Antioxidants In Coffee

Coffee is a beverage that has been the source of all kinds of controversy and conflicting reports. Years ago, you might have heard that coffee was bad for you. These days, quite a different story is being told. While excessive consumption of any substance is discouraged, moderate coffee intake may actually have health benefits. There are antioxidants in coffee that are beneficial for health in a variety of ways. Before you can understand how coffee can benefit your health you should learn the basics of antioxidants and the damaging molecules they fight which are called free radicals.

Free radicals are substances with reactive and mutative properties. They are produced naturally in the body as an effect of everyday chemical processes. While unhealthy behaviors like cigarette smoking definitely produce free radicals, so do some healthy behaviors like aerobic exercise. These free radicals can overwhelm and attack healthy cells and cause changes that may lead to premature aging, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and other conditions. The best course of action is to cut back or eliminate harmful things like stress, pollution, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption while consuming a diet rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants bind to the free radicals and render them harmless. They stop the oxidative process in the body much in the same way rust protectant stops rust on metal. Antioxidants can even help repair damage that has already been done. Of course antioxidants are no magic cure, and taking large doses of antioxidant supplements can be dangerous. However to make the most of these free radical fighters and get the full health benefits it is recommended that you consume foods and beverages rich in antioxidants. Coffee is thought by many researchers to be the number one antioxidant rich beverage consumed in America, ranking higher than tea or juice.

Therefore, if you love coffee you can drink it without guilt. Does this mean you should drink all the coffee you want? Absolutely not. Too much coffee, like too much of anything, can be harmful. To get the most health benefits from the antioxidants in coffee drink one or two cups each day. If you like tea, you can also sip on white and/or green tea throughout the day which is also antioxidant rich and low in caffeine.

Free Radicals & Antioxidants

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Free Radicals Explained

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