can cut the risk by 20-25%. There is also research that suggests that drinking coffee can reduce risk of skin cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer, and endometrial cancer.

Coffee is also said to be great as an anti-aging product because of the antioxidants, which reduce damage from free radicals. Coffee is said to prevent hardening of the arteries, reduce acne and keep skin young. At 91 my grandmother barely had any wrinkles and only a few gray hairs. My great-grandma died at 75 and she did not look her age either. The same for my mother in law who was 85 when she passed away. Each woman looked about a decade younger and none of them had gone completely gray. I cannot say with certainty that coffee played a role but I believe it did.

Please keep in mind that every person ages differently and that diet, and hereditary also play a role in the aging process. This article is not a guarantee that drinking coffee will prevent or cure any disease or help you to look younger. I have presented this for informational purposes only. Each of us may have a different response to drinking coffee so keep this in mind.