Tea and coffee 'protect against heart disease'

[Islander]

Friday, 18 June 2010

Drinking several cups of tea or coffee a day appears to protect against heart disease, a 13-year-long study from the Netherlands has found.
It adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting health benefits from the most popular hot drinks.
Those who drank more than six cups of tea a day cut their risk of heart disease by a third, the study of 40,000 people found.
Consuming between two to four coffees a day was also linked to a reduced risk.
While the protective effect ceased with more than four cups of coffee a day, even those who drank this much were no more likely to die of any cause, including stroke and cancer, than those who abstained.
The Dutch tend to drink coffee with a small amount of milk and black tea without. There have been conflicting reports as to whether milk substantially affects the polyphenols - believed to be the most beneficial substance in tea.

Coffee has properties which could in theory simultaneously increase and reduce risk - potentially raising cholesterol while battling the inflammatory damage associated with heart disease.
But the study in the Journal of the American Heart Association finds those who drank between two and four cups a day lowered the risk of the disease by 20%.
"It's basically a good news story for those who like tea and coffee. These drinks appear to offer benefits for the heart without raising the risk of dying from anything else," said Professor Yvonne van der Schouw, the lead researcher.
Ellen Mason, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This study adds further weight to the evidence that drinking tea and coffee in moderation is not harmful for most people, and may even lower your risk of developing, or dying, from heart disease.
"However, it's worth remembering that leading a healthy overall lifestyle is the thing that really matters when it comes to keeping your heart in top condition.
"Having a cigarette with your coffee could completely cancel any benefits, while drinking lots of tea in front of the TV for hours on end without exercising is unlikely to offer your heart much protection at all."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/10350373.stm

[Islander]

I used to be a 4-cuppa-coffee-a-day drinker till I quit smoking for the penultimate time and was told to quit coffee too, since it was an adjunct to smoking. Going without was beneficial for sure; it evened out the day's highs and lows. Was good.

But I so missed my morning cup that eventually I started on instant de-caf, and then returned to regular instant. It wasn't great coffee, but since I was limiting myself to one cup a day, I put Mr. Coffee down cellar and got by with instant.

Recently, working the census, our team had to meet every morning with our CLA, and she always had the cofeepot going. Wow! I had forgotten how good real coffee tasted! It took only 3 weeks (after which I quit) to make me yearn for one cup of real coffee in the morning. The only way to do that was with a French press. I priced them on line; the cheapest started at $40. Out of the question.

Now, New Age people talk about The Secret, and how wishing for something will bring it to you, right? I was kinda, nonchalantly, wouldn't-it-be-nice thinking about a load of the wood chips I used to get for free when I had the garden center. Just the mulch my garden needs, but I was told they were charging for them now. Ran across their trucks the other day. Chips still free. They remembered me. Truckload delivered that day. Coincidence?

And I'm dreaming about morning coffee and a French press, and while chatting with my friend in her kitchen, I bring it up as something she should grab for me if she ever sees one in a yard sale. She gets up, goes to the cupboard, I hear things clanking, and of course you have already guessed what she puts in front of me. She can't remember where it came from, she doesn't use it, it was just there waiting for someone to come along who...aw, c'mon, it's all coincidence, right?

So I went out and bought some organic coffee and the next morning I had the most delightful cuppa joe! Now the only decision left is whether to spend $17 for a coffee grinder so I can have really fresh beans. I think I'll wait on that one, and just see what the Universe brings me.

[EmmaPeel]

I love when people tell of things like this...!

French press IS the only way to go for the best coffee there is, but I don't think you need to spend that much. I found the organic bulk coffee beans at Bulk Barn quite good, and just grind them in the store. You can buy as much or as little as you can afford for the week...

Now...the water...don't get me started! Oh oh...now that does make a difference to the coffee connoisseur, IMHO...! But, ya know, the problem is when you make it so darn good, you may tend to drink more...then you may crave a ciggy...ACCCKKKKK!

I drink one cup of coffee every month. Maybe two and it's always on a Sunday morning. I, too, got off the coffee merry-go-round of 3-4 cups a day because it made me jittery...currently a major tea drinker...

[Islander]

Oh I do love my green tea...and my macho tea...no, mako...no, matcha...no, no, maté...and chai...and rooibos...yes, I do drink a lot of tea, but my morning coffee has given me a reason to get out of bed in the morning!

[bobkerry]

Well i think green tea is good for our health...as it is a very lighter drink and good for heart disease patients......we can it twice a day....it keeps us fit and healthy.........more or less it helps us in losing our weight