HealthWiseCoffee.com

Who would ever think that the choice made in selecting a decaf coffee would make a difference in the level of your LDL cholesterol?

Apparently so, from research findings by Dr. H. Robert Superko of the Fuqua Heart Center in Atlanta.  This goes back to a study in 2005 led by Dr. Superko and presented to the American Heart Association. 

In the study, 187 coffee drinkers were randomly assigned to three groups of people and studied for an eight week period: those who daily drank three to five cups of decaf coffee; those who drank the same amount of caffeinated coffee; and those who drank no coffee.   No creamers of sweeteners were used by the coffee drinkers, just black.

Results of the eight week study showed no change among the three groups in levels of triglycerides, HDL, glucose, or insulin — but there were significant increases in the level of the bad LDL cholesterol among the decaf drinkers. 

So, why would that be?  Why would drinking decaf raise your cholesterol?  Dr. Superko speculated in an interview that the decaf coffee was of the Robusta species of coffee beans, which has a higher dipertene, or fat content, than does coffee made from the Arabica species.  Apparently the coffee drinkers who drank caffeinated coffee in the study drank coffee from the milder, more expensive Arabica beans.

The health message here would be to understand what type of bean is used in your decaf, and choose Arabica.  Typically, decaf coffees are made from Robusta beans, and you may need to look closely to see if you’re drinking Arabica-based decaf.  HealthWise Swiss Water Process decaf is 100% Colombian coffee, and since Colombian only produces Arabica, no need to worry if you drink HealthWise decaf.             

We’ve long known that coffee is good for your heart.  Coffee is loaded with antioxidants — those molecules that help stop the chain reactions of free radicals in your system.  And by stopping those chain reactions, a person is much better off in defense against cancer and heart disease.  Now there is a new study which shows that regular coffee consumption aids those people with heart rhythm problems.

The study was led by Dr. Arthur Klatsky, a senior consultant at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in California, and looked at the rate of hospitalization of more than 130,000 people.  The study found that the risk of being hospitalized for heart rhythm disturbances was 18% lower for people who reported drinking four or more cups of coffee a day.    

The study did not indicate why coffee would help reduce heart rhythm problems.  Dr. Klatsky was quoted as saying “Coffee drinkers don’t have to quit because they have heart rhythm problems.” 

Results of the study are being presented this week by the American Heart Association at its 50th Annual Conference on cardiovascular diseases.

There is a new study which shows that regular coffee drinking appears to reduce the risk of stroke.

According to Ed Edelson, writing for HealthDay Reporter, a study led by Yangmei Li of the University of Cambridge in England showed a 27 percent lower risk of stroke among people who indicated they regularly drank coffee versus those who said they never drank coffee. 

The study followed 23,000 men and women for a 12 year period, and found the association of reduced risk of stroke was consistent across subgroups of sex, age, social class, educational level, smoking status, alcohol drinking, tea drinking, and physical activity. 

According to Edelson, the findings were to have been presented at the February 25 annual stroke conference of the American Stroke Association in San Antonio.

It is very difficult to comprehend the scope of the tragedy and suffering in Haiti.  What has been heartening is the outpouring of suppport from people in the U.S. and around the world. 

As mentioned in our January 2010 Newsletter to our customers, HealthWise Gourmet Coffees will be donating $.50 per can or bag of coffee sold online from now through the end of February. The donation will be made to the the American Red Cross.  

Coffee is certainly a great deal more than caffeine.

• Coffee is loaded with bioactive chemical compounds that help prevent a host of ailments!
• The green coffee bean has the greatest concentration of antioxidants of anything grown!
• Coffee does not stain your teeth!
• Coffee is healthier than colas, tea, chocolate, wine, and spirits!

Despite all that, coffee has received a bad rap over the centuries….even though today over 1 billion people started their day with coffee.

Two Ph.D.s have spent their careers in the study of coffee and its effects on human pleasure and human health, and have written a wonderful book in support of coffee.

The book is titled “An Unashamed Defense of Coffee….101 Reasons to Drink Coffee Without Guilt”. The authors are Roseane M. Santos, and Darcy R. Lima.

The book’s Preface indicates this is the first book in history to make an “unashamed defense of coffee”, and has this to conclude:

“For now, we provide you with 101 reasons to drink coffee without guilt.  Our objective is to provide updated information on leading facts about the modern science of coffee, from its chemistry to consumer’s health effects, in as few words as possible, leaving them to be tested, confirmed, amplified, or freed from obscurity by the reflection of our readers.”

The 351 page book is available from the publisher Xlibris and can be purchased online at www.xlibris.com, in paperback or hardcover.  HealthWise customers can obtain a copy on a loaner basis.

Much has been written about antioxidants, and how a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help ward off heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and other illnesses.  Antioxidants are derived from plants, and are those molecules that are capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules.  Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals that start chain reactions that can damage cells.  Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing the free radicals.

Among fruit and vegetables, the best sources include blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, beans, artichoke hearts, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and in spices, cinnamon, oregano and cloves.  Research indicates it is best to include a variety of fruits and vegetables because of the different types of antioxidants present.

So….what about coffee?

Coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in the American diet, that according to researchers at the University of Scranton.  The study was 10 years in the making and also found that the number two source of antioxidants in diets was black tea, followed by bananas.

Some important things to remember:

• In very dark roasts of coffee, the antioxidants are almost completely destroyed.  All that’s left is caffeine.  HealthWise coffees have a medium roast so there is not that problem.
• Decaf coffees have the same antioxidant properties as regular coffee.
• To get the most benefit, try spreading the coffee drinking out throughout the day, and if so, perhaps have decaf coffees later in the day.  HealthWise low acid decaf coffees are 99.9% caffeine free, and very importantly had no chemicals used in decaffeination, as do all other decafs which don’t use the Swiss Water Process.

As we start a new year, many of us are questioning our diets, making resolutions, exercising more, and just taking stock of what’s good or not good for our bodies.  Our resolution is this:  to better use this Blog to further the understanding of coffee, and at the same time promote what we believe is the most healthful, all-natural coffee available.

Since you’re reading this Blog, there is probably a 100% chance that you are already a coffee drinker.  That’s great, because there have many studies over the past few decades that point out that coffee in moderation is not only ok to consume – it’s actually a health food!  Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, gout are just some of the maladies that coffee helps prevent.  If you’ve been following HealthWise Gourmet Coffees, you likely know that HealthWise considers its coffees the most healthful of all coffees.

No single food provides all the nutrients your body needs to remain healthy, and so the concept of “food pyramids” was developed.  These pyramids tell us how many servings of what food groups we need.  There are a number of Food Pyramids that have been published….the USDA 2005 edition, the Harvard Healthy Eating Pyramid, the Asian- or Mediterranean- or Latin American Diet Pyramids, and the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, among others.

All food pyramids, however, have the following in common:

• Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Reduce intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol
• Limit sweets and salts
• Control portion sizes
• Increase physical activity.

So….where does coffee fit in the pyramid?

The coffee bean is from the fruit of the red berry of a coffee bush.  Coffee is therefore at the heart of all food pyramids.  More than any other fruit or vegetable, however, coffee is loaded with bioactive chemical compounds that have important positive effects on a person’s body.  Better yet, coffee has zero calories, and has more dietary fiber than orange juice.

Coffee plays an important part in any New Year’s diet resolution!

Coffees from HealthWise can play an even greater role, given the higher content of iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, and micronutrients you receive in each cup!

We wish everyone and healthy and prosperous 2010!

(This email from Deborah C., St. Louis, Missouri, was a wonderful present to open)

“What can we say except “Thank You”. My husband and I had just about given up on ever drinking coffee again! We ordered Healthwise just a few weeks ago and have had no problems drinking this wonderful coffee. We both suffer from GERD and neither of us has had any issues with the Healthwise. I feel like a human being again able to enjoy a cup of coffee. Our holiday was alot brighter finding this fantastic product! Thanks again. Placing another order this morning!”

As announced in the October 2009 Newsletter and a recent press release, HealthWise Gourmet Coffees is pleased to announce the results of its recently conducted “pH Challenge”.

Not surprisingly, HealthWise came out on top with the least acidic results.

HealthWise recorded a pH value of 6.18. Amongst nine similar-in-origin national brands (which of course do not claim low acidity), the pH ranged from 5.01 to 5.69.  Amongst brands claiming low acidity, one competitor was close at 6.15, and another was more acidic at 5.75.

For further detail, check out the posted press release, or the October Newsletter when posted.

Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause inflamation of the liver, which if chronic, can lead to chronic liver disease, which in turn can be serious or even fatal.  About 4 million people in the United States have been infected with the virus, and as many as half do not even know they have the infection.   About 80% of those who do have the disease do not show symptoms, and in those who do show symptons, the symptoms may not appear for 10-20 years or longer – long enough to perhaps have severe liver damage.  

There could be good news for people with Hepatitis C based on a recent study.  Coffee drinkers who consume three or more cups per day seem to have a lower risk of disease progression than non-coffee drinkers.

The study was led by Dr. Neal D. Freedman of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and published in the November Journal of Hepatology.  For the study, 766 participants completed a survey of their coffee and tea consumption, and were monitored over the course of three and a half years.  The researchers found that the risk of progression of the disease declined as the amount of coffee consumed increased, up to where those who drank three or more cups a day were 53% less likley to see a progression of the disease.  There was not such a finding with respect to tea drinkers.