Coffee and Chinese medicine
I’m a coffee drinker only in moderation. Now, I’m re-thinking that moderation, as I learn more about coffee. A cup of coffee is 2% caffeine and 98% other bioactive ingredients. To say the least, it is a complex beverage. People seem to forget that the coffee bean is an herb. Indeed, the coffee plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which is a source of several different Chinese medicinal herbs, including gardenia fruit. As an herbal medicine, effects were well known by 1908 when the Indian Materia Medica was published. 
At the proper dosages, the coffee bean has the ability to improve health in several ways. Drinking coffee can increase cardiovascular health and lower the risk of colon cancer, gallstones, cirrhosis, and Parkinson’s disease A typical dosage for this type of herbal medicine is in the range of 6-18 grams per day, which translates to about 1-3 cups of coffee, depending on how many grams of ground beans are used. Roasting the coffee beans does not detract from the beneficial effects of this herb.
The primary active substances in the coffee bean are chlorogenic and caffeic acids. These substances have been shown to have anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects. No wonder those local Starbucks have become our favorite pit stops. Coffee also contains antioxidant phenols that can reduce the risk of cancer.
This blog started because I read this study on the long-term coffee drinking on type 2 diabetes mellitus, it said “long-term coffee consumption is associated with a statistically significantly lower risk for type 2 diabetes,” Here’s a link if your interested. Coffee, just like any other potent herbal medicine, is not necessarily for everyone, as some people may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine or another of the ingredients present in coffee, such as potassium, niacin, magnesium. However, coffee has proven to be safe for the majority of people when consumed in reasonable amounts. So start your day guilt-free with a freshly brewed cup of herbal chlorogenics, drink up and enjoy.
March 21st, 2010 at 12:24 PM
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