Coffee also rich in antioxidants
While the body naturally produces antioxidants, it needs additional amounts of these molecules for it to remain in a constant state of wellness.
Antioxidants help neutralize the body’s free radicals as they attack cell membranes and cause what is collectively known as oxidative stress, which has been suggested to cause premature aging and degenerative diseases of the cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems as well as cancer and cataracts.
This is why doctors advice that antioxidant-rich beverages be part of the diet. Regular consumption of fruit-made drinks as well as coffee, tea, and red wine, for example, are highly recommended.
Antioxidant-rich beverages include those made from banana, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, apples, peaches, mangos, and melons. But while these fruits are readily available, not many people take them on a regular basis.
A study conducted by Dr. Joe Vinson, a leading chemist from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, showed that the average American only gets 294 milligrams of antioxidants from tea, 76 mg from beverages made from banana, 44 mg from red wine, and 32 mg from tomato juice.
The number one source of antioxidants, Vinson’s study showed, is in fact coffee, which gives the average American 1,300 mg of antioxidants daily. It topped the list of 100 antioxidant-rich food items that Americans consume.
Coffee contains rich amounts of the antioxidant phenol, which is associated with the lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes, among others.
Although no similar studies have yet been made in the Philippines, the country has an undeniably rich “coffee culture” society.
As a group of researchers from the University of the Philippines puts it, “Filipinos drink coffee in the morning regularly and during social gatherings.”
So as it is with Americans, coffee continues to be a significant source of antioxidants for Filipinos. It is one of the best beverages that help people remain in a constant state of wellness.
Source: Philippine Star