6 Make-Ahead Meals That Are Ready When You Are
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: produce season! Literally everything is ripe for the picking, which means that this is the optimal time to up your fruit and vegetable game. This perfectly coincides with our tendency to crave lighter and more refreshing fare during warmer weather without spending...
From the Coffee Shop
What is Chlorogenic Acid?
Chlorogenic Acid (CLA) has been found to be one of the main protective factors in a variety of recent studies examining the health benefits of coffee - from liver to eye health. CLA is one of the powerful antioxidants found in coffee beans, and is also found in strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and sunflower seeds. Chlorogenic acid has been shown to inhibit an enzyme that promotes the formation of glucose (sugar) in the liver. Hence, chlorogenic acid in coffee may be responsible, in part, for the reduction of glycemic disorders like diabetes. Various studies have also indicated chlorogenic acid slows the...
Caffeine and Exercise
With summer in full swing, many people are more active than they were in the winter months - with bike rides, runs, or other activities outside. Did you know that coffee can help you get more out of your workouts? Here are 5 ways it can help: Improved Circulation Recent research studied the effects of coffee on circulation in people who were not regular coffee drinkers. Participants in the study drank either caffeinated or decaf coffee, and then scientists gauged finger blood flow, to see how well their smaller blood vessels were working. Those who drank the caffeine had a...
Coffee May Help Keep the Dentist Away!
Most people know that properly brushing and flossing teeth help with a healthy smile. A recent study also suggests that drinking black coffee may help maintain this as well! The study was published in Letters in Applied Microbiology June 7, and found that coffee which contains high amounts of caffeine can destroy bacteria that cause dental plaque. Dental plaque is the main culprit in tooth decay and gum disease. By reducing the plaque, risk of decay is also reduced. During the study, donated teeth were treated with Robusta coffee and compared after a week to teeth that were treated with...
Coffee and Eye Health
Coffee may help your eye health! Researchers at Cornell University found that chlorogenic acid, a strong antioxidant found in coffee, prevents retinal degradation in mice. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry. The retina is a thin tissue layer on the inside, back wall of the eye with millions of light-sensitive cells that receive and organize visual information. It also demands high levels of oxygen and is susceptible to oxidative stress. Lack of oxygen and production of free radicals (which antioxidants combat) can lead to tissue damage and loss of sight. In the study, mice...
3 Ways to Get the Most “Health” Out of Your Coffee
While coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in the US diet and has been known to help prevent many diseases, there are a few other factors that can give you an even greater benefit: 1. The Roast: The antioxidant effects of coffee are related to compounds called chlorogenic acids. Roasting green coffee beans turns these acids into antioxidants, but if you keep roasting them, they can break down again. So, lighter roasts tend to have higher antioxidant contents than darker ones. Also, choosing a roast that is low in acid (like Healthwise!) is easier on your digestive system, and...
