Coffee
& Wellness
Antioxidants in coffee is good news
for consumers
December 2008
MANY people rely on coffee to get through their day and beyond the commonly known theories on how the beverage benefits them, they may also be unknowingly getting help from the antioxidants it contains.
Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals—molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. They provide powerful protection against free-radical oxidation that leads to premature aging.
And to regular coffee drinkers like Angel Caballero, Benjamin Pecson, and Judith Evaristo, this is fantastic news.
Antioxidants in coffee
A study by Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at Philadelphia’s University of Scranton in the US revealed that coffee came out ahead of 100 common food items, on the combined basis of antioxidants per serving size and consumption frequency. Because it is one of the most regularly consumed beverages, many people can get their fill of antioxidants without extra effort.
"I've been drinking coffee for much of my life, but I've just recently known of its antioxidants," says Caballero.
He adds, "It's great to know that such a benefit has been in my daily habit all along."
Work and coffee side by side
Another coffee drinker who welcomes the antioxidant content in coffee is Benjamin Pecson. Pecson describes his job as “very demanding.” His work involves crunching corporate numbers and working with top honchos of big foreign companies.
“There’s nothing like coffee to help get you through a busy workday. And I’m sure glad to learn that coffee contains antioxidants. I’ve heard a lot about its ability to prevent the early signs of aging,” Pecson says.
Coffee, which technically originates as a fruit, is ranked high on the list of antioxidant sources. A simple habit like drinking coffee can boost your antioxidant levels to help delay the signs of aging.
A healthy start to a challenging day
And yet another coffee drinker who welcomes the news that her favorite beverage is found to contain antioxidants is sales director Judith Evaristo.
Judith’s work requires her to be always ready on-call with her clients.
"I follow the schedules of our clients. So whatever time they choose to meet with me, I have to be available even if it's beyond working hours,” she explains.
A habitual coffee drinker, Evaristo always wakes up to a cup of coffee in the morning. "I never fail to drink my coffee in the morning even when in a rush," she says.
Coffee also contains only 1 calorie when taken black, without sugar, a fact that did not escape Evaristo’s attention.
“It’s a lot easier for me to enjoy something like coffee when you’re not worried of the calorie-count,” she shares.
And like Caballero and Pecson, Evaristo says that it’s a good thing that the beverage that they habitually consume likewise provides health benefits like an antioxidant boost.
And because drinking coffee is a daily routine for many people like these three, helping delay the signs of aging can now become more of a pleasurable habit, rather than a chore. |
