As I was sipping my coffee the other day, I decided to do a little research on this beverage so many of us rely on every day. Here are a few things I found interesting:
- A 2011 study showed that women who drink 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day were 15% less likely to develop depression than those who drank one cup or less per week.
- It used to be a custom in Turkey that if a husband did not provide his wife with coffee, it was grounds for divorce.
- Coffee contains antioxidants, which helps prevent free radicals from damaging cells.
- New York drinks about 7 times as much coffee as the rest of the world.
- People who drink a moderate amount of coffee are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and dementia in old age.
- Legend has it coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd who noticed his goats acting excited and dancing around after eating coffee beans. (this makes me laugh)
- The term "cup of Joe" comes from American soldiers in WWII (known as G.I. Joes) drinking large amounts of coffee.
Make your coffee healthier:
- Instead of high fat cream, use 1% or skim milk
- If you sweeten it, use a natural raw sugar and try and limit it to 2 packets
- Flavored syrups, whipped cream- while delicious, they are high in fat and sugar. If there is a sugar free option for the syrup, try that instead.
References:
"Caffeine Blast." Live Science. September 29, 2011.
The Harvard Crimson, "Coffee Can Help Women Avoid Depression", September 29, 2011.
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