When the first coffee bean was picked, roasted, ground and brewed into fragrant hot coffee, this invention, hailed as the most romantic, began to spread throughout the world.

According to statistics from the International Coffee Organization, 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide each year, with 14,000 cups being drunk every second.

However, Chinese people have never been very enthusiastic about it, with the average person drinking only about 5 cups per year. Many people also feel that caffeine is a formidable enemy when it is mentioned.

"Life Times" (search "LT0385" on WeChat to follow) integrates multiple domestic and foreign studies and interviews relevant experts to help you find the health magic in a cup of coffee.

Experts interviewed:

Fu Changming, Secretary General of Hainan Coffee Association

Ma Guansheng, Professor of the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University

Famous doctor vindicates coffee

Charge 1: Caffeine is harmful to the body

Many people believe that coffee contains a large amount of caffeine, and drinking too much can easily lead to increased heart rate, sleep disorders, nausea and vomiting, increased blood pressure, etc., and may also cause poisoning .

Experts explain that the premise for caffeine to cause harm to the human body is "excessive consumption". Coffee contains more than 200 substances, including caffeine and a variety of nutrients. It is unfair to equate coffee with caffeine.

Charge 2: Coffee is addictive

British research has found that caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system. If you drink coffee regularly, your body may become mildly dependent on it. If you suddenly stop drinking it, you will experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and inability to concentrate.

But these symptoms last for a few days and then disappear. They do not pose the risk of addiction like other drugs and will not cause harm to physical and mental health.

Crime three: high calories

This is actually caused by instant coffee, which is basically not coffee. It has low coffee content and many additives. Many instant coffees are added with non-dairy creamer, fat and carbohydrates, and non-dairy creamer contains trans fatty acids, which are not good for health.

Charge 4: Causing osteoporosis

Professor Hu Dayi, a famous Chinese cardiovascular expert, once co-authored a book with Mario Marao, former president of the World Heart Federation and other experts, "101 Reasons Why Coffee is Not Guilty", which vindicated coffee.

The human body contains about 1,100 grams of calcium, 99% of which is deposited in bones and teeth. Therefore, drinking coffee as a diuretic will not reduce the amount of bone calcium.

5 benefits of pure coffee

The coffee that experts often refer to is pure coffee , that is, coffee without any other substances added. It is low in calories and contains a variety of nutrients. Drinking it in moderation is good for your health.

1. Reduce Cancer Risk

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that drinking coffee every day can reduce the risk of primary liver cancer by 40%. Other studies have shown that drinking coffee regularly can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women.

2. Improve memory

Dr. Jaclyn London, senior nutritionist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, said that moderate caffeine intake is good for both short-term and long-term memory and helps prevent cognitive decline.

3. Protect cardiovascular system

After studying 25,000 subjects, Korean researchers found that people who drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee (about 200 ml per cup) a day have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

4. Prevent diabetes

A study of 126,000 people conducted by Harvard University in the United States showed that people who drink coffee regularly have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

5. Helps you live longer

An academic paper published by a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University of Medicine in the United States shows that people who drink coffee regularly have a lower mortality rate than ordinary people.

Chengmai County, Hainan's longevity hometown, is rich in coffee. The average life expectancy is 77.79 years, 6.59 years longer than the national average. The centenarians here all have the habit of drinking pure coffee.

Drinking coffee is the healthiest

Coffee has many benefits, but it can only work if you drink it correctly.

Choose pure coffee

If you make it at home, you can buy coffee beans and grind them freshly, or buy coffee powder directly and then brew it with hot water.

The best brewing ratio is 1 gram of coffee powder to 15 ml or 18 ml of water. People who are not used to drinking pure coffee can put less coffee and more water and gradually adapt.

If it is difficult to adapt, add a little less sugar or fresh milk, but do not add creamer.

If you drink coffee in a cafe, it is best to choose Americano without creamer and sugar.

Do not exceed 3 cups per day.

After studying caffeine, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans concluded that drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day is part of a healthy diet. Many domestic experts suggest that it is best not to drink more than 3 cups a day (each cup is about 200 ml).

Morning is the best time

American neuroscientists have calculated that the best time to drink coffee every day is between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. This is because the effect of caffeine interacting with cortisol, an important hormone in the human body, reaches its optimal state during this period.

It should be noted that it is best not to drink coffee on an empty stomach or after dinner , so as not to affect sleep quality.

Contraindications for drinking by special groups

Many studies in the UK and the US have shown that pregnant women should reduce their coffee intake to no more than 2 cups a day; patients with high blood pressure should pay attention to the time they drink coffee and try not to drink coffee right after getting up in the morning to avoid a rapid increase in blood pressure. ▲ (Life Times special correspondent Qu Sheng)

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