Coffee: Its Benefits and Risks

Coffee is one my favorite drinks, for no other reason. I love its bitter taste. However, people told me that drinking coffee is not good for me because I am experiencing gastrointestinal problems. What I only know is that it has acid that can make my stomach and intestine weaker. I became so curious that leads me to research the most important things about coffee - the benefits and risks of drinking it. Let me share what I found out.

Benefits:

Increase of short-term memory. If you want to have a more active memory, regularly drinking coffee is one of the best and affordable solutions you can have.

Increase fast result of analgesic drugs. If you have migraine or headache, take coffee and analgesic drug at the same time. It will surely make you feel better faster than the usual.

Reduce plaque formation. Coffee has tannins that lessen cariogenic which produces development of tooth decay. Experiment shows that these polyphenolic compounds may prevent the formation of dental plaque.

Risks:

Gastrointestinal problems. Coffee stimulates the generation of stomach acids which causes the damage on gastrointestinal organs lining. So drinking coffee is not commendable to those who have gastritis, ulcer, or colitis.

Nervousness, anxiety, and irritability. Too much drinking of coffee may result to anxiety and annoyance. This is because of the caffeine it has that can over-stimulate the state of the central nervous system if taken excessively.

Sleep disorder. One of the reasons of sleeping problems like insomnia and narcolepsy is the excessive drinking of coffee. Sleeping would be very hard for you after drinking coffee, because of its caffeine which acts as a stimulant that can make you stay alert and active.

*Doctors suggest pregnant women to avoid drinking coffee for it can lead to stillbirth.

After this thorough research, I think it is not indeed recommended for me to drink coffee to avoid digestive disorders. For those who do not have any stomach problems, you can freely grab these benefits that coffee has for you. Moderate drinking is still recommended.

Add Healthy Herbs To Your Healthy Diet

Herbs are one of the most important ingredients in cooking that you should always have in your kitchen. They are indeed essential and truly remarkable because they don’t just add flavor to whatever you cook, they also add nutrients to every dish.

Here are the facts you must know about the herbs you usually have at home for cooking.

OREGANO

Oregano is also known as the “pizza herb” since it is commonly used in pizza recipe. Aside that it helps lower blood cholesterol levels, it is also proven as a super “functional food” since it has an excellent nutrition facts. Oregano is also one of healthy Mediterranean diet foundation bases.

Below are nutrient facts you can get from a 100 g of oregano herb:

• Dietary fiber - 107%
• Folates - 69%
• Pyridoxine - 93%
• Vitamin C - 83%
• Vitamin A - 230%
• Vitamin K - 518%
• Iron - 550%
• Manganese - 203%
• Carotene-ß - 4112 mcg.

BASIL

Basil gives good taste and smell for food. Its oil have antibacterial essential features. Thus, it can be an aid for fighting flu, colds, and Herpes Viruses. Its leaves can also be used for wounds to eliminate any infections.

Below are nutrient facts you can get from a 100 g of basil herb:

• Vitamin A - 175%
• Vitamin K - 345%
• Vitamin C - 30%
• Copper - 43%
• Iron - 40%
• Magnesium - 16%
• Manganese - 57%

GARLIC

This herb is one of superior source of vitamins and minerals that are vital for an exceptionally healthy body. It is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc, and selenium. Garlic has become a heart-friendly herb for its selenium mineral.

Below are nutrient facts you can get from a 100 g of Garlic herb:

• Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) - 95%
• Vitamin C - 52%
• Copper - 33%
• Iron - 21%
• Calcium - 18%
• Selenium - 26%
• Manganese - 73%

Always be knowledgeable about the ingredients you are using in cooking. and know the nutritional values of everything you use in food to maintain a healthy eating habit.

All nutrition facts are from USDA National Nutrient database

*Percent of Recommended Daily Allowance