Is Coffee Good for You? Check out this list of Pros and Cons for Coffee Lovers.

Coffee has been a favourite tipple for centuries, with the first credible evidence dating back as far as the 15^th Century!  This daily staple was found in Sufi shrines in Yemen where coffee beans were roasted and prepared as a beverage much as they are today, but this is up for debate with other scholars claiming Ethiopia was the first. It is said that a goat herder first discovered the beans after seeing the effect on his goats!  After eating the beans the animals were so “full of beans” that they didn’t want to sleep at night!

Did you know that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, second only to petroleum?

There have been a lot of medical studies on the effects of coffee on our bodies and many report positive effects of caffeine when taken in moderation though there are some negatives especially for those who are caffeine sensitive, drink more than 4 cups per day or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

We have pulled together a list of the pros and cons of coffee from a number of studies available.

PRO’s

1. Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine show that drinking three cups of coffee per day could extend your life. Caffeine can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. 
2. Coffee may increase metabolism. Many diet pills contain coffee as a stimulant and as such coffee is linked with weight management by boosting calorie and fat burning. Research is still being carried out but there is speculation about the possibility of using caffeine in the treatment of obesity.
3. Coffee can boost energy and performance. Caffeine is absorbed into the blood stream and triggers certain neurons in the brain improving memory and cognitive function.  It can also improve mood and alertness.  Drinking coffee before exercise has been reported to improve performance by reducing rates of exertion and in addition if you consume two cups post workout, muscle pain can be reduced by 48%!
4. Coffee can protect and support liver function and according to the Archives of Internal Medicine coffee drinkers have 49% less risk of death from liver disease than non-coffee drinkers.
5. Drinking 4 cups or more per day can reduce depression. Based on a ten year study of 82,000 nurses, those who enjoyed coffee had a reduced risk of suicide, and a report by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that depression was 20% less likely in women coffee drinkers.

They say “A little of what you fancy does you good”, so all things in moderation.  Excessive consumption can cause a number of side effects.

CON’S

1. Coffee can cause palpitations, nausea and anxiety when taken excessively.
2. Caffeine is a stimulant and so can cause restlessness and affect sleep. To aid sleep we have the perfect solution in our Mindfulness Gift Box, with herbal tea, massage candle, lavender eye mask and a Little Book of Mindfulness and many more aids to relaxation, this beautiful gift will answer all your sleep needs.
3. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid caffeine. Drinking more than 3 cups during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight and miscarriage, and in a breast fed baby there are reports of irritability, sleep problems and problems with digestion and increased bowel movements.  Instead of coffee, check out our teas in the Baby shower and Mum to Be Gift Boxes.
4. Avoid caffeine if you suffer from anxiety, depressive conditions and if you are on any medication check whether drinking caffeine will affect the absorption of the medicine thus reducing the effectiveness. If you need to relax, we have some beautiful and well thought out gift boxes in our Relax and Pamper Collection.

If you are a coffee fan then buy the best you can afford.  Here is a list of the best for……..

Taste – The best tasting coffee comes from Hawaii, from the main island of Kona.  The terrain and climate is perfect for growing Koa coffee.  These award winning beans are hand-picked but at between £11 and £20 per pack it is a premium product.

Mornings – Look to milky coffees such as latte, mocha and cappuccino.  The shot of espresso for the kick with the added fats and lactose from the milk to fill you up.  Dairy free options are available of course.

Health – Arabica dark roast beans are the healthiest coffee if you want to limit caffeine without going fully de-caf.

With all this positivity around coffee, how could we not pull together a luxury coffee gift box just for you?  We have luxury teas in many of our gift boxes and we had until now over-looked the coffee lovers amongst our customers.  Our offering contains coffee gift ideas in the form of Brazilian coffee grounds, chocolate covered coffee beans, perfect for after dinner, and of course the ultimate contemporary single serve cafetiere, beautifully chosen gift sent direct to your door in stunning packaging.

We hope you enjoy our collections.

Team Ooh x